• Bangladesh government orders striking customs officials back to work, ending a 48-hour strike.
• Chittagong Port operations resume, easing concerns over trade disruptions.
• Negotiations between NBR staff and the government lead to the strike's conclusion.
• Anti-Corruption Commission launches an investigation into NBR officials.

The Bangladesh government ordered tax and customs officials to resume work immediately on Sunday, following a two-day nationwide strike that had stalled operations, particularly at the vital Chittagong Port. The interim government emphasized the need for uninterrupted import-export activities to protect the economy, stating, “Officials and employees must return to work at once...otherwise, the government will be compelled to take strict measures,” according to Reuters.

The customs strike had significantly hampered trade, but operations resumed on Monday after extensive negotiations involving the Ministry of Finance and business groups, as confirmed by Sehela Siddiqa, the joint tax commissioner. “The ports are now fully functional and operating across the country,” she announced. The protest stemmed from proposed government reforms to dissolve the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and establish new tax collection entities, heightening concerns among tax officials regarding job security, according to Dawn and Channel News Asia.

The crisis concluded after the government made pledges to form an advisory committee to involve NBR employees in the reform discussions, a move welcomed by senior NBR official Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar. However, the situation remains tense as the Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an investigation into six NBR officials, including Rikabdar, for allegedly facilitating tax evasion through bribery, according to Channel News Asia and Dawn.