Court overturns jail sentence for Yunus, 3 others

A Dhaka court has overturned the verdict that sentenced Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three others to six months in jail for breaching labour laws.

Dhaka Labour Appeal Tribunal Chairman (acting) MA Awal canceled the sentence on Wednesday after hearing a petition, according to Dr Yunus' lawyer, Abdullah Al Mamun.

Earlier this year, on January 1, Dhaka Third Labour Tribunal Judge Sheikh Merina Sultana had issued the initial verdict against Dr. Yunus, Grameen Telecom Managing Director Md Ashraful Hasan, and Directors Nurzahan Begum and Md Shahjahan.

The case, filed on September 9, 2021, by Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman of the Inspection for Factories and Establishments Department, alleged that the defendants failed to submit specific dividends to the Labour Welfare Foundation and did not regularize the workers as required by law.

FH/MSU