Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was sentenced to six months in prison in Bangladesh for violating labor laws. However, he has been granted bail while he appeals the verdict. Yunus and his lawyers have 30 days to appeal the verdict to a higher court.
Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus, along with three other top officials of Grameen Telecom, has been sentenced to six months in jail for alleged labor law violations. The government filed the case on them. The court is accusing them of appointing employees on a contractual basis without providing due benefits and not regularizing their jobs according to the Labor Act of 2006.
Shortly after the verdict, the court granted bail to all four for a month, following separate bail pleas. They were also fined Tk 30,000 each, with an additional 25 days in prison if the fine is not paid. The court directed them to comply with relevant sections of the Labor Act within a month.
Prof Yunus, the chairman of Grameen Telecom, expressed his disbelief at the verdict. He stated, “I have been punished for a crime I did not commit“. In addition, he believes the legal system is being used to harass him.
Defence counsel Barrister Abdullah-Al-Mamun criticized the hurried manner in which the judgment was delivered. He claimed there was no legal basis for the punishment.
Moreover, State counsel Khurshid Alam Khan argued that the convictions were based on the company’s failure to regularize jobs and provide benefits to employees as required by the Labor Act.
Origin Of The Case
The case originated from the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) inspections. It revealed labor law violations at Grameen Telecom. However, the company allegedly failed to regularize the jobs of 67 employees and set up employees’ participation and welfare funds. In addition to paying the mandatory 5 percent dividends to workers.
Despite the court’s decision, the defense argued that Yunus is a non-executive chairman not actively involved in the company’s daily operations. However, they emphasized that Grameen Telecom operates on a contractual basis with Nokia Phone, and employees receive benefits similar to regular employees.
Additionally, Human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Sarah Hossain expressed concern over the speedy trial proceedings and the delivery of the judgment. He also stated that the judge did not read out the whole judgment in open court, which is unusual.
