US says will keep following Dr Yunus case

The United States has said that it will continue to follow the further developments of the sentencing Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus by a Dhaka labour court.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in Washington on Wednesday said Dr Yunus has made significant contributions to the alleviation of poverty around the world, as reflected in his Nobel Peace Prize and numerous other international honours.

“We have been following the case against him closely. We’ve seen, of course, the widespread international criticism of the verdict,” he said, replying to a question.

“For our part, we have encouraged the Bangladeshi government to ensure a fair and transparent legal process, and we will continue to follow any further developments closely,” he added.

The labour court sentenced Dr Yunus, chairman of Grameen Telecom, and three others to six months in jail over labour law violations. He secured bail from the High Court immediately.

Several western countries, including the US, have voiced concerns over the trial of Dr Yunus.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Monday, however, brushed aside any speculation that the sentencing of Dr Yunus by a labour court would affect Bangladesh’s relationship with other countries.

"It's natural that state-to-state ties cannot be affected because of a single person," he said.