In a dramatic and unannounced policy shift, the Government of Bangladesh has dissolved the long-standing National Board of Revenue (NBR), replacing it with two newly formed divisions: the Revenue Policy Division and the Revenue Management Division.
According to official sources, the decision was executed with extreme confidentiality and was implemented during the late hours of Monday night. An ordinance titled “Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Ordinance” was issued by the interim government, marking the official end of the NBR as a single body.
Under the new administrative framework, responsibilities have been split between the two new divisions:
- The Revenue Policy Division will now oversee tax laws and monitor tax collection practices across the country.
- The Revenue Management Division will be directly responsible for the actual collection and enforcement of revenue.
This restructuring aims to bring more efficiency and transparency into the country’s taxation system, government insiders claimed.
One of the most controversial aspects of this development is the exclusion of BCS Tax and Customs cadre officers from the decision-making process. Despite their critical role in managing the nation’s taxation and customs duties, their opinions were reportedly overlooked during the formulation of this major reform.
Interestingly, while the Revenue Policy Division seems to have been reshaped slightly, the ordinance mentions that administrative roles within the Revenue Management Division will now include officers from both the administrative cadre and tax/customs cadre, perhaps as a compromise to include experienced hands in revenue collection operations.
Several tax officials and policy experts have expressed concerns about the sudden nature of this decision. While many agree that reform was needed, the lack of consultation and transparency has raised questions about long-term effectiveness and governance strategy.
“This abrupt move, without stakeholder engagement, could disrupt ongoing tax administration projects,” said a senior official requesting anonymity.
As the NBR era comes to a close, the new dual-divisional system is expected to undergo immediate implementation. However, operational guidelines, staffing policies, and technological support systems for the two new divisions have yet to be fully disclosed.
Analysts believe the success of this transformation will depend on the government’s ability to clearly define the scopes of both divisions, eliminate overlapping responsibilities, and foster collaboration between administrative and tax cadre officers.
The dissolution of the National Board of Revenue marks a turning point in Bangladesh’s administrative history. Whether this bold restructuring will lead to a more efficient tax system or create unforeseen complications remains to be seen. Transparency, consultation, and clear implementation strategies will be key to ensuring this reform delivers on its promise.
