Verdict on Yunus petition today

The High Court has fixed today (Tuesday) to deliver verdict on Muhammad Yunus' writ petition challenging his removal from his post in Grameen Bank, reports bdnews24.com. The bench of justices Muhammed Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed and Gobinda Chandra Tagore will deliver the judgement at 2:00 pm. Bangladesh Bank in an order Wednesday last removed Yunus, claiming that his reappointment in 1999 as the managing director of Grameen Bank had not been done with prior approval of the central bank. UNB adds: The High Court Monday was taken by surprise when Rokanuddin Mahmud, the counsel for Prof Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank Managing Director (removed), expressed his apprehension that his client may not get even-handed justice. While summing up his arguments seeking a rule upon the Bangladesh Bank and others, he also expressed his lack of confidence in the HC division bench for prolonging the hearing. "There is no practice for hearing in respect of issuing rule. The usual practice is hearing takes place after issuing rule. I don't think I will get justice as three days have already gone. how long it will continue for getting a rule," he told the court. Interrupting Rokan, presiding judge M Momtazuddin Ahmed said: "We've allowed you and two other lawyers to make arguments as you wish for the last three days and now you express your apprehensions." In support of his apprehension and lack of confidence, Rokan said: "It's a matter of few minutes to issue a rule." He said it is rational to issue rule for the sake of rule of law and justice and the image of the court as well. "We've the right to hear the Bangladesh Bank's reply against its action over Prof Yunus following the issuance of rule." At one as stage, Rokan left the court without hearing the arguments made by the Attorney General. Opposing the admissibility of the writ petition, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam submitted that Bangladesh Bank did no wrong by removing Prof Yunus from the post of Grameen Bank Managing Director as he had reached the retirement age of 60 in 2000. Besides, Prof Yunus had been functioning as MD illegally for the last 12 years as there was no approval of the Bangladesh Bank, he said referring to the Grameen Bank Ordinance and its service rules. The legal battle over the removal of Nobel Laureate Prof Yunus from the post of Managing Director of Grameen Bank, a microfinance institution, began on March 3 at the High Court. A day after receiving the removal order, Prof Yunus filed a writ petition challenging the validity of the order issued by Bangladesh Bank. On March 2, Bangladesh Bank removed septuagenarian Prof Yunus on charges of violating a special Ordinance governing the Grameen Bank that set the retirement age of 60 for the managing director. Yunus seeks cooperation to handover responsibility of GB Meanwhile another report adds Dr Mohammad Yunus on Monday sought cooperation of all for handing over the responsibility of the bank to his successor in a smooth and happy way. In a statement he said that he strongly believe that the Grameen Bank(GB) will work to empower the rural women in future as it has been endeavouring since its inception 34 years ago. "Opportunity has to be created to handover the charge of GB in a happy environment so that it could achieve its objectives. I am continuing the effort and it will go on until getting friendly cooperation from all," Yunus said. He said that the GB is build as a unique institution where the majority of poor women involved in it are performing duty as its directors within legal framework.