Charge-sheet accepted in money embezzlement case against Dr Yunus, 13 others

A Dhaka court has taken into cognizance the charge-sheet filed in a case against Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and 13 others for allegedly embezzling Taka 25 crore from the company and laundering abroad.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Ash Shams Zaglul Hossain passed the order on Tuesday. The court also set May 2 for holding hearing in the case.

The judge also sent the case to Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 for further proceedings. 

The court, meanwhile, issued arrest warrant against accused Grameen Telecom director Md Shahjahan as he failed to appear before the court for today's hearing.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Gulshan Anwar, also investigation officer in the case, filed the charge-sheet against a total 14 accused on February 1.

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.

The decision to open a bank account at the Gulshan branch of Dhaka Bank Limited was made at the company's 108th board meeting, which was chaired by Dr. Yunus, on May 9, 2022, according to the case records. However, it turned out that the account had been launched a day earlier than the final decision.

On several occasions, over Tk 26 crore was transferred to the account in accordance with "fake settlement agreements" and board decisions. However, the accused embezzled about Taka 25 crore from the fund before even telling the employees that they would be receiving their portion of the company's profits.