Business leaders express concern over NBR agitation

Top business leaders in Bangladesh have voiced serious concerns over the ongoing agitation by officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), warning that the unrest is threatening the country's trade, industry, and overall economic stability.

At an emergency press conference held at the InterContinental Dhaka on Saturday ( June 28), Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Shawkat Aziz Rasel criticized the NBR agitation and the "March to NBR" programme. "They have been burning us all our lives, now they will burn the government and the entire nation," he said, expressing frustration over the escalating disruption.

Rasel added that businesses are effectively "hostages" to the NBR and customs authorities. "What you're seeing now is just the beginning—it's a fight over power and money. In the middle of this, we businessmen are suffering."

Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury (Parvez) presented a written statement on behalf of the business community. "Import-export operations are being severely disrupted due to the ongoing strikes by NBR department officials and staff. With services limited to only 9 AM to 12 noon, imported raw materials are stuck, causing serious delays in production," he said.

Business leaders urged the government to take immediate steps to resolve the crisis and restore normal operations. "We expect the agitators to call off their protest and give due consideration to the private sector, which is bearing the brunt of this deadlock," Rasel said.

Among those present were ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan, BKMEA Executive President Fazle Shamim Ehsan, LFMEAB President Syed Nasim Manzur, former DCCI President Abul Kashem Khan, MCCI President Kamran Tanvir Rahman, former FBCCI President Mir Nasir Hossain, and other key figures from the country's top trade bodies.