​A surge in the entry of outsiders at the head office of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Rajashwa Bhaban, in Agargaon, Dhaka, has raised security concerns. Under these circumstances, NBR has instructed officials and employees working in the building to enter using their official identity cards.

​An urgent notice in this regard was issued on Monday (September 14) by the Board Administration (Estate Branch) of NBR. This directive will take effect from Tuesday (September 15).

​The notice stated that due to a significant rise in the entry of outsiders into Rajashwa Bhaban in recent times, security concerns have arisen. To control the access of outsiders, all officials and employees working at NBR and other offices located in the building are hereby directed to enter Rajashwa Bhaban by displaying their official identity cards.

​The head office at Rajashwa Bhaban houses several important divisions and offices of NBR. These include the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC), Income Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit, Large Taxpayers Unit (LTU), International Tax Unit, and various Tax Appeal Zones. Offices of a few non-NBR departments and tribunals are also situated in the same building.

​According to the notice, officials and employees of these located offices must also enter the building using their identity cards. NBR believes this will make it easier to distinguish between employees and outsiders.

​According to NBR sources, there has been a recent increase in outsiders entering Rajashwa Bhaban under various identities. In particular, individuals visiting under political identities have created complications in security management.

​Recently, after Ahsan Habib took charge as the new Chairman of NBR, the agency took steps regarding the influx of various individuals and officials coming to greet him. The practice of greeting the Chairman with flowers was discouraged.

​Additionally, visits by groups of NBR officials from various batches to greet the Chairman were stopped. Directives were also issued prohibiting officials and employees from leaving their workplace during office hours without permission.

​However, despite these measures, sources indicated that it was not possible to fully control the entry of outsiders using political or other identities. Security personnel were also not always able to distinguish between building staff and outsiders based on attire or appearance.

​In this situation, the initiative to make the use of official identity cards mandatory for employees working in Rajashwa Bhaban was taken.

​signed by NBR Second Secretary (Estate) Md. Ramiz Uddin Ahmed, the notice has been sent to all members of NBR, heads of various tax zones and units, Appeal Tribunals, CIC, Large Taxpayers Unit, International Tax Unit, and other relevant offices located in Rajashwa Bhaban.

​Copies of the notice have also been forwarded to the Private Secretary to the NBR Chairman, Member (Board Administration), and First Secretary (Board Administration).