Dhaka, June 29 (V7N) — Nationwide operations of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) came to a virtual halt on Saturday as officials and employees enforced a "shutdown" and staged a "March to NBR" demonstration in Dhaka, demanding structural reforms and the removal of NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem.

The protest, organized under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council, brought revenue collection to a standstill and severely disrupted import and export activities at ports and customs offices across the country.

Twelve of the country’s leading business associations have expressed serious concern over the situation, warning of significant economic losses. According to their joint estimate, the garment sector alone is suffering disruptions to operations worth nearly Tk 2,500 crore (approx. USD 213 million) each day due to the strike.

Despite the growing pressure, the NBR Reform Unity Council announced that their shutdown and protest programs would continue into Sunday. However, services for international passengers will remain exempt to avoid public suffering.

The protests began after the Ministry of Finance issued an ordinance on May 12, dissolving the NBR and dividing it into two new bodies: the Department of Revenue Policy and the Department of Revenue Administration. This move triggered strong opposition among NBR officials and staff.

Although the Finance Ministry later promised on May 25 to amend the ordinance by July 31—prompting a temporary suspension of protests—demonstrations resumed on June 22 with an escalated demand for the NBR chairman’s removal.

With revenue operations paralyzed and business leaders sounding the alarm, there is growing pressure on the government to engage with the protesting workforce and resolve the crisis before further damage is done to the economy.

END/SMA/AJ/