Dr Yunus must pay Tk 666 crore in taxes: High Court verdict

The High Court has ruled that Grameen Kalyan, owned by former Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus, must pay Tk 666 crore in taxes demanded by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

The High Court bench led by Justice Md Majibur Rahman Mia delivered the verdict on Thursday, September 10, dismissing the rule issued in this regard. The verdict stated that the amount must be paid within the next three financial years.

On August 4, 2024, the High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the validity of the NBR's demand for Tk 666 crore in taxes from Grameen Kalyan, owned by Muhammad Yunus. The High Court bench of Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir delivered that verdict. Lawyers had said Dr Yunus would have to pay Tk 666 crore to the government.

Earlier, on March 11 of that year, the Appellate Division directed the High Court to dispose of the case regarding the Tk 666 crore tax demand on Dr Muhammad Yunus's Grameen Kalyan within three months.

However, after Dr Muhammad Yunus became the Chief Adviser of the interim government, on October 3, 2024, the High Court withdrew its verdict on its own initiative. The High Court bench of Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir withdrew the verdict. At the same time, the case documents were sent to the Chief Justice. When the documents were sent back to the High Court, the High Court issued a rule questioning the validity of the NBR's demand for Tk 666 crore in taxes. The High Court delivered its verdict today dismissing that rule. As a result of this verdict, lawyers said Grameen Kalyan, owned by Muhammad Yunus, must pay the Tk 666 crore in taxes demanded by the NBR.