The Appellate Division has dismissed the “leave to appeal” filed against Grameen Telecom founder and Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Dr Muhammad Yunus, accused of violating the labour law.

As a result, there is no obstacle in continuing the case against Dr Yunus in the labour court.

The Appellate Division led by Justice Md Nuruzzaman gave this order on Monday.

On August 17, the High Court discharged a rule it had issued last year, staying proceedings of a case against Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and three others for allegedly violating labour laws.

“Because of today's order, now there is no legal bar in continuing the proceedings of the case at the concerned labour court,” Advocate Md Khurshid Alam Khan, the lawyer for the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), said.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice S M Kuddus Zaman and Justice Fahmida Quader passed the order, after holding a hearing on the rule issued on December 12, 2021.

On September 9, 2021, a case was filed by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment against Dr Muhammad Yunus and three others for violating labour laws.

The other accused in the case are Grameen Telecom Managing Director Md Ashraful Hasan, board directors Nur Jahan Begum and Md Shahjahan.

According to case files, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishment noticed several violations of labour law during an inspection at Grameen Telecom.

The violations include failing to permanent the jobs of 101 workers and employees, not forming workers' participation fund as well as welfare fund, and failing to provide 5% of the company's dividend to workers.