Latest news with #customsstrike
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bangladesh's biggest port resumes operations as strike ends
Bangladesh's biggest port resumed operations on Monday after customs officials called off a strike that had disrupted the export and import of goods for around 48 hours. Sehela Siddiqa, Joint Tax Commissioner and secretary of the NBR Reform Unity Council -- a platform of protesting workers -- confirmed the resumption of activities at Chittagong and all other ports. "The ports are now fully functional and operating across the country," Siddiqa told AFP. "All employees have returned to work." A section of employees at the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the country's tax collection authority, has been protesting for over a month against a move by the interim government to reform the agency. The government's proposal includes abolishing the NBR and establishing two separate bodies to handle tax policy formulation and tax collection. Over the weekend, some NBR staff launched what they called a "complete shutdown", stopping work in a range of departments, including customs. The workers resumed duties after the government threatened tough action. The deadlock ended late Sunday night after hours of intensive negotiations between NBR staff and the Ministry of Finance, mediated by business groups. Senior NBR official Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar said they called off the strike after positive pledges from the government. "We welcome the government's decision to form an advisory committee for reforms in revenue management, and we hope to contribute to the process by actively participating in it," he told reporters on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a probe against six NBR officials, including Rikabdar, for allegedly amassing illicit wealth. They were accused of facilitating tax evaders in exchange for bribes. "Based on verified allegations, the ACC initiated the investigation," ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain said. sa/pjm/dhw
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bangladesh's biggest port resumes operations as strike ends
Bangladesh's biggest port resumed operations on Monday after customs officials called off a strike that had disrupted the export and import of goods for around 48 hours. Sehela Siddiqa, Joint Tax Commissioner and secretary of the NBR Reform Unity Council -- a platform of protesting workers -- confirmed the resumption of activities at Chittagong and all other ports. "The ports are now fully functional and operating across the country," Siddiqa told AFP. "All employees have returned to work." A section of employees at the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the country's tax collection authority, has been protesting for over a month against a move by the interim government to reform the agency. The government's proposal includes abolishing the NBR and establishing two separate bodies to handle tax policy formulation and tax collection. Over the weekend, some NBR staff launched what they called a "complete shutdown", stopping work in a range of departments, including customs. The workers resumed duties after the government threatened tough action. The deadlock ended late Sunday night after hours of intensive negotiations between NBR staff and the Ministry of Finance, mediated by business groups. Senior NBR official Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar said they called off the strike after positive pledges from the government. "We welcome the government's decision to form an advisory committee for reforms in revenue management, and we hope to contribute to the process by actively participating in it," he told reporters on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a probe against six NBR officials, including Rikabdar, for allegedly amassing illicit wealth. They were accused of facilitating tax evaders in exchange for bribes. "Based on verified allegations, the ACC initiated the investigation," ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain said. sa/pjm/dhw Sign in to access your portfolio
CNA
7 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Bangladesh's biggest port resumes operations as strike ends
DHAKA: Bangladesh's biggest port resumed operations on Monday (Jun 30) after customs officials called off a strike that had disrupted the export and import of goods for around 48 hours. Sehela Siddiqa, Joint Tax Commissioner and secretary of the NBR Reform Unity Council – a platform of protesting workers – confirmed the resumption of activities at Chittagong and all other ports. "The ports are now fully functional and operating across the country," Siddiqa told AFP. "All employees have returned to work." A section of employees at the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the country's tax collection authority, has been protesting for over a month against a move by the interim government to reform the agency. The government's proposal includes abolishing the NBR and establishing two separate bodies to handle tax policy formulation and tax collection. Over the weekend, some NBR staff launched what they called a "complete shutdown", stopping work in a range of departments, including customs. The workers resumed duties after the government threatened tough action. The deadlock ended late Sunday night after hours of intensive negotiations between NBR staff and the Ministry of Finance, mediated by business groups. Senior NBR official Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar said they called off the strike after positive pledges from the government. "We welcome the government's decision to form an advisory committee for reforms in revenue management, and we hope to contribute to the process by actively participating in it," he told reporters on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a probe against six NBR officials, including Rikabdar, for allegedly amassing illicit wealth. They were accused of facilitating tax evaders in exchange for bribes.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Strike shuts down Bangladesh's biggest port
Operations at Bangladesh's biggest port were suspended on Sunday as a strike by customs officials brought shipping activity to a halt. The shutdown at Chittagong Port is part of an ongoing dispute between tax authority employees and the government, which is trying to overhaul the body. "The port typically handles around 7,000 to 8,000 containers daily... But since this morning, there has been no movement in offloading or onboarding of goods," said Mohammed Omar Faruq, secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority. "This is having a huge impact on the country's economic situation," he told AFP. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment manufacturer, while textile and garment production accounts for about 80 percent of the country's exports. Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said the halt in port operations would cost the industry $222 million. "The cost of recovery will be staggering -- beyond comprehension -- and many factories risk going bankrupt," he told AFP. Staff at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have been striking on and off for weeks over plans to split the authority into two separate bodies. Bangladesh's interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, urged them to end the walkout. "We hope NBR's staff will report back to work setting aside their unlawful programme that goes against the national interest of the country," his office said in a statement. "Otherwise for the sake of the people of this country and safeguarding the economy the government will be left with no option but to act firmly," the statement added. NBR staff were prevented from entering their offices on Sunday after a government order sought to stop them from protesting within their building premises. Meanwhile, 13 business chambers held a press conference on Saturday urging the government to resolve the issue as soon as possible. sa/asv/rsc
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Strike shuts down Bangladesh's biggest port
Operations at Bangladesh's biggest port were suspended on Sunday as a strike by customs officials brought shipping activity to a halt. The shutdown at Chittagong Port is part of an ongoing dispute between tax authority employees and the government, which is trying to overhaul the body. "The port typically handles around 7,000 to 8,000 containers daily... But since this morning, there has been no movement in offloading or onboarding of goods," said Mohammed Omar Faruq, secretary of the Chittagong Port Authority. "This is having a huge impact on the country's economic situation," he told AFP. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest garment manufacturer, while textile and garment production accounts for about 80 percent of the country's exports. Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said the halt in port operations would cost the industry $222 million. "The cost of recovery will be staggering -- beyond comprehension -- and many factories risk going bankrupt," he told AFP. Staff at the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have been striking on and off for weeks over plans to split the authority into two separate bodies. Bangladesh's interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, urged them to end the walkout. "We hope NBR's staff will report back to work setting aside their unlawful programme that goes against the national interest of the country," his office said in a statement. "Otherwise for the sake of the people of this country and safeguarding the economy the government will be left with no option but to act firmly," the statement added. NBR staff were prevented from entering their offices on Sunday after a government order sought to stop them from protesting within their building premises. Meanwhile, 13 business chambers held a press conference on Saturday urging the government to resolve the issue as soon as possible. sa/asv/rsc Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
