Law Minister Anisul Huq on Wednesday said that Nobel laureate Prof Dr. Muhammad Yunus is being tried by the same legal process as any other citizen in the country.   

He came up with the statement in response to concerns raised by the European Union (EU) during a meeting regarding the legal proceedings against Yunus.

A total of 108 workers filed a lawsuit against Yunus on a charge of violating the country’s labour law, he said, adding that a trial in connection with a corruption and tax evasion case is going on against him under the country’s conventional law.

Earlier in the day, a delegation of the EU met the law minister at his office and wanted to know about the trial process of Yunus.     

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court framed charges against Yunus, chairman of Grameen Telecom and 13 others for allegedly embezzling Tk 25 crore from the company and laundering abroad.

Judge Syed Arafat Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 passed the order, scrapping a discharge petition filed by the accused.

The court read out the charges and asked the accused, who are in bail in the case whether they would plead guilty or not. In response, the accused pleaded not guilty and demanded justice.

bd-pratidin/GR