Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing on Bangladesh Embezzlement Case Until October 21

On September 2, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh postponed the hearing of a leave to appeal petition regarding a corruption case involving Professor Muhammad Yunus and six officials from Grameen Telecom. This case stems from allegations made by the Anti-Corruption Commission on May 30, 2023, accusing Yunus and 13 others of misappropriating approximately Tk 25.22 crore from the Grameen Telecom Workers' Profit Participation Fund, with additional charges of money laundering. The petition was filed on August 25, challenging a High Court ruling that upheld the indictment against Yunus and the six officials, which included Managing Director Nazmul Islam and Directors Ashraful Hassan, Naznin Sultana, Md Shahjahan, Nurjahan Begum, and SM Huzzatul Islam Latifee. The High Court had previously rejected a petition from Yunus and his co-defendants on July 24, which sought to contest the charges framed against them by a Dhaka court. The Supreme Court's Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed led the session where the adjournment was announced, instructing the petitioners' lawyer to present additional arguments on October 21. The court emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the case, which has significant implications for the individuals involved and the broader context of corruption in Bangladesh. The ongoing legal proceedings highlight the serious nature of the allegations against prominent figures in the country and the judicial system's role in addressing corruption. The outcome of this case could set a precedent for future corruption cases and influence public trust in the legal and political systems in Bangladesh.