The Dhaka Third Labour Court on Sunday fixed January 1 to deliver its verdict in the case filed against Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and three others on charges of labour law violation at Grameen Telecom.

The court chairman Sheikh Merina Sultana set the date on completion of defence argument in the case.

Defence lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun concluded the arguments on the day demanding acquittal of his clients from the charges.

Professor Yumus and other accused in the case were present before the court.

On November 16, Khurshid Alam Khan, the prosecution lawyer for the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, ended his arguments demanding maximum punishment for the accused ones.

Earlier, a total of four prosecution witnesses testified before the court.

On June 6, the court framed charges against Professor Yunus, and three other top officials of the company — Ashraful Hasan, Nur Jahan Begum and Mohammad Shahjahan in the case.

On September 9, 2021, labour inspector SM Arifuzzaman of the DIFE filed the case with the Dhaka Third Labour Court on allegation of labour law violation at Grameen Telecom.

According to the case documents, during a visit to the Grameen Telecom office, inspectors of the DIFE found that 101 workers who were supposed to be permanent were working as temporary staff.

DIFE also found that no participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them while five per cent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers as per law.