Dhaka: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has abrogated the proceedings of a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission against seven individuals, including Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus. The judgment was pronounced by a four-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, allowing an appeal related to the case.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Appellate Division had previously set today to deliver its judgment on an appeal by Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus and six officials of Grameen Telecom. This appeal was against a High Court order that had dismissed their plea to cancel the graft case proceedings. The officials involved include Grameen Telecom Managing Director Nazmul Islam and Directors Ashraful Hasan, Naznin Sultana, Md Shahjahan, Nurjahan Begum, and Prof SM Huzzatul Islam Latifee.
Senior lawyer Abdullah-Al-Mamun represented the appellants, while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman argued on behalf of the state. Advocate Asif Hasan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission. The ACC had initially filed the case on May 30, 2023, through its deputy director Gulshan Anwar, who later submitted a charge sheet against 14 accused individuals.
The High Court had previously dismissed an appeal for cancellation of the case against the seven individuals, including Dr Yunus, on July 24, 2024. Subsequently, the apex court allowed a leave to appeal petition filed by Dr Yunus and the six officials on October 21, 2024, leading to the current abrogation of the proceedings.