Case against Prof Yunus: Proceedings to Continue in Labour Court

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday rejected a petition to scrap the case filed against Nobel Laureate and Chairman of Grameen Communications Dr Muhammad Yunus over violation of the Labour Law.

The HC bench of Justice S M Kuddus Zaman and Justice Fahmida Quader passed the order after hearing.

Now there is no legal bar to continue the case against him in the labour court, said Khurshid Alam Khan, counsel of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun appeared for Prof Yunus’s appeal at the court.

On June 13, the Appellate Division stayed the trial proceedings of the case for two months.

The SC also ordered the HC bench led by Justice SM Kuddus Zaman to dispose of the rule seeking explanation as to why the case against Prof Yunus should not be cancelled.

On June 7, the Appellate Division ordered disposal of the rule within two months.

On September 9 last year, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, filed the case with Dhaka third labour court.

Other accused in the case are- Ashraful Hasan, Managing Director of Grameen Telecom, its directors Nurzahan Begum and Shahjahan.

According to the case, in an inspection visit to Grameen Telecom inspectors of the department found that 101 workers and staff who were supposed to be permanent were not made so.

No participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them and five per cent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the law.

Upon a complaint, a criminal case was filed under section 4, 7, 8, 117, 234 of the Labour Act.

On October 12, the labour court granted bail to the all four accused.

Later on December 7, Prof Yunus filed a petition with the High Court seeking scrapping of the case.

On December 12, HC stayed the procedure of a case for six months.

The court also issued a rule asking the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments why the case will not be set aside. The court asked secretaries of the Ministry of Law, Ministry of Labour and Employment and others involved to respond to the rule.