The Chamber Court of Bangladesh’s Appellate Division has, for now, upheld a High Court ruling requiring Grameen Kalyan, an organization associated with Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to pay Tk 666 crore (approximately $55 million) in taxes claimed by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

The order was issued on Monday by the Chamber Court of Justice Farah Mahbub after hearing an application filed by Grameen Kalyan seeking a stay on the High Court verdict.

In its observation, the court said:

“We will not interfere in this matter until the full judgment is released.”

Lawyers Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun and Barrister Khaza Tanvir Ahmed represented Grameen Kalyan during the hearing.

Speaking to reporters, Barrister Khaza Tanvir Ahmed said the High Court verdict remains effective for now. However, he noted that the NBR is not expected to take any action until the full written judgment is published.

Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun explained that Grameen Kalyan had previously filed two writ petitions challenging what it described as additional tax demands imposed by the revenue authority.

According to him, those petitions were dismissed by the High Court on September 10.

“We sought a stay of the High Court judgment before the Chamber Judge. The court said that since the full judgment has not yet been issued and reviewed, it would not interfere at this stage,” he told journalists.

He further said that representatives of the NBR and the Attorney General’s Office assured the court that no immediate enforcement measures would be taken before the detailed judgment becomes available.

“The Chamber Judge did not interfere in the matter. Therefore, there is no scope for any department to intervene before the judgment is published,” he added.

Background of the Case

On September 10, the High Court ruled that Grameen Kalyan must pay the Tk 666 crore tax liability claimed by the National Board of Revenue.

The verdict was delivered by a High Court bench led by Justice Md. Mojibur Rahman Mia, which discharged the rule previously issued in connection with the matter.

The dispute centers on tax claims made by the NBR against Grameen Kalyan, an organization linked to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who previously served as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government.

With the Chamber Court declining to suspend the ruling, the High Court decision remains in force pending publication of the full judgment and any future appeal proceedings.