DHAKA: An appeals court in Bangladesh has granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who had been sentenced to six months in prison for violating the country’s labour laws, and agreed to hear an appeal against his sentencing.
Yunus who pioneered the use of microcredit to help impoverished people filed the appeal seeking bail 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 Jan 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 Yunus founded as a non-profit organisation.
Yunus’ supporters said the case is politically motivated, a charge the government of PM Sheikh Hasina has denied.
In the original verdict, the judge said Yunus’ company violated labour 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 was never formed. The judge also said according to company policy, 5% of Grameen’s dividends were supposed to have been distributed to staff but were not.
Yunus said after the verdict that he was innocent.