301 SC lawyers want trial proceedings against Yunus be cancelled

A group of 301 Supreme Court (SC) lawyers on Thursday urged the government to suspend the trial proceeding against Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus in a case involving the violation of Labour Law.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the lawyers said, “We are the lawyers’ society of the country and think that Yunus is a victim of the incumbent government’s vengeance, the government head’s personal malice and ruthless jealousy.”

The image of the country is being tarnished greatly at home and abroad in the name of dictated judgment against Yunus by using state mechanism, it reads.

Condemning the government’s behaviour like fascist and terming Yunus as the pride of Bangladesh, the lawyers demanded security of all citizens and proper execution of the law.

The SC lawyers also urged the government to stop any dictated harassment of Yunus and withdraw all kinds of cases meant to harass him.

The statement said Yunus played a vital role in eradicating poverty from the world which is acknowledged by all.

Yunus was awarded several international awards including Presidential Medal of Freedom, International Gandhi Peace Award, and Congressional Gold Medal and so on for his innovative works.

Expressing concern over the government’s stance against Yunus, the lawyers said that the government takes punitive measures against those who are considered as threats to the government by using the state machinery.

The list of lawyers included Supreme Court Bar Association‍‍`s former President Advocate Joynal Abedin, General Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Senior lawyer Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, Barrister Ruhul Kuddus Kazal, Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Adocate Dr Fariduzzaman, Advocate Md Hammad Ali, Advocate Syed Mamun Mahbub, Advocate Shah Ahmed Badal, Advocate Rezaul Karim and so on.

On September 9, 2021, Labour Inspector (general) SM Arifuzzaman of the Inspection for Factories and Establishments Department filed a labour law violation case against four people, including Yunus, with the Third Labour Court of Dhaka.

On June 6 this year, the court indicted the defendants, including Yunus, in the case. The trial in the case began on August 22.

More than 170 global leaders, including over 100 Nobel Laureates, wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressing their deep concern about the safety and well-being of Yunus.

“One of the threats to human rights that concern us in the present context is the case of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. We are alarmed that he has recently been targeted by what we believe to be continuous judicial harassment,” the open letter reads.