President waives penalties for 21 NBR officials

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has waived disciplinary penalties imposed on 21 National Board of Revenue (NBR) officials over their involvement in last year’s protests for revenue-sector reforms, accepting their appeals for clemency.

The Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the Ministry of Finance issued separate gazette notifications yesterday.

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The disciplinary proceedings were initiated after the officials publicly tore up their transfer orders during protests in June 2025, when NBR officials and employees demonstrated against the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025.

The conduct was classified as a breach of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, according to the IRD notifications.

The protests erupted after the interim government issued the ordinance on May 12. The movement continued for about six weeks and culminated in disruptions at customs and tax offices across the country in late June.

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

The movement, organised under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council, included countrywide sit-ins, marches and rallies, bringing revenue-sector activities to a standstill.

The disruption came at a crucial time for revenue collection as the fiscal year was drawing to a close. NBR officials eventually called off the movement following mediation by business leaders.

During the protests, some officials publicly tore up their transfer orders, while others took organisational roles. Several officials also joined the movement by keeping their offices closed.

The authorities treated the conduct as misconduct under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, and the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

The IRD said the officials later sought pardons through formal appeals, which the president has now approved.

The 21 officials whose penalties have been waived are Commissioner (Current Charge) Md Zakir Hossain; joint commissioners of taxes Morshed Uddin Khan, Masuma Khatun, Md Mamun Mia, Monalisa Shahreen Sushmita and Md Sanwarul Kabir; additional commissioners of taxes Murad Ahmed, Mirza Ashiq Rana, Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rekabdar, Sifat-e-Mariam, Sultana Habib, Chand Sultana Chowdhurany, AAM Amimul Ehsan Khan and Sadhan Kumar Kundu; deputy commissioners Imam Tauhid Hasan Shakil, Md Zillur Rahman, Mohammad Saidul Islam, Mohammad Shihabul Islam and Md Shahadat Jamil; and revenue officers Sobuj Mia and Shafiul Boshr.

According to IRD sources, three more officials are likely to be included in the list, as they have also sought clemency from the president.