Bail to Prof Yunus, three others extended until May 23

The Labour Appellate Tribunal in Dhaka has extended the bail term granted to four top officials of Grameen Telecom including its Chairman Nobel Laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus until May 23 this year. They are facing charges of violating labour law.
At the same time, the Appellate Tribunal has adjourned till the same period the hearing on the appeal petition filed by Grameen Telecom officials against the verdict that convicted them to six months' jail sentence in the case.
Acting Chairman of the Appellate Tribunal Md Abdul Awal passed the order on Tuesday after holding hearing from the parties.
Earlier on the day, Prof Yunus and three other Grameen Telecom officials filed two separate petitions seeking bail till disposal of the appeal and adjournment of hearing on the appeal petition.
The other accused in the case are- Grameen Telecom Managing Director Ashraful Hassan, Directors Nurjahan Begum and Md Shahjahan.
Inspector of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), Md Arifuzzaman, filed the case with Dhaka 3rd Labour Court on 9 September in 2021 against four people including Prof Yunus on charge of violating the labour law.
The Third Labour Court in Dhaka on January 1 this year sentenced Prof Yunus and his three colleagues to six months' imprisonment in the case. It also fined Tk 30,000 to each of the accused.
The accused on January 28 this year filed appeal petition against the verdict. Acting Chairman of the Appellate Tribunal admitted their appeal petition on that day. It also stayed the verdict and direction of the Third Labour Court till March 3 and extended their bail for the same period.
Later the bail term was extended till April 16 and accordingly the case came for hearing on Tuesday.
Prof Yunus and his colleagues appeared in the court at 11.00 am.
Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun took part in the hearing on behalf of Prof Yunus and others while, lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the DIFE.

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