National Revenue Board and CSO Alliance Hold Meeting to Enhance Collaborative Efforts

On Sunday, August 6, 2023, a pivotal meeting took place between the CSO Alliance and the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at the office of the NBR Chairman. The meeting, held at 12:00 PM in the NBR Chairman’s conference room, aimed to address concerns regarding the harassment of NGOs working diligently across national and grassroots levels. The key focus was to clarify the application of rules and regulations under the Income Tax Act that affect NGO operations, with the objective of issuing a circular with clear explanations as soon as possible to mitigate these issues.

Representing the CSO Alliance, the meeting was led by Rasheda K. Choudhury, the convener of the alliance and Executive Director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE). Other prominent alliance members included Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC; Maleka Banu, General Secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad; Hasin Jahan, Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh; and Syeed Ahamed, Coordinator of the CSO Alliance Secretariat and CEO of IID.

The discussion underscored the importance of regulatory clarity and a supportive environment for NGOs working at both national and field levels. The outcome is expected to facilitate smoother operations for NGOs while ensuring compliance with the Income Tax Act, reinforcing collaboration between civil society and the government for effective development work across the country.