NBR officials call off 'complete shutdown' protest

Officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have called off their ongoing movement and the 'complete shutdown' program. The decision was announced on Sunday night (June 29) following a meeting between the protesting officials and business leaders at the office of the Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

In a bid to resolve the crisis, representatives of the business community initiated mediation through discussions with the economic advisor of the interim government. Based on the assurance of the advisory committee and business leaders, the protesting NBR officials announced the suspension of all their protest programs.

At a press briefing that night, Hasan Mahmud Tarek, president of the NBR Reform Unity Council, said that the officials had decided to step back from their movement, placing trust in the advisory committee formed to resolve the issue. He expressed hope that all revenue offices would return to normal operations from Monday (June 30).

Earlier, in response to the ongoing protests by NBR officials, a five-member advisory committee was formed during a special meeting of the interim government's advisors to resolve the situation quickly.

The committee is headed by Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, Advisor for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources. Other members include Adilur Rahman Khan, Advisor for Housing and Public Works; Brigadier General (Retd.) M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor for Labour and Employment; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor for Environment; and Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Advisor for Commerce.

The committee is expected to take effective measures by holding discussions with relevant stakeholders to ensure a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the crisis.