Case against Dr Yunus to continue: HC

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday paved the way for the lower court to run the trial proceedings of a case filed against Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three others for allegedly violating labour laws.

After final hearing on a petition filed by Dr Yunus, A High Court bench of Justice SM Kuddus Zaman and Justice Fahmida Quader discharged the rule issued by it earlier in this regard.

There is no legal bar for the lower court to run the trial proceedings of the case against Dr Yunus in connection with the case following the High Court order, lawyers concerned opined.

However, Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun, counsel for Dr Yunus, told reporters that they would move with the Appellate Division against the High Court order.

The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) Inspector Arifuzzaman filed the case against Dr Yunus and three others on September 9, 2021 and the court had summoned the four to appear before it by October 12 that year.

The other three accused in the case are: Grameen Telecom Managing Director Ashraful Hasan, Board directors Nurjahan Begum and Md Shahjahan.

According to the case documents, a team of DIFE went on an inspection to Grameen Telecom and found the violations of labour laws like not regularising 101 staff and not establishing a welfare fund for the labourers, among others.

Following a writ petition, the HC bench had earlier stayed the trial proceedings of the case and issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain why the trial proceedings of the case against Muhammad Yunus should not be quashed.

Later, the government moved with the Appellate Division against the High Court order. After hearing on the government appeal, the apex court directed the High Court to dispose of the rule issued by it in this regard within two months. After the final hearing on the rule, the HC bench on Wednesday came up with the order.