Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus has deposited 54 crore taka in the bank to file the income tax appeal in connection with a violation of tax payment of 2011 to 2013 tax years.
This money was deposited at the Rupali Bank Pallabi branch on Sunday (March 10) afternoon on the instructions of the High Court.
Earlier on February 12 the High Court directed Dr. Muhammad Yunus's Grameen Telecom Trust to file an income tax appeal for the tax year 2011 to 13 by depositing Tk 54 crore.
Before going to the appellate division he deposited the money in the bank.
Prior to that, on January 28, Dr. Yunus appeared before the court in the case of violation of the labor law and filed an appeal against the court's verdict. Yunus and three other officials of Grameen Telecom were accused. The High Court rejected the application. That time Dr. Yunus and others said that they are going to the appellate division against this verdict.
Yunus' lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun was speaking to the media.
Assistant Attorney General Barrister Tahmina Polly said that in November 2020 the National Board of Revenue (NBR) sent a notice to the Grameen Kalyan Trust demanding income tax of around Tk 250 crore for two years (2011 to 2013). In response, the Grameen Kalyan Trust asked for a waiver saying that there is no money.
After issuance of another notice in this regard, Gramin Telecom filed a writ in the High Court challenging the notice. The court also issued a rule on why the notice of hearing of the writ should not be said to be illegal. Then in the last three years, the case went to various courts and finally landed to the concerned bench of the High Court. After long hearings, the court dismissed Grameen Telecom's writ petition. HC also ordered Grameen Telecom to deposit 25 percent of the income tax demanded as per rules before filing an appeal.