Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has categorically said that the government did not file the case against Grameen Telecom Chairman Dr Mohammad Yunus, accusing him of violating labour laws.

The foreign minister made the comment while talking to the reporters at his ministry office in Dhaka on Monday.

Earlier on Sunday while talking to reporters after filing an appeal with the Appeal Tribunal against his verdict, the Nobel laureate said that he needs to know who has filed the case against him.  

“I need to clarify one thing from my side, the government, from all its levels, has repeatedly been saying that the government has not lodged this case. You (journalists) are witnesses but you’re not saying anything. Did the government or the workers file this? Give me this answer,” he said.

In response to the remarks, Hasan said that it is not true that the government has lodged the labour law violation case against Yunus.

“Showing enough respect to him (Yunus), I am telling you (journalist) that it is not correct what he is saying regarding the case,” Hasan said.

The third labour court of Dhaka sentenced four people including Dr. Yunus to six months imprisonment in the case on 1 January. At the same time, the court also fined Tk 30,000 each.

The case was lodged in the Labour Tribunal against four including Dr Yunus on 1 September in 2021.

The charge was framed on 6 June last year while the recording of testimonies began on 22 August and ended on 9 November and placing arguments in the case ended on 24 December.