Charge-sheet accepted against Dr Yunus, 13 others in money embezzlement case
Court Correspondent
A Dhaka court on Tuesday took into cognizance the charge sheet filed against Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus and 13 others as they are accused of embezzling Tk 25 crore from the company and laundering it abroad.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Ash Shams Zaglul Hossain issued the order and transferred the case to Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 for further proceedings. The court has also scheduled a hearing for the case on 2 May.
Meanwhile, the court issued an arrest warrant against accused Grameen Telecom director Md Shahjahan for failing to appear before the court for today's hearing.
Investigation officer of the case and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Gulshan Anwar on 1 February filed the charge sheet against a total of 14 accused.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Gulshan Anwar, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against a total of 14 persons on 1 February.
The accused are- Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Telecom Managing Director (MD) Nazmul Islam, Directors Ashraful Hasan, Naznin Sultana, Parvin Mahmud, Md Shahjahan, Nurjahan Begum and Professor SM Huzzatul Islam Latifee, President of 'Grameen Telecom Sramik-Karmachari Union Md Kamruzzaman and its General Secretary Firoz Mahmud Hasan, lawyers Zafrul Hasan Sharif and Yusuf Ali, Union's representative Md Mainul Islam and Jatiya Workers Federation's Office Secretary Kamrul Hasan.
According to the case statement, during the company's 108th board meeting held on May 9, 2022, chaired by Dr. Yunus, a decision was made to open a bank account at Gulshan branch of Dhaka Bank Limited.
However, it was found that the account had been opened a day before the decision.
Subsequently, over Tk 26 crore was transferred to the account on various occasions, based on 'fake settlement agreements' and decisions of the board.
But, before distributing the company's profit share among the workers or informing them, the accused persons allegedly embezzled around Tk 25 crore from the fund, added the case statement.
