Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been summoned by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) here to settle a case involving nearly Tk 14 crore (Rs.11.2 crore) unpaid taxes.
The founder of the pioneering micro finance institution Grameen Bank has been summoned to appear before the tax office on March 29, said the NBR on Monday. Before summoning Dr. Yunus, the Board wrote to him earlier this week to attend a parley with its officials to end the dispute involving the unpaid tax.
However, an official of the revenue board said it was routine for tax offices to hold meetings with taxpayers to realise unpaid taxes if it crossd Tk 50 lakh.
According to tax authorities, Dr. Yunus has not paid more than Tk 15.53 crore as tax for the fiscal year 2011-2012. He also has allegedly not paid taxes in the year of 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 against his donation to his family members, poor people and different organisations, the NBR sources said.
The donation is not seen by the NBR as tax-free. The NBR’s claim, however, is now in the High Court as Dr. Yunus on March 5 this year filed a case against the NBR move.
In 2012, the NBR summoned the income tax files of Grameen Bank and its 54 associate companies founded by Dr. Yunus.
The Nobel laureate first faced criticism after a Norwegian TV documentary broadcast in 2010 held him responsible for misusing donor funds. It had uncovered documents revealing that nearly $100 million in donor funds to Grameen Bank were transferred out of the bank to a private corporation, Grameen Kalyan, which was also set up by Dr. Yunus.
The Bangladesh Bank in March 2011 had ordered Dr. Yunus’ removal as the Grameen Bank managing director, on the allegation that his reappointment was not approved by the central bank and that he had been managing director illegally since 1999. Dr. Yunus went to court to fight the central bank’s order, but lost the legal battle. Later, he stepped down from the office.
Dr. Yunus was not available for comment as he was currently abroad, said an official of the Yunus Centre in Dhaka.
