Editorial
Badiur's exit
A dignified act leaving a little more to be desired
We have mixed reaction to ex-chairman, National Board of Revenue, Badiur Rahman's dramatic response to his being transferred out of NBR to Ministry of Food and Disaster Management as its secretary. Rather than accepting the new posting order which he thought was unceremonious as he was not given an inkling of what was to come, a courtesy deserved by a senior officer, he has sought voluntary retirement on crossing the 25 years of service threshold.
We commend his moral stance of choosing early retirement. With few years still to go in government service he sets a rare example of dignity and personal esteem to leave on a point of principle. It was courageous for him to have done so, especially when we are used to seeing senior bureaucrats shamefully lobby for extension. However, there is a question in the public mind whether he should have done it with a greater suave and sensitivity. There are certain norms that government officers are expected to abide by. A government has transferred him 'in public interest' and he could have done the same thing -- sought an early retirement -- without so much as creating a stir in public making some of the remarks he made about 'not pleasing his masters' etc.
He has done some good work; revenue collection was on the up. He reflected a sense of purpose, but the credibility he otherwise should have enjoyed seems to have been compromised by some occasional abrasive comments he would make to the press. He apparently failed to distinguish habitual and willful tax evaders from those who were unwitting defaulters. His occasionally sweeping and intimidating remarks left a bad taste. If only he would have handled his job with a greater finesse and sensitivity, he would have got the accolade he deserved and the dignity he eventually upheld would have been his hallmark all throughout his tenure.
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