The High Court has postponed for two weeks the hearing on a writ petition challenging the legality of the ordinance and administrative actions that dissolved the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and created two new divisions named Revenue Policy and Revenue Management. The bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Anwarul Islam announced the decision on Monday, February 16, after five days of hearings, without issuing any rule. NBR’s counsel Barrister Omar Faruk confirmed the decision, noting that the court will observe the new parliament’s stance once the government is formed.

The writ was filed by Tanvir Ahmed, a joint secretary of the Cabinet Division, who argued that the new rule requiring secretaries to have VAT and tax experience reduces his eligibility for promotion. He also claimed that the changes to the Rules of Business were unconstitutional and beyond the advisory council’s authority. A previous bench had dismissed a similar petition in August, citing non-presentation.

The government issued the ordinance on May 12 of the previous year, sparking protests among NBR officials under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council. Although amendments were later made, the protests continued until June 29, when the movement was withdrawn following government warnings and reports of anti-corruption investigations.