Finance adviser suspects businessmen’s involvement behind NBR employees` protest 

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has suspected that a section of business beneficiaries from the previous Awami League government are fueling the ongoing protests by National Board of Revenue (NBR) employees against the government's reform plans.

The adviser said this after a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee on Government Purchase at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

The government’s initiative to split the NBR into two divisions – Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division – has faced unexpected backlash, particularly from members of the BCS (Tax) and BCS (Customs and Excise) cadres, he said.

“I suspect there are vested interests at play. Otherwise, why would they be so suddenly outraged over career concerns? If there wasn't something more behind it, this reaction wouldn't make sense. But to be clear, I'm not directly blaming the business community,” Salehuddin further said.

The finance adviser has urged all NBR officials to remain at their posts and prioritise revenue collection in the final stretch of the fiscal year.