Dr Yunus
PM Hasina invites Dr Yunus to a debate with her on issues of his concern
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday invited Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus to a debate with her on issues concerning him.
“There is nothing to be jealous of. He may come and have a debate with me as is done in the USA,” she said.
The premier said while replying to a question at the press conference arranged in Ganabhaban over the outcomes of her India visit.
She said Yunus availed most financial and other benefits from her. “It is right; we promoted him very much,” she added.
“Sheikh Hasina feels no jealousy with anyone. Sheikh Hasina is the daughter of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. None can come up at least to this position. I feel proud of it,” she said, adding that the prime ministership is a temporary thing.
The PM said she always protects the interest of the country. “I never sell the country or the interests of the country (to anyone),” she said.
Hasina said she has been working always for the protection of the country’s independence and sovereignty, and for the people of the country so that they can move, raising their heads high.
Pointing at the countries which are vocal on the issue of Yunus, the PM questioned what action they would have taken if anyone evades taxes years after years and if anyone embezzles the money of the Labour welfare fund and doesn’t pay the dues of the workers.
“He hasn't paid a single penny to the Labour welfare fund since 2006,” she said.
She said the workers filed a case with the Labour court and he was convicted in that case. “What is my fault here?” asked Hasina.
She said Grameen Bank was established during the regime of HM Ershad and Dr Yunus was made its Managing Director. “But he didn't (establish) this bank himself,” she added.
She said he used to do a job as the managing director and drew the salary at the bank which is a statutory organisation. The salary and other things were provided from the government, she went on.
But a campaign was done in such a way as if he (Dr Yunus) had established this bank, said Hasina.
She noted that Yunus' microcredit scheme was not acceptable as the borrowers had to pay upto 40-45 percent interest for loans.
She questioned why the poverty was not alleviated with his microcredit scheme in the country when it was so effective.
“It is I who alleviated poverty in Bangladesh. I brought down the poverty rate to 18.7 percent from 41.6 in only 15 years,” said the premier.
I’ve no desire for Nobel prize:
Sheikh Hasina said she has no conflict with anyone and never has a desire to get a Nobel Prize.
Citing her role for the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord in1997, Sheikh Hasina said it was a unique peace accord as some 1800 armed persons surrendered and submitted their arms.
She said many noted personalitie at home and abroad wrote for giving her the Nobel Prize after the peace accord, but she never wented to tell them such, she said.
“When the MD of a bank obtains a Nobel prize, why would I go to contest with him,” she asked.
The PM went to New Delhi on June 21 on a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
This was the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive term following the Lok Sabha elections.
During the visit, Dhaka and New Delhi signed 7 Memorandums of Understanding and renewed three others to further consolidate the ever-growing relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Awami League general secretary and also road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, Deputy Leader of the House Matia Chowdhury, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, PM’s Private Industry and Invest Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, AL presidium members Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim MP and Kazi Zafarullah were on the dais.
PM’s Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan conducted the press conference.
Dhaka court indicts Dr Yunus, 13 others in graft case
A Dhaka court today framed charges against Nobel laureate Dr Yunus and 13 others in a case over embezzling Tk 25.22 crore of the Grameen Telecom Workers' welfare fund.
Dhaka’s Special Judge's Court-4 Judge Syed Arafat Hossain passed the order after rejecting a petition for excluding names of the accused from the charges, said the defendants’ lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun.
The court also set July 15 to take testimony from the witnesses, formally beginning trial in the case, he said.
Dr Yunus and the other accused are now on bail and they pleaded not guilty, demanding justice while the court was framing charges, said the lawyer.
Read more: US says it will continue to encourage Bangladesh govt to ensure a fair legal process for Dr. Yunus
On February 1 this year, the investigating officer of the case, ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anwar Pradhan, submitted the charge sheet against Dr. Yunus and 13 others.
The court accepted the charges against them on June 2 after a hearing in this regard.
The 13 other accused in the case are: Grameen Telecom MD Nazmul Islam; Director Ashraful Hasan, former MD Parveen Mahmood; Najnin Sultana, Shahjahan, Noorjahan Begum, and S. M. Hazzatul Islam Latifi, all serving as directors; along with Advocate Yusuf Ali; Advocate Zaforul Hasan Sharif; Md Kamruzzaman, President of the Union of Grameen Telecom Employees; Firoz Mahmud Hasan, General Secretary; Kamrul Hasan, office secretary of the Employees' Union office, and representative Mainul Islam.
Gulshan Anwar, the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), filed the case as the primary complainant on May 30, 2023.
Read more: Law is taking its own course: Hasan Mahmud says on Dr Yunus case
Dr Yunus, Opportunity International CTO discuss possible collaboration at US Ambassador’s dinner
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus was hosted by US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, at a dinner on March 4 to meet with Greg Nelson, Chief Technology Officer of Opportunity International.
The organisation promotes and implements microfinance programmes around the world.
They discussed the health programmes of Grameen and Opportunity International and about possible collaboration between the two organisations, said the Yunus Centre on Tuesday.
Read more: ‘Lobbyist-backed’ statement on Dr Yunus won’t impact FDI, Hasan Mahmud says
Amy Haas, Laurie Nelson and Nurjahan Begum, Executive Vice Chairman of Grameen Shikhha, were present on the occasion.
US Ambassador Haas on his LinkedIn posted: “It was an incredible privilege to speak with the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus and Nurjahan Begum about their remarkable work towards improving the lives of people worldwide. Their contributions have made a significant impact and continue to inspire us all. Thank you for the work you do.”
Read more: Govt is not harassing Dr Yunus with false cases: Law Minister
Govt is not harassing Dr Yunus with false cases: Law Minister
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday (February 01, 2024) said the government is not harassing Noble Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus by filing false cases.
“The government is not doing anything to harass Dr Muhammad Yunus. No false case is being filed against him. First a case was filed by workers and then the directorate responsible for protecting the rights of the workers filed a case.”
He said this at a press conference on contemporary issues at the secretariat today.
Read: 3 awarded life terms for 2015 murder in Cumilla
“Despite undisputable evidence, it is being spread abroad that the allegations against him (Yunus) are false, and it is being said that we are doing this to harass him,” said the minister.
The minister said that the efforts being made at home and abroad to defame various institutions in Bangladesh centring on Yunus's case will be defeated.
"As you know, according to the provisions of the Bangladesh Labour Act, an inspector can inspect any company if it is found that they are violating the law. In this case, on February 2, 2020, the inspector of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) first inspected Grameen Telecom as per the provisions of the Labour Act,” said Anisul.
"He found out that some laws were being violated. Later, on March 1, he wrote a letter to Grameen Telecom seeking their explanation about these violations and asking them to correct those,” he said.
Read: Take measures in preventing price hike of daily essentials: IGP
“Grameen Telecom's response was not satisfactory, and they (DIFE) inspected Grameen Telecom again on August 17, 2021. After seeing violations of the same law there, a letter was sent on August 19 stating that the law was being violated.
In such a situation, a case was filed against Dr Yunus and Grameen Telecom on September 9,” added Anisul.
‘Lobbyist-backed’ statement on Dr Yunus won’t impact FDI, Hasan Mahmud says
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday (January 25, 2024) said any statement “backed by lobbyists” on Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus would have no adverse impact on foreign investment inflow into the country.
“Look, there are several lobbyist firms engaged behind some people who are talking on the Dr Yunus issue. Investment will not be impacted if a statement is backed by lobbyists,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Minister said Dr Yunus has been in the discussion over the last 12 years and Bangladesh still received significant foreign investment.
Read: China is an important dev and strategic partner of Bangladesh: PM Hasina
“Foreign investment is increasing. There is no relation with that. This is simply a legal matter,” said the Awami League joint general secretary.
He reiterated that Dr Yunus has been sentenced in a case filed by the aggrieved people, and the government is not a party to it.
“With due respect to Dr Yunus, I would like to say that aggrieved people filed the case. The government is not a party to it. It is a decision taken by the court. The government cannot interfere in it,” he said.
Earlier, a Dhaka court sentenced Dr Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom to six months’ jail, with fine of Tk 25000 each, in a case over violation of labor law.
Read: Russian Ambassador hopes Dhaka-Moscow relations will continue to thrive
The others accused in the case are: Ashraful Hasan, CEO of Grameen Telecom Trust; trustee Nurjahan Begum; and managing director M Shahjahan.
They were accused of not making some workers and employees of Grameen Telecom permanent, not encashing public leave, and not depositing certain dividends to the Workers Welfare Foundation.
In the 84-page verdict, the judge said the charges of violating labor laws were proved against them.
The court, however, granted them conditional bail.
Dr Yunus claimed that he had been punished for a crime he did not commit. “I have been punished for a crime that I haven’t committed,” Yunus told reporters after he was convicted in a case over violation of labor law. “If you want to call it justice, you can.”
Read more: Dr Yunus appointed chair of Moscow Financial University’s international advisory board
Dr Yunus appointed chair of Moscow Financial University’s international advisory board
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has been appointed chair of the international advisory board of Moscow’s Financial University (under the government of the Russian Federation).
On November 23, he joined a high-level strategic meeting with Prof Stanislav Prokofiev, Rector of the Financial University, and his colleagues.
The Financial University hosted the meeting. At the meeting, Dr Yunus was invited to be the chair of the university’s International Advisory Board.
Creation of Palestine state urgent; US key actor in bringing this to reality: Dr Yunus
Dr Yunus gave his consent to this appointment, the Yunus Center said today.
The Financial University is one of the top five universities in Russia with 3,000 academic staff. Dr Yunus was invited to give a lecture to the faculty and students of the university last year on his thoughts on creating a new civilization based on social business, working towards achieving three zero goals – zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment.
The International Advisory Board will be a deliberative collegial body. Its primary goals are to attract the best international experience, to provide in-depth expert analysis, and to prepare proposals for strategic development, as well as academic, research and innovation activities of the university.
‘False and fabricated’: Dr Yunus’ lawyer says about Tk 25.22cr embezzlement case
During the meeting, the rector of the Russian university explained the role of the international advisory board in developing the university’s academic programme and in designing the future direction of research at the university.
He explained how the university community admires Dr Yunus’ concept of social business.
He also said that Financial University would like to introduce the concept in their academic programmes.
He said that students will be encouraged to design and implement social businesses during their academic years at the university, and the institution will provide financial support to the student-entrepreneurs to start their social businesses.
‘Committed no crime, not afraid,’ says Dr Yunus at ACC
The meeting was also attended by Professor Mikhail Eskindarov, President of the University; Professor Ekaterina Kameneva, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs; Professor Kirill Babaev, Director of the Center for International Scientific and Educational Projects; Liliya Prikhodko, Head of the International Relations Department; and Mikhail Mamuta, Head of the Service for the Protection of Financial Services to Consumers and Minority Shareholders, Bank of Russia, the Central Bank of Russia.
The participants also discussed the prospects of cooperation between the Financial University and the Yunus Centre.
Rector of the Financial University, Prof Stanislav Prokofiev, expressed his support for the ideas of social business as a guarantee for sustainable and long-term social development.
Case filed against Dr Yunus at Rangpur Labour Court
Creation of Palestine state urgent; US key actor in bringing this to reality: Dr Yunus
Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus has called for immediate action to create a Palestinian state.
In a statement released from the Yunus Centre on Sunday (October 22, 2023), he said: "The conflict between Israel and Palestine is a very old problem which has become much more complicated now because of the treatment that the people of Palestine have been receiving from Israel.”
It has been brewing over time and suddenly recently it became very explosive and unacceptable against any civilised standard, added the statement.
Read: Blinken, Austin say US is ready to respond if US personnel become targets of Israel-Hamas war
“The solution right now is the creation of two states, something which the United Nations has a resolution on but which remains unimplemented. There is no way to escape from this resolution if we want to bring peace to the region. The top-most priority right now is to implement the long ignored UN resolution on creating two states. Otherwise we don't know where this conflict will lead us to. It has the potential to set the whole region on fire and suck in a larger part of the world into that fire,” it further reads.
"We must create the state of Palestine with extreme urgency. The key actor in bringing this to reality is the United States. If the US moves fast others will follow. The Biden administration must lead the world on this vital and urgent issue without delay.
Read: Stop Israel-Palestine war, save women and children: PM Hasina urges world leaders
"I urgently call upon all parties engaged in the conflict to immediately cease hostilities, ensure the safety and well-being of the innocent children and civilians caught in the midst of this crisis. It is imperative to facilitate and expedite the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the suffering population. It is time to focus on saving human lives, protect dignity and get to work on a permanent solution," he said.
"Let us join hands to put an end to the suffering, ensure uninterrupted humanitarian access, and foster an environment conducive to meaningful peace negotiations and work out the modalities to create Palestine state at the fastest pace. In this day and age, we should collectively recognize that war and bloodshed are inconsistent with the values and progress of our modern civilization. The world is watching and it is our shared responsibility to work towards a future where both Palestine and Israel can co-exist in harmony and peace together with friendly collaboration,” the statement concluded.
Read: Israel has right to statehood, so does Palestine: Chinese Ambassador
Bangladesh has an independent judicial process: Shahriar Alam on letter in favour of Prof Yunus
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said Bangladesh has an independent judicial process and the court will take decisions based on evidence regarding Prof Muhammad Yunus.
“They can observe the proceedings. We welcome that surely,” he told reporters regarding those who wrote a letter in favour of the Nobel laureate.
The state minister wanted to know whether there is any instance in the world where allegations against a person cannot be investigated.
Together for Yunus: World leaders past and present joined by Nobel laureates, popstars and tycoons in letter to PM
“What I want to say is that there has been no influence of the government in the past, and there will be no such influence in the future either. Bangladesh’s judiciary is independent and the independent judiciary will take decisions based on evidence," said the state minister.
“They must have the guts and courage to accept the verdict,” he added, describing the development as “frustrating.”
The state minister for foreign affairs also said that calling for the suspension of court proceedings is “unheard of”.
“I do not think those who are joining in this call in favour of Prof Yunus are doing proper justice to their own reputation,” he said.
Obama writes letter of support as pressure mounts on Dr Yunus
The state minister also said that the government does not want to make any comment on an issue related to court proceedings.
More than 160 global leaders, including over 100 Nobel laureates, wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressing their deep concern about the safety and wellbeing of Prof Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s first and so far, only Nobel laureate.
Addressed directly to the PM, the letter is signed by Nobel laureates, elected officials, business figures, and civil society leaders. The signatories applauded Bangladesh’s remarkable progress since its independence in 1971. However, their collective concern arose from the “perceived threats to democracy and human rights” that have recently emerged within the country.
Petition dismissed, Appellate Division orders to continue labour law violation case against Dr Yunus, 3 others
"We respectfully ask that you immediately suspend the current judicial proceedings against Prof Yunus, followed by a review of the charges by a panel of impartial judges drawn from within your nation, with some role for internationally recognised legal experts. We are confident that any thorough review of the anti-corruption and labour law cases against him will result in his acquittal,” the letter addressed to PM Hasina reads.
Petition dismissed, Appellate Division orders to continue labour law violation case against Dr Yunus, 3 others
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday (August 20, 2023) ordered to continue the trial proceedings after dismissing a petition submitted by Nobel laureate and Chairman of Grameen Communications, Dr Muhammad Yunus, and three others in a case over violation of labour law.
A regular and full bench consisting of seven justices of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order after hearing the petition, said the defendants’ counsel, Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun.
On September 9, 2021, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman, of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, filed the case with Dhaka's 3rd Labour Court.
Read: Labour law violation case: SC orders disposal of rule on charge framing against Dr Yunus within two weeks
Other accused in the case are: Ashraful Hasan, Managing Director of Grameen Telecom, and its directors, Nurjahan Begum and Shahjahan.
According to the case, 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 were formed for them and five percent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the law.
Read: Appellate Division orders Dr Yunus to pay NBR Tk 12 crore tax on donations
Later on December 7, Prof Yunus filed a petition with the High Court seeking scrapping of the case.
On December 12, HC stayed the procedure of a case for six months.
On June 6 this year, the Labour Court ordered the trial in the case through framing chargesheets against the accused.
Later, Dr Yunus filed a petition with the HC seeking cancellation of the charge framing order.
Subsequently, on August 8, the HC rejected the petition.
Read more: Supreme Court to hear Dr Yunus's petition on July 23
Later, the Nobel laureate filed the petition with the Appellate Division seeking cancellation of the charge framing order.
The division led by the chief justice cleared the petition after hearing it on Sunday.
Appellate Division orders Dr Yunus to pay NBR Tk 12 crore tax on donations
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today (July 23, 2023) ordered Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus to pay Tk 12 crore tax on donations to the National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) after dismissing a leave-to-appeal in this regard.
A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, passed the order after hearing the leave-to-appeal submitted by Dr Yunus against a High Court verdict.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state during the hearing, while Fida M Kamal and Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun stood for Dr Yunus.
Earlier on June 21, a leave-to-appeal was filed against the High Court verdict. On July 9, the chamber court set July 17 for hearing in the Appellate Division.
Read: HC asks Dr Yunus to pay over Tk 12 crore as donation tax
On July 17, the Appellate Division adjourned till July 23 the hearing on the appeal against the High Court verdict.
According to the petition, NBR served three separate notices claiming Tk 12,28,74,000 tax against Tk 61.57 crore donation during 2011-2012 fiscal year, Tk 1.60 crore tax against Tk 8.15 crore donation in FY 2012-2013, and Tk 1.50 crore tax against Tk 7 crore donation in FY 2013-2014 as per the Donation Tax-1990.
Read: Trial against Dr Yunus to continue in labour court: Appellate Division
Dr Yunus challenged the validity of NBR's notices and filed a case in the Appellate Tribunal. According to him, NBR cannot claim tax against donations as per law.
On November 20, 2014, his application was rejected. Then in 2015, he filed three income tax reference cases in the High Court.
After that, the High Court ruled on May 31 that the tax imposed by the NBR against the money that he had donated to three trusts was valid.
After the verdict on May 31, Attorney General AM Amin Uddin told reporters that Dr Yunus had donated Tk 77 crore to three institutions. “The petitions were dismissed. Now the tax demanded by the NBR will have to be paid. The NBR had demanded more than Tk 15 crore. He (Dr Yunus) has already given around Tk 3 crore. Now the remaining Tk 12 crore will have to be paid in taxes.”
Read more: HC stays labour law violation case against Dr Yunus for 6 months