Grameen Kalyan appeals against HC verdict directing Tk 666cr in back taxes

An appeal has been filed against a High Court verdict directing Grameen Kalyan, an organisation owned by Dr Muhammad Yunus, to pay Tk 666 crore in income tax claimed by the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Grameen Kalyan submitted the appeal petition to the relevant branch of the Appellate Division on Sunday (October 18).

Earlier, on September 10, a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Miah and Justice Rezaul Karim dismissed two writ petitions filed by Grameen Kalyan. According to lawyers, this removed the legal obstacle to the NBR collecting the claimed amount.

According to case documents, the dispute between the NBR and Grameen Kalyan began over the reassessment of income tax for five assessment years, from 2012-13 to 2016-17. In 2017, the organisation filed two separate writ petitions challenging the validity of the tax demand. After the initial hearing, the High Court issued a rule on the matter. The court later discharged that rule.

The two separate full verdicts in the case were published on October 12, after the justices signed them. Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun and Barrister Fida M Kamal argued on behalf of Grameen Kalyan in court.

Previously, on October 4, 2024, a High Court bench, on its own motion, withdrew an earlier verdict in the matter and sent the case file to the Chief Justice. The case was subsequently sent to a new bench for hearing.

All eyes are now on the next judicial steps following Grameen Kalyan’s appeal against the High Court verdict. The hearing and disposal of the petition in the Appellate Division will clarify the legal position on the tax demand.