Bangladesh to probe Grameen ‘irregularities’
December 23rd, 2010 - 7:38 pm ICT by IANS
Dhaka, Dec 23 (IANS) The Bangladesh government Thursday said it will probe allegations of financial irregularities against Muhammad Yunus’ Grameen Bank. Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith said a committee would soon be formed to probe the working of the micro-credit bank.
The bank and Nobel laureate Yunus have been in news following an expose in a Norwegian film. Yunus has denied the charge of having illegally diverted funds to the bank’s other projects.
The Norwegian government subsequently said there was nothing against Yunus or the bank and that a dispute that arose seven years ago had been amicably settled.
The bank Thursday denied reports appearing in two Bengali dailies that Yunus had resigned as the bank’s managing director.
“The newspaper reports are totally baseless,” said a statement signed by Md. Shahjahan, general manager of Grameen Bank.
Yunus pioneered Grameen Bank in the 1970s as a rural micro-credit venture aimed at empowering women. It has been hailed globally and many countries have used what has come to be called the Grameen model.
However, following the controversy over Norway’s national TV NRK documentary aired Nov 30 titled “Fanget i Mikrogjeld” or “Caught in micro debt”, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina raised doubts about the Grameen venture.
Yunus said he would welcome a probe to clear his name and that of Grameen.
“We have got Norway’s report. It will be investigated,” Muhith was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com Thursday.
Asked by reporters why the government is busy criticising Yunus who brightened the country’s image by winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the finance minister said: “It’s not the government, it’s you (media) who are doing this,” Star Online, website of The Daily Star, said.
- Dhaka asks Grameen Bank chief to step down, Yunus refuses - Feb 15, 2011
- Government probe clears Yunus on handling of foreign funds - Apr 26, 2011
- 'Charges against Muhammad Yunus politically motivated' - Feb 18, 2011
- Bangladesh forms panel on Grameen Bank - May 16, 2012
- Bangladesh Govt. asks Muhammad Yunus to give up Grameen Bank post - Feb 16, 2011
- Bangladesh's Grameen bank chief Yunus steps down - May 13, 2011
- Bangladesh government announces new Grameen Bank chief - May 12, 2011
- Grameen Bank urgently needs a regulator: probe report - Apr 27, 2011
- Talks on for compromise with Grameen's Yunus - Mar 25, 2011
- 'Grameen' Yunus refutes $100 mn anomalies charge - Dec 03, 2010
- Yunus quits as Grameen Bank managing director (Lead) - May 13, 2011
- Bangladesh Grameen Bank denies diverting millions of aid money to other projects - Dec 04, 2010
- Bangladesh apex court confirms Yunus removal from Grameen Bank (Second Lead) - Apr 05, 2011
- Grameen Bank founder accused of diverting millions of dollars of aid to other projects - Dec 03, 2010
- Bangladesh govt.announces probe into Grameen Bank over diversion of aid money - Jan 13, 2011
Tags: bangladesh government, bank finance, bengali, dailies, daily star, empowering women, finance minister, financial irregularities, micro credit, minister sheikh hasina, muhammad yunus, muhammad yunus grameen bank, national tv, newspaper reports, nobel laureate, nobel peace prize, norwegian film, norwegian government, shahjahan, yunus grameen bank