The officers and employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) will observe a pen-down strike across the country on Wednesday and Thursday (June 25-26), demanding the removal of the chairman and the cancellation of “oppressive transfer order.”
If their demands are not met, they will observe a continuous 'complete shutdown' program in all offices of the tax, customs and VAT departments from Sunday, June 28.
The NBR Reform Unity Council announced the program at a press conference organized in front of the NBR building in Agargaon in the capital on Tuesday.
Earlier, officers and employees of various departments observed a sit-in program throughout the day.
It was informed at the press conference that the sit-in and strike will continue from noon to 5pm on June 25 and 26 at the tax, customs and VAT offices in Dhaka and at their respective offices outside Dhaka.
However, international passenger services and export activities will be exempted from the program.
The officials participating in the program alleged that the current chairman, as one of the controversial bureaucrats of the government, is trying to create instability in the NBR and revenue administration.
They also announced that a non-cooperation program will continue against him.
The Unity Council demanded that if the NBR chairman is not removed by June 27, a full-scale strike will begin in all offices of the tax, customs and VAT departments for an indefinite period from June 28.
The press conference also said that there are allegations of 'illegal transfers, arbitrariness and oppressive behavior' against the current chairman and some of his close officials.
The officials have united in protest against these attempts and are holding peaceful programs to protect the revenue system.
The concerned officials and employees have raised demands several times before for internal reforms of the NBR and ensuring a transparent working environment for the officials. However, this time, the direct demand for the removal of the chairman has given it a different dimension.
