Staff Reporter :
A dozen of US Senators have called upon the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for an end to the persistent harassment of Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
They have also underscored the concerns about the alleged abuse of laws and the justice system to target government critics more broadly.
Among the 12 signatories, Senator Richard J Dubin and Senator Todd Young, made the plea promptly consider the matter.
The recent six-month jail conviction of Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus for alleged violations of labour laws is not the first instance prompting prominent figures, both domestic and international, to appeal to the Bangladeshi government to cease its harassment of the renowned economist.
Prior to this conviction, numerous influential individuals had called on the government to halt the trial, asserting that Yunus was being unjustly targeted as part of what they perceived as the Awami League government’s vendetta against him.
Despite these appeals, the government maintained its stance, asserting that it could not intervene in the trial process, citing the independence of the Bangladeshi judicial system.
Officials urged the public and international community to place trust in the fairness and impartiality of the legal proceedings.
The continued legal challenges faced by Dr. Yunus have ignited concerns both within the country and globally, with ongoing debates surrounding the perceived independence of the judicial system and the nature of the allegations against the Nobel laureate.
In the meantime, the letter signed by a dozen of senators on January 22 has once again thrust the issue into the global spotlight.
However, there has been no immediate response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the letter.