New Delhi, January 1: Bangladesh Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus has been sentenced to six-months in jail for violating the country's labour laws, media reports said. Al Jazeera -- quoting lead prosecutor Khurshid Alam Khan as saying: “Professor Yunus and three of his Grameen Telecom colleagues were convicted under labour laws and sentenced to six months in simple imprisonment.” Bangladesh: 130 Readymade Garment Factories Shut Amid Labour Protest for Higher Wages

Yunus had pioneered Grameen Telecom in his country while using microcredit to help impoverished people. Grameen Telecom, which he founded as a non-profit, is at the center of the trial. As per Bangladeshi media reports, the head of Third Labour Court of Dhaka, Sheikh Merina Sultana, in her verdict said that Yunus’ company violated labour laws. Bangladesh: One Killed, Several Injured As Garment Workers Clash With Police Over Pay Hike on Outskirts of Dhaka

“67 of Grameen Telecom employees were supposed to be made permanent, and the employees’ participation and welfare funds were not formed,” she said. She also said that following company policy, five per cent of the company’s dividends were supposed to be distributed to staff. Yunus (83), who won the award in 2006, is credited for lifting millions out of poverty through his anti-poverty campaign through the Grameen Bank, a mode which was replicated across continents.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 01, 2024 09:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).