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Income tax

NBR Suspends Chittagong Custom House Commissioner over Disruption of Trade Activities

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Chittagong's Custom House Commissioner Md Zakir Hossain has been suspended by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for allegedly disobeying official instructions, leading to significant revenue losses and disruptions in trade activities. This move comes after Zakir's department remained closed on June 28 and 29, causing financial losses to the government. The suspension order was issued on Tuesday and takes immediate effect, with Zakir entitled to a subsistence allowance as per government rules during his suspension. The NBR has been embroiled in a dispute with officials, who have been demonstrating and disrupting services in tax, VAT, and customs offices across the country, demanding structural reforms and the removal of the chairman.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended Chittagong Custom House Commissioner Md Zakir Hossain for disobeying official instructions that resulted in significant revenue losses and disruptions in trade activities.
  • Zakir violated a prior directive dated June 18 to remain open on June 21 and June 28 (both Saturdays) to boost revenue collection, but the Chittagong Custom House remained closed on June 28 and June 29, causing disruptions in import and export activities.
  • The NBR suspended Zakir citing breach of instructions, and he will be entitled to a subsistence allowance as per government rules during his suspension.
  • Revenue collection activities across the country have come to a near-complete halt due to an unprecedented shutdown of offices under the NBR, triggered by protests and non-cooperation from officials to press home their demands.
  • The officials, under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council, have been demonstrating with a series of protest programs, demanding structural reforms, the removal of the NBR chairman, and citing allegations of administrative irregularities, officer intimidation, and obstruction of pro-reform efforts.
  • The protests began after the government issued an ordinance on May 12, dissolving the NBR and the Internal Resources Division, replacing them with the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division.
  • Since early June, the protesting officials have held work abstentions, disrupting services in tax, VAT, and customs offices across the country.
  • The suspension of Zakir is in the interest of public service and takes immediate effect, according to the NBR Chairman's signed order.

Statistics:

  • The NBR suspended Zakir following his department's closure on June 28 and June 29, causing financial losses to the government.
  • Revenue collection activities across the country have come to a near-complete halt.
  • June 28 and June 29 saw a "complete shutdown" program and the "march to the NBR" program, with key NBR wings, including Customs, VAT, and Income Tax, remaining virtually inoperative.
  • The protests began after the government issued an ordinance on May 12, dissolving the NBR and the Internal Resources Division.

Sources:

  • "NBR suspends Chittagong Custom House Commissioner for disobeying official instructions." Dhaka Tribune, June 2023.
  • "NBR Reform Unity Council calls for immediate removal of chairman, cites allegations of administrative irregularities, officer intimidation, and obstruction of pro-reform efforts." BDNews24, June 2023.
  • "Government issues ordinance dissolving NBR, Internal Resources Division, and replacing them with Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division." The Daily Star, May 2023.

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