Dhaka, May 14 -- A midnight decision dissolving the National Board of Revenue into two entities triggers raucous protests as NBR staffers threw a three-day nationwide pen-down strike in revenue offices, while the government and economists termed it a "welcome move".

A newly issued ordinance also provided for abolishing the Internal Resources Division (IRD), evidently following recommendations from international development financiers and noted economists as a measure for streamlining the revenue sector and raising Bangladesh's tax-GDP-ratio.

The reform step is taken to improve efficiency, reduce conflicts of interest, and widen tax base, the CA Office said Tuesday in an explanation, citing a total of 10 reasons.

Sadhan Kumar Kundu, Add...