Mumbai, January 28: An appeals court in Bangladesh on January 28 granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who had been sentenced earlier to six months in prison for violating the country’s labour laws. The court also agreed to hear an appeal against his sentencing.
Mr. Yunus who pioneered the use of microcredit to help impoverished people, especially women, filed the appeal seeking bail on Sunday morning before it was granted. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in 2006.
The 83-year-old economist and three other officials of the telecommunications company were sentenced to six months in prison on January 1, but they were immediately granted 30 days of bail to appeal the verdict and sentence.
Sunday’s court decision said the bail would remain effective until a final decision is made on the appeal for the sentencing.
Defence lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun said the first hearing on the appeal would be held on March 3.
The case involves Grameen Telecom, which Mr. Yunus founded as a non-profit organisation.
Mr. Yunus’ supporters said the case is politically motivated, a charge that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was elected for a fourth consecutive term earlier this month, has denied.
In the original verdict, the judge said Yunus’ company violated Bangladeshi labor laws. At least 67 Grameen Telecom workers were supposed to be made permanent employees but were not, and a “welfare fund” to support the staff in cases of emergency or special needs was never formed.
The judge also said that according to company policy 5 per cent of Grameen’s dividends were supposed to have been distributed to staff but were not.
The judge found Mr. Yunus, the chairman of the company, and the three other company directors guilty, and fined each 30,000 takas, or USD 260, while also sentencing each to prison.
