Labour law violation: Dr Yunus pleads not guilty

Nobel Laureate and Grameen Telecom Chairman Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday pleaded not guilty in a case filed over labour law violation.

Prof Yunus and three other accused in the case appeared before the court at around 2pm along with their lawyers Abdullah Al Mamun, Khaja Tanvir Ahmed and Mizanur Rahman.

The hearing was held at the Dhaka Third Labour Tribunal Judge Sheikh Marina Sultana's court.

Grameen Telecom Managing Director Md Ashraful Hassan, board directors Nur Jahan Begum and Md Shahjahan, the other accused in the case, were also present in the hearing.

At the hearing, their lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun read a 22-page statement before the judge.

The statement said that Dr Yunus is the chairman of Grameen Telecom and three other defendants are involved as members of the board of directors. 

A non-profit company created under Section 28 of the Grameen Telecom Company Act, whose dividend is not distributable. This dividend money is spent on social development. That is why this company does not have any ownership or shareholders. None of the defendants are shareholders.

Moreover, the defendants are only assisting in the management of the institution in an honourary position. Apart from this, Section 28 of the Companies Act has declared the prohibition of payment of profit to the members of Grameen Telecom Institutions.

The lawyer said that since Grameen Telecom has no permanent operations, its core business is Palliphone operations through contract and after-sales service of Nokia mobile handsets, said the lawyer.

Therefore, denying the complaint, the plaintiff also applied to the court to dismiss the case with compensation.

On September 9, 2021, a case was filed by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment against Dr Muhammad Yunus and three others for violating labour laws.

According to case files, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment noticed several violations of labour law during an inspection at Grameen Telecom.

The violations include failing to permanent the jobs of 101 workers and employees, not forming workers' participation fund as well as welfare fund, and failing to provide 5% of the company's dividend to workers.

All four people named in the case testified. The plaintiff and first witness in the case testified on October 1. The fourth witness in the case testified on November 6.