High Court Publishes Full Verdict Directing Grameen Kalyan to Pay Tk 6.66 Billion in Taxes

Grameen Kalyan, an organization owned by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has been directed to pay Tk 6.66 billion in taxes claimed by the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The High Court’s full verdict has been published, with the payment to be made within the next three fiscal years, according to relevant sources.

The complete copy of the verdict was released on Monday, October 12, after being signed by the judges of a High Court bench comprising Justice Md. Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Rezaul Karim.

On September 10, the High Court dismissed two writ petitions filed by Grameen Kalyan. The decision removed the legal obstacle to the NBR’s tax recovery claim against the organization.

Grameen Kalyan filed the separate writ petitions in 2017, challenging income tax demands for five assessment years, from 2012–13 to 2016–17, following a reassessment. The court initially issued rules on the petitions. After a hearing before a new High Court bench, the rules were discharged.

Following the verdict, Grameen Kalyan’s lawyer, Khaja Tanvir, told the media that the organization had challenged the legality of the NBR’s tax demand. However, the court’s dismissal of the rules left the tax claim in force.

Earlier, on October 4, 2024, a previous High Court verdict concerning recovery of the Tk 6.66 billion tax claim was withdrawn suo motu. The case was subsequently sent to a new bench, which later dismissed Grameen Kalyan’s writ petitions.

With the publication of the full verdict, the NBR’s tax claim against Grameen Kalyan remains in force, with payment required within the period specified by the court.