Govt sends 3 NBR members, 1 commissioner on forced retirement

The government sent three members of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) — Alamgir Hossain, Hossain Ahmed, and Abdur Rouf — along with Md Shabbir Ahmed, Commissioner of the Barishal tax region, into retirement from government service. The Internal Resources Division (IRD) announced this decision through four separate orders on Wednesday afternoon (July 2).

According to the orders, all of them have completed 25 years of government service. Considering it necessary to retire them in the public interest, they have been retired under the authority granted by Section 45 of the Government Service Act, 2018. However, they will receive all retirement benefits in accordance with regulations.

Multiple NBR sources have indicated that this decision may be a punitive measure following the recent movement among NBR officials.

Earlier, at midnight on July 1, Md Zakir Hossain, Commissioner of Chattogram Customs House, was temporarily suspended. This disciplinary action was taken because he disrupted import-export operations by keeping Chattogram Customs House closed on June 28 and 29. The order stated that by disobeying the directive to keep the office open, he caused significant revenue losses to the government. After investigation, he was appointed as Official on Special Duty (OSD) at NBR and suspended. During the suspension, he will receive subsistence allowance as per regulations.

Additionally, Mohammad Shafi Uddin, previously Commissioner of the Customs Bond Commissionerate, has been appointed as the new Commissioner of Chattogram Customs House.

It is notable that on June 28 and 29, customs and tax officers across the country observed a complete shutdown under the banner of the ‘NBR Reform Unity Council’. As a result, operations were halted in all customs and tax offices nationwide, including Chattogram.

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating 11 NBR officials over allegations of bribery and harassment. Among them are two NBR members and Hassan Mohammad Tarek Rikabdar, president of the NBR Reform Unity Council.