NBR staff halt strike after govt pledges to meet demands

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Reform Unity Council has suspended its strike after receiving assurances from the Ministry of Finance that their demands will be addressed, including key amendments to the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025, by July 31. 

The decision, announced on Sunday evening, marks a turning point in a weeks-long standoff that saw nationwide protests and an import-export ban loom large.

An NBR official, speaking anonymously to Jago News, confirmed the decision to end the strike. “The government has taken our demands seriously and promised amendments by July 31. We’re returning to work,” the official said. The announcement follows a Ministry of Finance press release on Sunday evening, signed by Public Relations Officer Gazi Touhidul Islam, which addressed lingering concerns raised by the NBR Reform Unity Council.

The strike, which began in early May, was sparked by the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025, which NBR staff feared would undermine their roles. Protests escalated with a memorandum to the Chief Adviser and strikes on May 24–25, culminating in a planned nationwide import-export ban (excluding medicines and life-saving products) set for Monday. The government’s swift response averted further disruption.

The Ministry of Finance’s press release clarified its May 22 note, which had failed to fully address NBR concerns. The government reaffirmed its commitment to:

- Elevate NBR to an independent, specialized division under the Ministry of Finance.

- Protect BCS (Customs and Excise) and BCS (Tax) cadre interests through stakeholder consultations.

- Amend the ordinance by July 31 to separate revenue policy formulation from operations, with implementation paused until changes are complete.

The government expressed hope that these assurances would resolve all concerns, urging tax, customs, and VAT departments to resume operations with “full enthusiasm.”