President revokes punishment of 21 NBR officials over 2025 protests

The president has revoked the punitive measures imposed on 21 National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials who participated in protests against the restructuring of the revenue sector last year, after they appealed for clemency.

The Internal Resources Division (IRD) issued separate notifications confirming the withdrawal of the punishments today (6 September).

The officials had publicly torn up transfer orders issued to them during the protests, which authorities deemed a violation of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules.

Some of the officials played organising roles in the movement, while others joined protests while keeping their offices closed.

According to the IRD notifications, the officials had been transferred during the revenue sector movement in June 2025 and later publicly tore up the transfer orders.

The notifications said the actions violated Rule 30A of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979 and constituted “misconduct” under Rule (b) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

Following departmental investigations in which the allegations were found to have been proven, the officials received different penalties, including temporary suspension and reduction in pay grade.

The IRD said the officials later filed appeals seeking clemency. The president granted the appeals and ordered the punitive measures to be revoked.

The officials whose punishments were revoked are Commissioner (Current Charge) Md Zakir Hossain; joint commissioners of taxes Morshed Uddin Khan, Masuma Khatun, Md Mamun Mia, Monalisa Shahrin Susmita and Md Sanwarul Kabir; deputy commissioners of taxes Imam Tauhid Hasan Shakil, Md Zillur Rahman, Mohammad Saidul Islam and Mohammad Shihabul Islam; additional commissioners of taxes Murad Ahmed, Mirza Ashik Rana, Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdan Sifat-e-Morium, Sultana Habib, Chand Sultana Chowdhurani, AAM Amimul Ehsan Khan and Sadhan Kumar Kundu; Second Secretary (Deputy Commissioner) Md Shahadat Jamil; and revenue officers Sabuj Mia and Shafiul Bashar.

The officials’ movement followed the issuance of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025 on 12 May 2025. NBR officers and employees staged protests for nearly one and a half months against the ordinance.

Towards the end of June, work came to a halt at customs and tax offices across the country, severely disrupting revenue collection at the close of the financial year.

For several consecutive days, work remained suspended at all customs and tax offices nationwide, including the NBR headquarters in the capital. Such a shutdown was unprecedented in the NBR’s history.

The movement included countrywide sit-ins, marches and rallies, bringing revenue sector activities to a standstill.

The NBR officers and employees eventually suspended the movement following mediation by business leaders. Various disciplinary measures, including suspensions and transfers, were subsequently taken against officials in connection with the protests.