Seven organisations bearing Grameen tax Wednesday termed “totally baseless” the statements of the finance minister and the National Board of Revenue that they had dodged income tax.
They also trashed the NBR’s claim that eight affiliated organisations of Grameen Bank had taken various income tax facilities illegally.
“We are surprised by their statements. The information both the finance minister and the NBR came up with were totally baseless,” a press release signed by officials of the organisations read.
They claimed to have submitted income tax returns on a regular basis and paid income taxes in line with the law.
They also urged the finance minister and the NBR chairman to provide true information in this regard.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith recently alleged that various companies owned by Dr Muhammad Yunus, not by Grameen Bank, had “obtained tax benefits in the name of Grameen and did not pay income tax.”
In the same vein, an NBR press statement said: After examining 13 “affiliated” organisations of Grameen Bank, it was found that 1) Grameen Fisheries and Livestock Foundation; 2) Grameen Danone Foods Limited; 3) Grameen Capital Management Limited; 4) Grameen Communications; 5) Grameen Shakti; 6) Grameen Udyog; 7) Grameen Trust; and 8) Grameen Kalyan “took various income tax facilities unlawfully.”
The statement was signed by Prof HI Latifee of Grameen Trust, Nazneen Sultana of Grameen Communications, SM Shameen Anwar of Grameen Udyog, Md Ehsanul Bari of Grameen Fisheries and Livestock Foundation, Md Imamus Sultan of Grameen Kalyan, Md Anowar Hossain of Grameen Capital Management and Absar Kamal of Grameen Shakti.