In the case of violation of labor laws, the High Court canceled the order suspending the sentence of 6 months imprisonment against four top officials of Grameen Telecom including Noble Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus as illegal.
On Monday (March 18)the bench consisting of Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ibadat Hossain passed the order. As a result, Dr. Yunus' 6-month sentence will continue.
Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun appeared in court on behalf of Dr. Yunus. Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared on behalf of the Department of Factories.
In the case of violation of the labor law, Dr. Yunus received a sentence of 6 months without work. After the hearing on March 14 on the validity of the suspension of sentence of four persons including Muhammad Yunus, the High Court fixed March 18 for the order.
Earlier, the Labor Appellate Tribunal stayed the proceedings of the judgment and order passed by the Third Labor Court. The High Court issued a ruling asking why the order should not be cancelled.
At the same time, the chairman of Grameen Telecom who was exempted from the sentence in the case of violation of the labor law. Muhammad Yunus has to take court permission to travel abroad. The remaining three accused in this case will also have to comply with the same order in respect of foreign travel.
On February 5, the judge of the High Court heard the revision application made in this regard. A bench consisting of Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ibadat Hossain passed the order.
At the same time Dr. The court issued a ruling seeking to know why the order given by the Labor Appellate Tribunal should not be annulled by suspending the sentence of four persons including Yunus.
On this day Dr. The High Court gave this order after hearing the petition made by the Department of Inspection of Factories and Institutions against the order given by the Labor Appellate Tribunal suspending the proceedings of Yunus' sentence of six months' imprisonment without labor.
On January 1, Dhaka Labor Court-3 Judge Sheikh Marina Sultana sentenced four people including Dr. Yunus to prison. Under section 303 (e) of the Labor Act, they are sentenced to imprisonment for a maximum of six months without work and a fine of Tk. five thousand, in default they are to suffer 10 days more imprisonment. On the other hand, under section 307, the court imposed a fine of Tk. 25 thousand, in default of payment, 15 days imprisonment.
After that, the accused applied for bail on the condition of appeal. The court granted the application and granted bail for one month on a bond of Tk. five thousand. The convicts appealed within that period. Apart from Dr. Yunus, the other three defendants are MD of Grameen Telecom. Ashraful Hasan, Director Nurjahan Begum and Md. Shah Jahan
The Labor Appeal Tribunal on January 28 granted four people including Dr. Yunus bail till March 3. Accepted for hearing the appeal and summoned the documents. The Tribunal also suspended the sentence till March 3.
Later, the Department of Inspection of Factories appealed to the High Court against the suspension. On February 5, the High Court issued a ruling in this regard. Besides, it ordered that if the convicts want to go abroad, they should inform the Labor Appellate Tribunal.
On September 9, 2021, Labor Inspector Arifuzzaman of the Department of Inspection of Factories and Institutions at the Third Labor Court of Dhaka filed this case against four people including Dr. Yunus.
On May 8 of last year, the Chairman of Grameen Telecom, the Nobel-winning economist, the Appellate Division dismissed Dr. Muhammad Yunus' leave to appeal. Then on June 6, the court ordered the trial to begin by framing charges against him.