DHAKA, March 19, 2025 (BSS) - The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) today set April 23 for pronouncing its judgment on an appeal filed by Professor Muhammad Yunus and six officials of Grameen Telecom against a High Court order that dismissed a plea for cancelling the proceedings of a graft case.

The Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order as the hearing on the matter concluded today.

Senior lawyer Abdullah-Al-Mamun moved the plea before the court, while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman argued for the state. Advocate Asif Hasan, on the other hand, stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The apex court on October 21, 2024, allowed a leave to appeal petition filed by former chairman of the Grameen Telecom Professor Muhammad Yunus and six officials of the company against a High Court order.

The six other pleaders are Grameen Telecom Managing Director (MD) Nazmul Islam, Directors Ashraful Hasan, Naznin Sultana, Md Shahjahan, Nurjahan Begum and Prof SM Huzzatul Islam Latifee. 

The High Court on July 24 dismissed an appeal for cancellation of the case against seven, including then Grameen Telecom Chairman Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, filed by the ACC.

"We had filed leave to appeal petition on three grounds against the High Court order. The case was scheduled for testimony at the lower court concerned on August 5. The court later deferred the hearing till September 5. But the ACC, without informing us, pleaded to withdraw the case, which was allowed by the court," Barrister Abdullah-Al-Mamun said on October 21.

The senior jurist further said the case was withdrawn in an inappropriate way and was not legal, adding, we would face the trial legally and it is our constitutional right.

The ACC filed the case on May 30, 2023, for misappropriating Taka 25.22 crore and transferring the money elsewhere. ACC deputy director Gulshan Anwar later filed the charge sheet against a total of 14 accused.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on April 2, 2024, took into cognizance the charge sheet filed in the case and sent the matter to Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 for further proceedings. The court on June 12 framed charges against the 14 accused.