Four officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have been suspended for allegedly taking part in the movement opposing revenue reforms.
The Internal Resources Division (IRD) issued four separate orders in this regard Monday.
The suspended officials are Sadhan Kumar Kundu, additional commissioner of the Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate in Sylhet; Muhammad Amimul Ehsan Khan, additional commissioner at Mongla Customs House; Sanoarul Kabir, joint commissioner at the Chattogram Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy; and Saidul Islam, deputy commissioner of the Khulna Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate.
According to the order signed by IRD Secretary and NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman, the officials obstructed official work during the movement that followed the issuance of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025. They were accused of disrupting the duties of employees under their supervision and encouraging them to stop work and gather at the NBR building, which hampered import-export operations.
As a result, they have been suspended and made special officers under Section 39(1) of the Government Service Act, 2018. During suspension, they will receive subsistence allowances as per rules.
NBR sources said officials and employees of the income tax, customs and VAT departments joined the protest in May and June under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council. The movement was suspended after a work stoppage on June 28–29 following mediation by business leaders, but punitive actions soon followed.
So far, three members and one commissioner have been sent into compulsory retirement, while several others, including the then commissioner of Chattogram Custom House, have faced suspension.
Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched probes against 16 officials, including two NBR members.
The movement began in opposition to the ordinance issued on May 12, which dissolved the NBR and announced the formation of two separate departments: Revenue Policy and Revenue Management.
