President waives penalties on 21 NBR officials over protest

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has waived disciplinary penalties imposed on 21 National Board of Revenue 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 today.

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The disciplinary proceedings had originally been triggered by the officials publicly ripping up their transfer orders during the unrest 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 protests lasted for about six weeks and culminated in disruptions to operations at customs and tax offices across the country in late June.

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, 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. The 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 on organising roles. Several officials also joined the movement by keeping their respective 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 noted that the officials subsequently sought pardons through formal appeals — requests the president has now approved.

The 21 officials cleared of their penalties 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.