A Bangladeshi appellate court has granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, according to local media reports. Yunus, renowned for his pioneering work in microfinance and microlending, was previously sentenced to six months in prison for labor law violations related to his company, Grameen Telecom. Following the bail order, an appeal will now proceed against his conviction.
Yunus, along with three other individuals, including directors of Grameen Telecom, was sentenced on January 1, 2023, by Sheikh Merina Sultana, chairperson of the Third Labour Court of Dhaka. The charges stemmed from allegations that Grameen Telecom failed to grant permanent employment status to 67 workers and neglected to establish a welfare fund for staff emergencies. Initially granted one-month bail following individual pleas, Yunus and his colleagues subsequently filed appeals against their convictions.
In a session at the Labour Appellate Court Tribunal on Sunday, Chairman MA Awal issued an order granting bail to the four applicants. The bail will remain in effect until the appeal is heard. Following the bail grant, Yunus addressed local reporters, questioning the motives behind his conviction and asking whether it was the workers or the government responsible.
Yunus’s lawyer, Abdullah-Al-Mamun, confirmed that they have submitted a petition challenging the sentence, containing approximately 25 points. The first hearing for the appeal is scheduled for March 3rd, as reported by local news outlet The Daily Star.