The High Court (HC) on Monday scrapped Labour Appellate Tribunal's order that had stayed the conviction of Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three others in a case filed against them for violating labour law.
 
A High Court division bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain pronounced the judgment, declaring absolute a rule that the court had issued in this regard.
 
The court in its judgment said Dr Yunus and three others' conviction would remain effective till the disposal of the appeals. It, however, stayed their sentences and fine till disposal of the appeals filed by Yunus and three others challenging the verdict of the Dhaka's 3rd Labour Court.
 
The four convicts will remain free on bail and have to inform the court for travelling abroad. The High Court asked the Labour Appellate Tribunal to dispose of the appeals as early as possible.
 
Dhaka's 3rd Labour Court on January 1, 2024, convicted and sentenced Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunu, Grameen Telecom's director and former managing director Md Ashraful Hasan, members of Board of Directors Nur Jahan Begum and Md Shahjahan to six-month jail in a case filed against them for violating labour law. 
 
Labour Appellate Tribunal on January 28 allowed the four convicts bail in the case and stayed the Labour Court conviction and sentence against them. 
 
Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) on February 4 appealed against Labour Appellate Tribunal's order.