Businessmen have demanded the immediate removal of Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem, chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the country’s sole authority for tax policies and tax laws.

The demand was voiced during a view-exchange meeting held on Monday at a hotel in Dhaka, attended by representatives of around 27 export-oriented business bodies.

“We demand that Muneem be removed by tomorrow, otherwise, we will lay siege to the NBR Chairman’s office,” said Mohammad Hatem, executive President of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA).

Hatem also urged the authorities to halt the process of attaining LDC (Least Developed Country) graduation by 2026, citing the country’s current economic and political situation as a significant concern.

During the programme, the businessmen claimed that they could not speak out during the last 15 years' tenure of the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

They further alleged that major business associations, including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), have been politicised, preventing them from voicing their opinions to address the industrial challenges.

Additionally, the businessmen alleged that NBR officials have subjected them to various forms of harassment over the past 15 years.

They claimed that despite the downturn in business, the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has deliberately released false data on exports.