The Appellate Division has upheld the High Court's decision to dismiss five labour-law related cases against Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
A three-judge bench of the Appellate Division, led by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, issued the ruling, rejecting the state's appeal for permission to challenge the High Court's verdict.
During the court proceedings, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Anik Rushd Haque represented the state, while Mustafizur Rahman Khan represented Yunus.
The Appellate Division's full order says that there were no legal flaws in the High Court's ruling and order. As a result, the court found no need for legal problem in the decision, leading to the dismissal of the state's leave to appeal.
Five labour court cases were filed against Yunus in 2019, alleging wrongful dismissal linked to the formation of a proposed trade union during his tenure as chairman of Grameen Telecommunications.
In 2020, Prof Yunus petitioned the High Court for the cancellation of the cases, and the High Court issued a rule to that effect.
After the final hearing, the High Court delivered its verdict on October 24, 2024, cancelling the proceedings of all five cases.
The state subsequently sought permission to appeal the decision, but the Supreme Court dismissed the leave to appeal application on December 8.
Senior advocate Mustafizur Rahman Khan said, "The Appellate Division has issued its full order, dismissing the state's leave to appeal against the High Court's ruling.
"As a result, Prof Yunus and the relevant officials of Grameen Telecommunications at the time have been relieved from the cases, and the legal proceedings against them will no longer have any effect."