Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will keep its offices open on Fridays and Saturdays to facilitate business activities in a bid to offset losses due to countrywide shutdown.
All of the customs offices will remain open on Fridays and Saturdays until issuance of further order, NBR chairman Ghulam Hossain told the newsmen after a meeting with Finance Minister A M A Muhith. 
Value Added Tax (VAT) and income tax offices will remain open on Saturdays. But, commissioners concerned can keep their respective offices open on Fridays also, if they feel it necessary. However, the NBR head office will remain open on both the holiday days. 
The NBR is going to send an order in this connection on Thursday to all tax offices and customs houses.
Customs houses will remain open on Fridays and Saturdays for export activities, while imported goods can be released on Saturdays. 
The NBR has taken the move following concerns of businesses communities over sluggish trend of their activities amid the prevailing political uncertainty.
Since December last the country faced nearly 20 days shutdown. Leading businessmen Tuesday met the Finance Minister to express their concern.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-28Mar13-10:12 am (BST)