Dhaka, May 13 -- The interim government has said it split the National Board of Revenue (NBR) into two parts to enhance efficiency, reduce conflicts of interest, and expand Bangladesh's tax base.

The Chief Advisor's Office (CAO) issued a statement on Tuesday, a day after the ordinance was passed, amid calls for a work stoppage by a section of NBR officials.

"This decision is not only about administrative reform," the statement read. "Its core objective is to separate tax policy-making from tax administration, to increase efficiency, reduce conflict of interest and broaden the tax-GDP ratio."

The caretaker administration issued the ordinance on Monday night, following draft approval by the Advisory Council on Apr 17.

It bifurcates the ...