Muhammad Yunus and three colleagues were yesterday sentenced to six months in prison after being found guilty of violating labor laws in Bangladesh. For now, the four defendants will remain free on bail pending a decision on the appeal.
Muhammad Yunus, 83, and his colleagues at Grameen Telecom are accused of failing to set up a pension fund at the company founded by Muhammad Yunus, thereby violating labor laws. Its supporters have a different interpretation, believing that this is political persecution.
The professor and economist denies all accusations. Yunus also faces more than a hundred other charges related to allegations of corruption and alleged violations of labor laws. Known for lifting millions of people out of poverty through his microcredit bank, a pioneering initiative. Yunus has fallen out with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who accuses him of “drinking the blood” of the poor. He is seen as a rival to Hasina, who has been in power for 15 years.
The country will hold legislative elections next Sunday, and Sheikh Hasina’s victory is virtually guaranteed. The opposition boycotted the elections, eliminating the only alternative to the prime minister from the race.
DETAILS
NOBEL OF THE WORLD
Muhammad Yunus, 83, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 by the Swedish Academy.
GRAMEEN BANK
Muhammad Yunus created the Grameen Bank, which lends money without collateral or papers, especially to women.
microcredit
Yunus is the creator of the concept of microcredit, the purpose of which is to help poor people who do not have access to other types of credit.
