Govt out to grab Grameen Bank

By changing the structure of Grameen Bank, the government wants to grab it and is also trying to insult its founder Prof Muhammad Yunus, complained three panel members of BBC Bangladesh Sanglap yesterday.
BBC Bangla service and BBC Media Action jointly organised the dialogue in the capital's Biam auditorium.
Panel member and BNP leader Osman Faruk said the government has made the move as a personal revenge on Dr Yunus.
When most of the government institutions have been losing their existence, the government is busy ruining the bank. The government should immediately stop its move to split the bank, noted Osman, also an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Another panel member Sara Hossain, executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), alleged that the government was trying to occupy the microfinance institution by brining changes to its structure.
The government, she said, did not form any commission for Sonali Bank, but it has formed one for the Grameen Bank which has insulted Yunus.
Dhaka University teacher Prof M Shahiduzzaman said the government wants to insult Yunus as there is a rumour in the air that he (Yunus) might play a strong role in the next caretaker government.
Speaking at the dialogue, fourth member of the panel, prime minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman, however, differed with the rest.
He said if anyone wanted to say anything about the government's initiative regarding the Grameen Bank, he might say it before the inquiry commission.
“The government don't have any statistics about the sister concerns or wings of the Grameen Bank. To find out the figures, the government has formed the commission. It has no other intention [but to find out the figures],” he claimed.
Yunus is respected by many people, said Mashiur, and asked all not to mix up the bank with the Nobel laureate.
WEAR BLACK BADGE ON JULY 2
Bangladesh Projonmo Academy, a non-government organisation working for good governance, yesterday at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club called upon all to wear black badge on July 2 protesting the government's move to split the Grameen Bank.
On that day, the Grameen Bank commission is set to recommend restructuring of the bank either in the shape of the erstwhile Bangladesh Shilpa Bank or Rural Electrification Board in order to give the government absolute control over the microcredit organisation.
The recommendations will be unveiled at a workshop at the Biam auditorium in the capital.
Addressing the discussion as the chief guest, former chief election commissioner Justice Abdur Rouf advised the government form another institution like the Grameen Bank instead of splitting it.