Bangladeshi Nobel laureate economist Yunus gets jail term for violating labour laws

DHAKA: On Monday, Bangleshi Nobel laureate Dr Mohamm Yunus was sentenced to six months in jail by a court for violating nation's labour laws. According to a report by PTI, verdict, coming ahe of nation's January 7 general election, has been termed as ‘politically motivated’ by his supporters. Yunus (83), Nobel laureate who was awarded in 2006 for his anti-poverty campaign, sought bail from court which immediately granted for a Tk 5,000 bond. court also gave defence 30 days to appeal verdict that was passed on Monday. 

Yunus stands accused of violating nation's labour laws as chairman of Grameen Telecom, one of firms he founded, alongside three or executives of company. Specifically, Yunus and executives are accused of not creating a workers' welfare fund in social business company. 

Yunus and or three executives have been sentenced to six months of non-rigorous imprisonment alongside a fine of Tk 25,000 each, which, if not paid, will result in anor 10 days of jail time. 

Nobel laureate is also facing several or charges related to violations of labour laws and misappropriation of funds, charges that his lawyers insist are “meritless, false and ill-motivated”. y claim that charges are aimed at humiliating him before international community. 

Dr Yunus has reportedly been targeted by multiple investigations by Sheikh Hasina government after it first came to power in 2008. In 2011, activities of Grameen Bank were investigated and Yunus was fired as founding managing director on charges of violating government retirement regulations.

In 2013, he was once again on trial, this time for accepting money without government permission, a charge that included money he me from his Nobel Prize win and royalties from a book he authored.

In 2023, 18 of his own employees accused him of siphoning-off ir job benefits. Nobel laureate was also named alongside 13 ors in a case brought against him by Anti Corruption Commission for reportedly embezzling funds. 

Sheikh Hasina has called Yunus a “bloodsucker" and accused him of using force and or means to recover loans from poor rural women as he of Grameen Bank. Yunus, in turn, has reportedly condemned government for “destruction” of micro-lending bank he created. 

According to aforementioned PTI report, re is a general perception that Yunus ended up on wrongside of Hasina government when he announced he would form a new political party back in 2007 when Hasina was still imprisoned by military-backed government. 

Last year, a number of prominent world leers and Nobel laureates wrote an open letter to Hasina, calling on her to suspend legal proceedings against Yunus.