Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus faces jail in Bangladesh Court ruling

This news has been read 537 times!

DHAKA, Bangladesh, Jan 1: Renowned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, celebrated for his pioneering efforts in microloans to uplift Bangladesh’s impoverished population, has been sentenced to six months in jail for labor law violations by a Dhaka court. Yunus, aged 83, is expected to remain out of prison on bail, as confirmed by his legal representative, Abdullah Al Mamun. The charges stem from a labor inspector’s discovery that employees of Grameen Telecom, where Yunus serves as chairman, were allegedly denied benefits, including leave and welfare deposits—an assertion vehemently refuted by Yunus.

This case is one among a considerable number—around 150—filed against Yunus since the Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, assumed power in 2008, according to information from Amnesty International. The case has drawn attention as a symbol of the challenging human rights situation in Bangladesh, with concerns raised about diminishing freedoms and the silencing of critics by authorities, as expressed by Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty, in September.

Prime Minister Hasina has been openly critical of Yunus on multiple occasions. In 2011, she accused him of “sucking blood from the poor.” In 2022, she alleged that he attempted to obstruct World Bank funding for the Padma Bridge project. Yunus has consistently denied any involvement in the freezing of funds for the bridge project. The situation reflects a broader narrative of legal challenges and political tensions surrounding Yunus, a prominent figure in social and economic development.

This news has been read 537 times!