The National Board of Revenue has summoned Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to collect nearly Tk 140 million in taxes due from him.
The NBR in a letter sent recently asked Yunus to meet with the relevant commissioner of Taxes Zone-6 on Mar 29, it is learnt.
Relevant taxation officials have said the nobel laureate has moved the court over this. But we want to resolve it through discussions.The Bangladesh Bank in March 2011 ordered Yunus’ removal as the Grameen Bank managing director, saying that his reappointment was not approved by it and that he had been managing director illegally since 1999.
He went to court to fight the central bank’s order, but lost the legal battle. Two months later, he stepped down from the office.
Yunus reportedly had Tk 13,85,25,000 (nearly 140 million) in unpaid taxes. The tax, sources said, was imposed on the money Yunus had received as award or honorarium at home or abroad over the years.
The NBR for the past three years has been urging the Nobel laureate to pay the taxes. “But he does not want to pay the tax on that money. He has also moved the court after NBR rejected his plea,” said the official.
Officials said they would release a statement soon on the issue. – News Desk
