Bangladesh
Jail Court sentences Dr Yunus to six-month jail in labour law case
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, 1 January 2024: The court sentenced four people, including Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to six months imprisonment in the case of violation of labour law. At the same time, they have been fined Tk 5,000.
The judgment asked all Grameen Telecom workers to pay their dues within 30 days. Section 303 (e) of the Labor Act provides for imprisonment for a maximum of six months without work and imprisonment for 10 days in default of payment of a fine of five thousand rupees. On the other hand, under section 307, the court sentenced him to 15 days imprisonment without paying a fine of 25 thousand taka.
Judge Begum Sheikh Marina Sultana of Dhaka Labor Court-3 announced the verdict on Monday. 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 five thousand taka. During this period, the workers have been asked to submit a report to the court by revising the rules and providing those benefits which have been denied by violating the law. The verdict was announced at 2:15 PM. Dr. Muhammad Yunus appeared in the court at 1:40 to hear the verdict. He entered the courtroom around 1:45 PM.
On this day, security was strengthened in and around the court premises based on the announcement of the verdict. A large number of police were deployed. Domestic and foreign media representatives gathered to gather news.
Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun, lawyer on behalf of Dr. Yunus and Mohammad Khurshid Alam Khan, lawyer on behalf of Directorate of Factories and Institutions, were present. Prominent citizens and human rights activists also attended the court to hear the verdict. The courtroom was packed to the brim.
Meanwhile, after the verdict was announced, Dr. Yunus's lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun told reporters that they did not get justice. After talking to the clients, they will decide on the appeal.
