Dr Yunus exempted from court appearance

The High Court yesterday exempted Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and its Managing Director Md Ashraful Hasan from personal appearance before the court in connection with a contempt of court rule.

Dr Yunus and Md Ashraful virtually appeared before the HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Islam Mollah at 11am yesterday in compliance with its February 18 order.

The bench set April 22 for holding hearing on the rule.

During yesterday's hearing, Rokanuddin Mahmud and Mustafizur Rahman Khan -- lawyers for Dr Yunus and Md Ashraful -- told the court that their clients did not violate any court order.

The petitioners, who filed the contempt of court petition, were not terminated from their service and they have been working from home due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and are getting salaries, the lawyers said.

Senior counsel, Rokanuddin Mahmud, prayed to the HC bench to exempt his clients from personal appearance before the court.

Petitioners' lawyer Md Yousuf Ali told the HC that the compliance report given by Dr Yunus and Ashraful is not true as his clients (petitioners) are not being allowed to work for the office.

The HC on February 18 summoned Dr Yunus and Ashraful to virtually appear before the bench yesterday to place an explanation over not complying with its order to reinstate 38 employees in the organisation.

The court also issued a rule upon the defendants to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against them.

The HC bench came up with the order and rule following a contempt of court petition filed by Md Kamruzzaman, one of the 38 terminated employees, on February 8.