Labour law violations & legal sentences

According to court documents and media reports, the case filed by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) against Yunus (as Chairman of Grameen Telecom) and three other officials alleged violations of Bangladesh’s labour law. Key alleged violations included:

• That Grameen Telecom failed to make certain staff permanent employees (e.g., about 67 workers) though they were eligible.


• That the company did not form or maintain the required Workers’ Welfare Fund / Worker Profit Participation Fund as per the relevant law.


• That the company did not distribute the required 5% dividend to workers (or otherwise meet the statutory obligations under the Labour Act) as alleged.


• There were also claims of failure to provide annual leave with pay, leave encashment, and cash against leave for employees.


• The case was filed on 9 September 2021.

Legal timeline & sentences

• 9 Sept 2021: The case was filed by DIFE with the Labour Court-3 of Dhaka.
  
• 6 June 2023: Charges framed by the labour court. (As per some reports)


• 1 January 2024: The Third Labour Court of Dhaka (Judge Sheikh Merina Sultana) convicted Muhammad Yunus (as Chairman of Grameen Telecom) and the three other officials. They were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment each, and fined (Tk 30,000 each in some reports).


• 28 January 2024: The Labour Appellate Tribunal granted bail to Yunus and the other three pending appeal.


• 3 July 2024: The High Court ruled that the sentence remains effective until the disposal of the appeal (i.e., conviction stands unless overturned) but noted that the sentence and fine have been stayed while appeals proceed.


• 7 August 2024: A tribunal acquitted Yunus and the three others in this labour-law case.


• 30 October 2025: Reports show that bail in the labour-law violation case was extended until 23 May (2025) under the Labour Appellate Tribunal.