Staff Reporter :
Grameen Telecom Chairman Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and Managing Director Md Ashraful Hassan on Tuesday sought unconditional apology to the High Court for their ‘unintentional’ contempt of court.
They appeared in the HC virtually complying with an earlier order over reinstating 38 terminated employees of the Grameen Telecom and placed a written statement.
After hearing, the HC Bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah exonerated Dr Muhammad Yunus and its Managing Director Md Ashraful Hassan from personal appearance before the court.
Following a contempt of court petition, the HC on February 18 this year summoned Dr Muhammad Yunus and Md Ashraful Hassan for not complying with its order over reinstating 38 terminated employees of the Grameen Telecom.
They were asked to appear in the court on March 16 through virtually for explaining their role over the issue.
At the same time the court also issued contempt of court ruling against them. In the ruling the court wanted to know from them as to why a contempt of court proceeding should not be drawn against them for not complying with the High Court order.
In the affidavit, Dr Muhammad Yunus and Md Ashraful Hassan stated that they have the utmost respect and regard for the court and its orders, and there cannot be any question of them willfully disregarding or deliberately flouting any order of the court.
Md Kamaruzzaman, president of Grameen Telecom Labour Union and also a terminated employee of the organization, filed the contempt petition with the High Court on February 8 this year.
Advocate Yousuf Ali appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioner, while Rokanuddin Mahmud and Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan appeared for the Grameen Telecom officials and deputy attorney general Nawroz MR Chowdhury represented the state.
Yousuf Ali said, “The authorities of the Grameen Telecom on October 25 last year terminated 99 employees without consulting the labour union of the organization. Grameen Telecom’s managing director Md Ashraful Hassan issued the termination notice. Then 38 of the terminated employees moved to the High Court.”
Following a petition filed by the 38 employees the High Court on December 6 last year ordered the authorities of the Grameen Telecom to reinstate the petitioners immediately. But in the last two months the authorities didn’t comply with the High Court order.
In this circumstance, the petitioner on February 8 filed a contempt of court petition with the HC. After hearing on the petition the court on February 18 summoned the two officials of the Grameen Telecom.
In the affidavit the Grameen Telecom authorities also said, the petitioner along with 37 other have been reinstated in their post with Grameen Telecom with all back wages and benefits. They have been attending the Head office of the organization, also read the affidavit.
Petitioner’s lawyer Yousuf Ali told the HC that the compliance report given by Dr Yunus and Ashraful is not true as his clients (petitioners) are not being allowed to work for the office. After hearing, the court fixed April 22 for hearing on the contempt ruling.
