Professor Yunus to face trial in labour case

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has rejected the plea to dismiss the case filed against four individuals, including Grameen Telecom Chairman Dr Muhammad Yunus, for violating labour laws.
Consequently, the trial against Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus will continue, as reported by Khurshid Alam Khan, a lawyer for the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE).
A three-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Justice Md Nuruzzaman, issued the order on Monday after hearing the petitions in support of Dr Yunus.
On August 17, 2022, the High Court rejected a petition seeking to scrap the trial proceedings of the case against Prof Yunus and three others. Later, Prof Yunus and one other person filed two petitions for leave-to-appeal against the High Court’s order.
The Appellate Division concluded the hearing on the two petitions for leave-to-appeal on April 3 of this year and set May 8 for issuing an order on the matter.
During the court hearing, Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun represented Prof Yunus, while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan acted on behalf of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, which filed the case. Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state.
Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said that the apex court has rejected the leave-to-appeal petitions filed by Professor Yunus and another individual.
The lawyer added that the Labour Court can now continue its proceedings against Professor Yunus.
Inspector Arifuzzaman of the department filed a case with the Dhaka 3rd Labour Court on September 9, 2021, accusing four individuals, including Professor Yunus, of violating labour laws.
The other accused in the case are Grameen Telecom Managing Director Ashraful Hassan and Directors Nurjahan Begum and Md Shahjahan.
After hearing the case, the Labour Court summoned the four accused to appear before it on October 12, 2021. On that day, the Labour Court granted bail to Dr Yunus in the case.
According to case documents, a team from DIFE inspected Grameen Telecom and discovered labour law violations, such as failing to regularise 101 staff and not establishing a welfare fund for employees.

bikashju@gmail.com