BM Report: The government’s high-level initiative to end the protracted standoff at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has eventually resulted in the shutdown program being removed. This decision was made during a two-and-a-half-hour discussion on Thursday night at the Financial Advisor’s office in relation to the NBR Reform Unity Council movement.

This development was reported in a government announcement on Friday, June 27. The Finance Secretary, the Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division, the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, and sixteen board members attended the significant meeting presided over by the Financial Advisor.

After a long discussion, the concerned officials reached three important decisions, which are-

1. The ‘Complete Shutdown’ and ‘March to NBR’ programs announced by the NBR Reform Unity Council will be withdrawn.

2. Two recent transfer orders of some NBR officials will be reconsidered.

3. A discussion meeting will be held on July 1 (Tuesday) at 4 pm on the amendment of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025.

The leaders of the NBR Reform Unity Council, the Advisory Committee on Revenue Board Reform and members of the National Board of Revenue will participate in the discussion meeting. The government hopes that based on this discussion, it will be possible to take a final decision on the necessary amendments to the ordinance by July 31, 2025.

The government has expressed hope that this initiative will resolve the ongoing deadlock and the revenue sector will return to normal. In the interest of keeping public service activities including business and trade, import and export active, the government has directed all NBR officials and employees to perform their duties as usual from their respective offices.

According to a statement signed by the Ministry of Finance’s Public Relations Officer, Gazi Touhidul Islam, the government hopes the NBR Reform Unity Council would likewise play a responsible role by placing the highest priority on national interests.