President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has revoked disciplinary penalties imposed on 20 National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials for taking part in protests against reforms at the tax authority.
He has accepted their appeals for clemency and ordered the cancellation of the penalties. The Internal Resources Division (IRD) has issued separate notifications to this effect for each official.
The officials were transferred to different posts during protests by NBR officials and employees in June 2025 against reforms in the revenue sector. Some publicly tore up their transfer orders, while others played key roles in organising the movement and joined the protests by suspending operations at their respective offices.
Departmental proceedings were initiated against them for allegedly violating Rule 30A of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, and relevant provisions of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.
After the allegations were established, they were given various punishments, including suspension for different periods and demotion in pay grade.
Those whose penalties have been revoked include Commissioner (currently in charge) Zakir Hossain; Additional Tax Commissioners Hasan Tariq Rikabdar, Mirza Ashik Rana, Chand Sultana Chowdhurani, Sultana Habib, Murad Ahmed, Sifat-e-Marion, A A Amimul Ehsan and Sadhan Kumar Kundu.
Also on the list are Joint Tax Commissioners Monalisa Shahreen, Mamun Mia, Masuma Khatun, Morshed Uddin Khan and Sanowarul Kabir; Deputy Tax Commissioners Zillur Rahman, Imam Tauhid Hossain, Saidul Islam and Shahadat Jamil; and Revenue Officers Sabuj Mia and Shafiul Bashar.
According to the IRD notifications, the officials sought clemency through appeals against their departmental punishments. After reviewing the appeals, the President accepted them and ordered the penalties revoked.
How the movement began
NBR officials and employees launched the movement after the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance was issued on May 12, 2025, opposing the proposed reforms. The movement continued for nearly one and a half months and intensified towards the end of June.
Work stoppages at customs and tax offices during the final days of the fiscal year virtually disrupted revenue collection. Operations remained suspended for several consecutive days at NBR headquarters in Dhaka and customs and tax offices across the country. The protesters also held sit-ins, rallies and demonstrations.
The unprecedented movement in NBR history raised concerns over revenue collection at the end of the fiscal year. The officials and employees eventually suspended the protests following mediation by business leaders.
Authorities later took disciplinary measures against officials who had participated in the movement, including transfers and suspensions. Following departmental investigations, some were suspended while others were demoted in pay grade.
After a lengthy process, the penalties against all 20 officials have now been revoked by presidential order.
