The High Court on Sunday stayed for six months the procedure of a case filed against Nobel Laureate and Chairman of Grameen Communications Dr Muhammad Yunus over violation of labour law.
The HC bench of Justice Md Habibul Gani and Md Riaz Uddin Khan passed the order during a hearing on a petition seeking cancellation of the case.
The court also issued a rule asking the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments why its case will not be set aside. The court asked secretaries of the ministry of law, ministry of labour and employment and others involved to respond to the rule.
Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kajal presented the petitioner’s side while Assistant Attorney General Mahfuzur Rahman Likhon appeared for the state.
Read: Contempt of Court: Dr Yunus exempted from personal appearance before court
On September 9, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments filed the case with Dhaka third labour court.
Other accused in the case are Ashraful Hasan, Managing Director of Grameen Telecom, it's director Nurzahan Begum and Shahjahan.
According to the case complaint, in an inspection visit to Grameen Telecom inspectors of the department found that 101 workers and staff who were supposed to be permanent were not made so.
No participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them and five per cent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the law.
Read: Apex court upholds HC order staying 5 cases against Dr Yunus
Upon the complaint a criminal case was filed under section 4,7,8, 117, 234 of the Labour Act.
On October 12, the labour court granted bail to the all four accused.
Later on December 7, Dr Yunus filed a petition with the High Court seeking dropping of the case.