The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has imposed a penalty of demotion by two pay grades on Additional Tax Commissioner Sehela Siddika for misconduct, following the conclusion of a departmental inquiry, while simultaneously withdrawing her temporary suspension.
According to the order, Siddika was found guilty of violating the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979 and the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, after she allegedly organised and encouraged a work-stoppage programme through messages circulated on WhatsApp in May 2025.
While serving, the order said, with the Income Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit in Dhaka, Siddika allegedly posted messages on May 21, 2025, calling on field-level income tax, customs and VAT officials in Dhaka to gather at the NBR headquarters and remain there from morning to evening the following day.
She also urged officials outside Dhaka to observe a similar sit-in at their respective offices.
Later messages clarified that the programme would run from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with import, export and international passenger services exempted.
The authorities held that these actions compelled on-duty officials to abandon their official responsibilities, thereby disrupting national revenue collection activities.
The conduct was deemed a clear violation of Rule 30A of the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1979, and constituted misconduct under Rule 32 of the same rules.
A departmental case was initiated under Rule 3(b) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. After Siddika submitted her written explanation and sought a personal hearing, a hearing was held on December 3, 2025.
Subsequently, an inquiry officer was appointed, who concluded that the charges of misconduct had been proven beyond doubt.
After reviewing the show-cause reply, inquiry report and all relevant documents, the competent authority decided to impose a penalty under Rule 4(2)(gh) of the 2018 rules.
As a result, Siddika’s basic salary has been reduced by two grades—from Tk 71,200 to Tk 65,820.
The order also stated that her temporary suspension has been withdrawn and that the decision will take effect immediately.
