Dhaka, May 16 -- Amid a pen-down strike, officials and employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) have demanded the immediate repeal of the recent ordinance that seeks to split the agency into two separate divisions.

Although asserting they are "not opposed to reform," the NBR Reform Unity Council, which is a platform representing officials from income tax, customs, and VAT departments, said in a statement on Thursday that the ordinance disregards the significance of experience and expertise in revenue administration.

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

It bifurcates the NBR into a Revenue Policy Division and a Revenue Administration Division.

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