Dr Yunus summoned by labour court

A labour court in Dhaka has asked Nobel Laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus and three other top officials of Grameen Communications to appear before it on February 6, in a case filed over violating labour laws.

Dhaka 3rd Labour Court Chairman Rahibul Islam yesterday issued the summons to each of the four separately in the case, said Miah Md Jamal Uddin, bench assistant of the court.

The three others accused are: Grameen Communications  Managing Director Naznin Sultana, Director Abdul Hye Khan and Deputy General Manager Gouri Shankar.

Earlier, Labour Inspector Tarikul Islam of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Department filed the case with the labour court bringing allegations of violating 10 provisions of the Labour Act on January 5.

On November 3 last year, the labour court granted bail to Dr Yunus after he had surrendered before it seeking bail in five cases filed over sacking five employees of Grameen Communications.

On July 3, three former employees of Grameen Communications -- Abdus Salam, Shah Alam and Emranul Haque -- separately filed three cases with the court, alleging that they were sacked for their roles in forming a trade union at workplace.

Two other staffers of the company -- Abdul Gafur and Hossain Ahmed -- were sacked on the same charges in July.

They filed two more cases against the three on August 26.  Naznin Sultana and Khandaker Abu Abedin were earlier granted bail in the cases.