‘Misuse’ of law against Yunus could deter foreign investment: US

Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus has been given a six-month jail sentence for violations of labour laws and is now facing fresh graft charges from the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The United States has expressed concerns over the ‘judicial harassment’ saying that it could negatively impact Bangladesh's prospects for foreign investment.

Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US Department of State,  said this during a press briefing in Washington on Tuesday.

“We worry the perceived misuse of labour and anti-corruption laws could raise questions about the rule of law and dissuade future foreign direct investment, and we encourage the Bangladeshi government to ensure a fair and transparent legal process for Dr Yunus as the appeals process continues,” he said.

“The Anti-Corruption Commission has approved a chargesheet for additional cases. Those have drawn widespread condemnation from around the world,” he said.

“We share the concerns voiced by other international observers that these cases may represent a misuse of Bangladesh’s labour laws to harass and intimidate Dr Yunus”, he said.