Ha-Meem Group’s Rifat Garments has once again faced criticism for allegedly avoiding paying a significant amount of municipal taxes.
Sources from Kaliganj Municipality claim that AK Azad, the Owner of the firm, only made little municipal tax payments while the Awami League was in power. But with the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s administration, the municipal officials re-evaluated taxes in accordance with new Ministry directions, for which Azad was reportedly unhappy.
According to officials, when the recalculated sum did not meet his expectations, Azad used his influence to have the then-municipal administrator—who was also the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO)—transferred.
According to municipal records, Rifat Garments’ taxes are calculated according to the size of the building, the number of employees and the manufacturing area. Azad was President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and had a good relationship with Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister at the time, when Ha-Meem Group purchased the mill in 2013. The corporation reportedly paid very little in taxes at the time.
Rifat Garments paid Taka 3,82,000 in municipal taxes during the previous fiscal year. The municipal authorities reevaluated the sum to Taka 4.285 million in accordance with the new directions following the change in government. Later, Azad allegedly put pressure on the municipal administrator to lower the amount and filed an appeal for a reduction.
