Bangladesh interim government head Muhammad Yunus acquitted in bribery case

Dhaka: In a new ruling, Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh's interim government, was acquitted of bribery charges related to the misappropriation of funds from the Grameen Telecom Workers and Employees Welfare Fund. The verdict, announced by Justice Md Rabiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4, came after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) requested the withdrawal of the case, reports the Bangladesh-based daily ‘Dhaka Tribune’.

Nurjahan Begum, the health advisor and managing director of Grameen Shikkha, was also implicated in the case. This acquittal follows Yunus's earlier exoneration on August 7 by the Labour Appellate Tribunal, which overturned his six-month jail sentence for Labour Law violations.

Additionally, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigned from his position amid the current turmoil in the country. Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Advisor Prof Asif Nazrul announced the resignation in a Facebook video, citing concerns for the protection of judicial infrastructure and personnel as reasons for Hassan's decision.

"I feel it is necessary to share a special news with you. Our Chief Justice reigned a few minutes back. His resignation letter has already reached the law ministry. We will send it to the president without delay for taking necessary measures," he said in a video message in his Facebook post.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Tribune quoted Obaidul Hassan as saying in his resignation letter: "To protect the Supreme Court building and its records, to protect the court premises, to protect the homes of the judges, to protect the Judges Tower, to protect the judges from physical assault and to protect the district courts and record rooms, I had to make this decision." (Agencies)