Mushfiqul Fazal, State Department Correspondent
Washington, February 13, 2024, Monday
The United States has expressed concern over the perceived misuse of labor and anti-corruption laws against Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The U.S. government warns that such actions could raise questions about the rule of law in Bangladesh and potentially dissuade future foreign direct investment.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller addressed these concerns during a briefing on Tuesday, prompted by state department correspondent Mushfiqul Fazal's inquiry about an incident where approximately 20 individuals attempted to seize control of two entities belonging to Dr. Yunus in Dhaka. The correspondent noted that, the current government in Bangladesh has taken control over various institutions, including the parliament, judiciary, media, and now entities like Grameen.
When asked about the U.S. perspective on the situation in Bangladesh, Miller commented, "Regarding the multiple criminal cases filed against Dr. Muhammad Yunus, we note that the labor case was tried with unusual speed."
Expressing concerns aligned with international partners, Miller stated, "The Anti-Corruption Commission has approved a charge sheet for additional cases, drawing widespread condemnation worldwide. We share the concerns voiced by other international observers that these cases may represent a misuse of Bangladesh’s labor laws to harass and intimidate Dr. Yunus."
The United States is worried about the perceived misuse of labor and anti-corruption laws, as it could cast doubts on the rule of law and discourage future foreign direct investment, Miller emphasized.
He urged the Bangladeshi Government to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for Dr. Yunus as the appeals process continues.
On Monday, around 20 people entered the Grameen Telecom and Grameen Kalyan offices housed at Grameen Bhaban in Mirpur around 5:00 pm, taking officials hostage for about two hours in an alleged attempt to take control of the offices.
Earlier, Professor Yunus had a meeting with the managing directors and advisers of his institutions at Grameen Bhaban.
MR/
