Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division Md Abdur Rahman Khan on Wednesday was appointed the new chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
He also took charge as chairman of the Internal Resources Division, according to a government notification on the day.
He replaced Abu Hena Rahmatul Muneem, whose contractual appointment was also terminated the same day.
Alongside Muneem, nine other secretaries’ contractual appointments were also cancelled on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification regarding this decision on the day.
Ever since Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power on August 5, officials and employees at the NBR began demanding the removal of senior officials.
They demanded the dismissal of “opportunistic officials,” including chairman Muneem and first secretary (tax administration) Md Shahiduzzaman.
The protesters put forward a 9-point charter of demands that included not allowing deputations for anyone in the administrative cadre.
First Secretary of Customs Md Neyamul Islam said: “The NBR chairman had been using a divide-and-rule policy all this time.”
He also said Muneem had established a “reign of terror” by bringing in close allies from the administration and appointing them as first and second secretaries.
Islam added that the previous government had taken advantage of the chairman’s presence to file a “false case” against Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who now heads the interim government.
Business leaders had called for the resignation of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman, Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, citing his role in harassing businesses and stifling economic growth.
They have also called for a complete overhaul of the NBR, emphasizing the need for greater accountability among its officials to prevent further harassment.
These demands were made at a meeting of export-oriented trade bodies, organized by the Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) at a hotel in the capital on Monday.
Shams Mahmud, a director of the BGMEA, highlighted the ongoing harassment businesses face from the NBR.
KM Iqbal, vice-president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, pointed out that while harassment by the NBR is a significant issue, there are other areas that also require attention.
AHM Moin Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Association of Precursor and Solvent Manufacturers, said that a fair and responsible NBR should be established, and to that end the NBR chairman should resign and there should be coordination between the NBR, Bangladesh Bank and all other financial institutions.
Apart from Muneem, the list of cancelled contractual appointments includes chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Lokman Hossain Mia, Senior Secretary of the Planning Division Satyajit Karmakar, and executive member (secretary) of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (Bida) Md Khairul Islam.
