Yunus Centre, which promotes the works of Prof Muhammad Yunus, has protested the finance minister’s recent statement in the parliament regarding the Nobel Laureate’s taking dividend from GrameenPhone, the country’s largest mobile phone operator.
The Centre, in a written statement issued in the wake of AMA Muhith’s June 26 remarks, touched upon several issues chiefly the Grameen Bank, its operation and Yunus’ role as its managing director, and the ownership of Grameen social businesses.
Addressing the Jatiya Sangsad, Muhith opposed Yunus’ comment that the Nobel Prize winner microcredit organisation Grameen Bank has no relations with Grameenphone.
“I am yet to respond to this end as I am waiting for the investigation report. But the information I got so far, I can say that the statement is false as Grameenphone was founded with the money from Grameen Bank.”
He then went on to say: “Prof Yunus received several thousands crore as dividend from Grameenphone. I will inform the people of the country within the next 15 days.”
Reacting to this statement, Yunus Centre said Yunus does not own any share in the company, not even any bought from the stockmarket.
“The finance minister, in that case, will have to explain before the parliament and to the nation through it how Dr Yunus took several thousand crores of taka from it,” the statement reads.
“Otherwise, (Muhith) will have to apologise for lying,” it adds.
Source: The Daily Star
