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4w ago

Bangladesh Orders Tax and Customs Workers Back to Work as Chittagong Port Shutdown Continues

Classifying revenue roles as essential, the interim government has barred staff from office premises, warning of strict measures if operations do not resume

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Muhammad Yunus, interim head of the Bangladesh government, attends the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 23, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
Officials at Chittagong Port, which handles the majority of Dhaka's import and export activity, said there had been no movement of goods since morning
Bangladesh's biggest port resumed operations on Monday

Overview

  • The interim government’s June 29 statement declared all National Board of Revenue roles essential and threatened strict action against staff who do not resume work immediately.
  • Customs and tax workers walked out in a two-day strike that has paralyzed Chittagong Port’s handling of 7,000 to 8,000 containers daily, endangering roughly $222 million in garment export revenue.
  • A government order prevented NBR staff from entering office premises to stop on-site protests, intensifying the standoff.
  • Revenue officials are pressing for structural reforms to the new divisions and the resignation of the NBR chairman, citing fears of job insecurity and loss of institutional independence.
  • Industry groups warn that a prolonged deadlock could disrupt supply chains, squeeze revenue collection and weaken investor confidence in a broader climate of civil-service unrest.