The government has waived disciplinary penalties imposed on 20 National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials for their role in protests against an ordinance to split the revenue agency.
The Internal Resources Division issued separate orders on Sunday lifting the penalties following appeals made to the president. Some of the affected officials had faced pay grade reductions after being accused of helping organize the protests.
The dispute traces back to 2025, when the interim government issued an ordinance dividing the NBR into two separate bodies Revenue Management and Revenue Policy. In response, NBR officials and employees launched a series of protest programs including work stoppages also demanding the ordinance's withdrawal.
The government later assured that "necessary amendments" would be made and that NBR would continue functioning under its existing structure in the meantime. However, protests escalated with employees also demanding the resignation of the NBR chairman whom they declared "unwanted" at the agency's headquarters.
Tensions peaked on June 28 with a complete shutdown that disrupted NBR operations including import and export activities. The interim government moved to declare NBR services "essential" and urged officials to resume work. The shutdown was eventually withdrawn following mediation by business leaders.
Following the unrest, the Anti-Corruption Commission launched inquiries into 16 officials identified as key figures in the movement.
Even before the current administration took charge, several NBR officials had already faced disciplinary measures, including compulsory retirement and other penalties. After BNP's return to power through the February election, officials raised these grievances with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during a revenue conference on August 18, warning that lingering fear of punishment could hurt revenue collection. The prime minister urged them to move forward and promised a review of the matter.
NBR officials have called the withdrawal of earlier disciplinary actions against 24 participants a "major success." They now hope the government will take further steps to reinstate three NBR members a commissioner and a tax commissioner who had been forced into compulsory retirement.
