Bangladesh’s revenue collection faced a temporary setback, but the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is determined to overcome challenges and work for the country’s interest, NBR Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at the NBR headquarters in Dhaka on June 30, Khan acknowledged that tax collection had hit a slight bump compared to expectations. “Revenue collection is certainly higher than last year, but recent disruptions to business activities have caused a minor stumble,” he said. “Still, leaving all issues behind, we will work together in the national interest and move our tasks forward. I hope we won’t face such major hurdles again.”

The NBR chairman expressed confidence that tax officials would continue performing with the same skill and dedication as in the past. He noted that customs houses resumed operations on Sunday afternoon after officials called off their work stoppage, bringing relief to businesses and policymakers alike. “Since this morning, all our offices are fully operational. Customs houses, ICDs, VAT, and tax offices are working. As today marks the end of the fiscal year, we are making a strong push to bring revenues from the pipeline into the treasury,” he said.

Sharing the latest figures, Khan reported that as of 10 a.m. on Monday, total revenue collection stood at 3.61 trillion taka. “The final numbers, including today’s treasury deposits, will be available tomorrow. Adjustments for government project taxes and VAT bills take some time, and the final figures typically come in after two to three weeks.”

He also highlighted that Bangladesh’s revenue reporting has become more systematic, eliminating discrepancies that previously existed between NBR and Bangladesh Bank data. “Now everyone uses the same figures.”

Looking ahead, Khan said tax offices and banks were open throughout the day, with officers closely monitoring year-end taxpayers. “I expect substantial deposits today. Once government bills are adjusted, we will definitely surpass last year’s total. Even if we fall slightly short of our earlier projections, there will be clear growth. In July, we will launch another drive to bring in more revenue, as the government’s spending needs will rise.”

He concluded by assuring that the NBR’s activities would continue with full momentum in the coming months.