Authorities Secure Extra Gains, Including Dismissal of Seven Cases

‎Bangla Press Desk:   After the authoritarian Awami League government’s departure, the nation sowed seeds of hope around Nobel Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus. Many believed that with his “magic touch,” Bangladesh’s global image would shine brighter, people’s dignity would rise, and long-suppressed potential would be unlocked.

However, from taking office on 8 August 2024 until the handover of power through elections on 12 February 2026—a period of nearly one and a half years—how much of the people’s dreams did the Nobel Laureate actually fulfil? In search of answers, Kaler Kantho conducted an investigation.The investigation revealed a different picture.

Dr Yunus, whose distance from the people’s expectations was vast, had secured his release from seven cases while in office, including highly publicised corruption cases. In addition, he swiftly obtained a recruiting agency licence and resolved the complexities around acquiring an e-wallet licence for a company called Samadhan Services Limited. All of this occurred after he assumed power.

These institutions were operated under the Grameen Trust, founded by Dr Yunus. While he had formally stepped aside from these organisations prior to taking the oath as chief adviser due to legal obligations, he became active in them again after assuming office. Legal experts have opined that, by taking advantage of these opportunities once in power, he effectively abused his position.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Manzil Morshed told Kaler Kantho: “Those who are to run the state must take an oath to ensure no conflict arises with the public interest. Not only the government but many official posts require individuals to relinquish any profitable position before assuming office. Regarding Dr Yunus benefiting personally, there has been, and still is, considerable political criticism. He used the office of Chief Adviser for personal gain. Moreover, he is culpable under conflict of interest principles. In doing so, he violated the oath of office and deceived the people.”

Labour Export Licence: Among the benefits Dr Yunus gained while in power was a licence for labour export. In January 2025, Grameen Employment Services Limited received a licence from the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. By March, it also obtained membership of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA).

According to the company’s website, the recruiting licence (RL) number is 2806. Its address is listed as 53/A, Boxnagar Telecom Building, Chiriakhana Road, Mirpur-1.

It is reported that 90% of Grameen Employment Services Limited is owned by the Yunus Centre, with the remaining 10% held by Grameen Shikkha, founded by Dr Yunus in 1997. He initially served as chairman of this organisation but resigned before taking office as Chief Adviser on 8 August 2024. The Managing Director of Grameen Shikkha, Kazi Nazrul Haque, also serves as MD of Grameen Employment Services.

Ministry sources stated that Grameen Employment Services Limited initially applied for the licence in 2009, intending to export nursing students abroad. After 16 years, they finally received the certificate from BMET. The following month, they submitted the required fees and deposits, after which the RL number was issued.

A BAIRA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that during the caretaker government, Grameen Employment Services Limited was the only organisation to receive the certificate, despite several other companies awaiting it. Under ministry policies, no institution can export labour abroad without BAIRA membership.

The investigation revealed that the company had been involved in labour export abroad even before obtaining the certificate, but without a licence, they had to operate indirectly through other agencies.

MD Kazi Nazrul Haque confirmed to Kaler Kantho: “Although we provided training through partner institutions, we were unable to directly send personnel abroad for many years. After obtaining the certificate, preparations are underway. Training takes at least one year. We had applied for the licence before, but despite repeated efforts, approval was delayed for many years. Using the previous application as reference, we reapplied and finally received the certificate. We have not sent anyone to Japan yet; preparations are ongoing.”

He added that their institution, Japan Automatic School, teaches automotive mechanics and Japanese language. They have already signed a contract with a Japanese partner, and a trained batch will soon be sent as skilled workers.

The investigation indicates that the labour export process accelerated after Dr Yunus’s official visit to Japan. During a trip by the senior secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, 40 new contracts were signed with Japanese employers. In May 2024, Dr Yunus visited Japan as Chief Adviser, actively working to integrate his organisation into the Japanese labour market. During that visit, two major Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed, setting a target of sending 100,000 workers over five years.

Through these MoUs, Dr Yunus had already opened all opportunities for his organisation. Following the RL in January and BAIRA membership in March 2025, the company obtained government approval to send labour to Japan. The process of sending workers abroad is now underway.

Exoneration before the Oath: On 7 August 2024, just before a dramatic political change, Dr Yunus returned from France to Dhaka. That day, a hearing was underway at the Labour Appellate Tribunal regarding a case against him for violating labour law, for which he had previously been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by a lower court. By midday, the hearing concluded, and Dr Yunus, along with all co-defendants, was exonerated.The following morning, 8 August, Dr Yunus arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and was sworn in as Chief Adviser that night. With this dramatic change at the centre of power, several major cases against him were swiftly resolved.

In 2021, labour inspector Arifuzzaman of the Directorate of Factories and Establishments filed a case against Dr Yunus and three Grameen Telecom officials. The allegations included failure to form a workers’ participation fund, not distributing 5% net profit to workers, failing to monetise accrued leave wages, and not securing permanent employment.

Multiple provisions of the labour law were invoked, and on 1 January 2024, the Third Labour Court in Dhaka convicted them, sentencing Dr Yunus to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of Tk30,000. The ruling stated that the defendants violated sections 4(7), 4(8), 117, and 234 of the Labour Act 2006, constituting punishable offences under sections 303(5) and 307. The state had proven the charges beyond doubt. However, on the day of the ruling, they were granted one month’s bail pending appeal. The appeal process began at the Labour Appellate Tribunal, with extended hearings and adjournments.

Finally, on 1 August 2024, both parties jointly requested an expedited hearing. The argument was that appeals under the Labour Act must be resolved within 60 days, but the appeal exceeded this timeframe. The day before the caretaker government was formed, 7 August, the tribunal’s acting chairman M A Awal delivered the verdict, concluding the appeal.

Another notable point was that no counsel appeared for the complainants that day. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun appeared for the defendants. Previously, senior lawyers from the directorate had been representing the complainants.

Further Case Dismissals: During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, at least 150–200 cases were filed against Dr Yunus and his organisations, according to Grameen Group legal adviser Abdullah Al Mamun. These included allegations of tax evasion, labour law violations, embezzlement, and smuggling. Before the government’s fall, only one case had been adjudicated, resulting in a six-month sentence for Dr Yunus. Most cases remained pending.

The investigation shows that after assuming office as Chief Adviser, at least seven cases in higher courts were resolved. The most publicised involved embezzlement and smuggling of Tk25.22 crore in employee dividends from Grameen Telecom. Filed on 30 May 2023, 14 individuals, including Dr Yunus, were accused.

The charge sheet cited discrepancies in board decisions and bank account openings, fake settlement agreements, and millions transferred to individuals and lawyers without paying employees. Bank records indicate only Tk1 crore was genuinely transferred as lawyer fees; the rest was embezzled. The case involved multiple charges under the Penal Code and Money Laundering Act.

The High Court had ordered the case to conclude within one year. However, following political changes, on 8 August 2024—three days after the government fell—Dr Yunus was sworn in, and the Anti-Corruption Commission withdrew the case on 11 August.

Subsequently, the High Court annulled six more cases against him on 24 October 2024, upheld later by the Appellate Division.

E-wallet ‘Samadhan’ Licence: Investigations revealed that Samadhan Services Limited was granted priority for an e-wallet licence. Bangladesh Bank issued the Payment Service Provider (PSP) licence to allow the company to provide electronic payment services. Applications had languished for years, only to be resolved after Dr Yunus assumed office.

On 2 June 2025, Bangladesh Bank’s Payment Systems Department (PSD) issued an order licensing Samadhan Services Limited as a domestic payment service provider under conditions set by PSD and ADC&L (Samadhan). The firm had applied as a digital financial service provider on 16 November 2021 but received no approval under then-Governor Abdur Rauf Talukdar.

After only 51 days of Dr Yunus assuming office on 8 August, the company received a no-objection certificate on 29 September. PSD initially set 13 conditions to be met within one year, but the company claims to have fulfilled them in nine months, receiving the final licence on 2 June 2025 and starting commercial operations on 4 December 2025.

Conditions included 200 million BDT paid-up capital, robust ICT infrastructure, AML/BFT compliance, customer verification, data protection, SQA and VAPT testing, and disaster recovery planning. Bangladesh Bank verified compliance.

Questions arose regarding the licence approval process, particularly how a company waiting three years suddenly received priority.

The board of directors also faced scrutiny. The nine-member board is dominated by Grameen Telecom affiliates. Chairman M Shahjahan is a former MD of Grameen Bank, and MD Md Ashraful Hasan is Chairman of Grameen Telecom.

Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, told Kaler Kantho: “Before approving any institution, it is essential to assess its capability, productivity, and commitment to the country. Otherwise, situations like fourth-generation banks arise. Licences alone are insufficient; technical competence is crucial. Transparency, accountability, and merit should guide approvals; political or personal influence undermines sustainability.”

Reduced Government Ownership in Grameen Bank Limits Oversight: Operating outside the conventional banking system, Grameen Bank’s governance has raised concerns. Government ownership was gradually reduced from 25% to 10%, and government-appointed board influence diminished, limiting direct oversight. Legal experts question the rationale and policy behind this process, warning of weakened accountability.

Supreme Court lawyer Mahmudul Hasan told Kaler Kantho: “Having a different regulatory framework for the same country’s financial institution is problematic. Specialized banks, such as Bangladesh Agricultural Bank, are accountable to Bangladesh Bank. Why should Grameen Bank operate independently? Even as an NGO, it should report to the Microcredit Regulatory Authority. Otherwise, it acts independently.”

Following Dr Yunus taking office, discussions and criticisms arose regarding preferential treatment of Grameen-related institutions, including potential tax advantages. On 17 April 2025, then-adviser Rizwana Hasan stated that under the Financial Reporting Act 2015, Grameen Bank is considered a public-interest institution, with nine board members elected from the beneficiaries. Analysts note that reduced government control strengthens participation but raises questions about accountability and oversight. 

Source: Kaler Kantho