Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has called upon the people to come forward and save the country from nightmare. He said the government’s suggestion to nationalise Grameen Bank or to split the bank into 19 pieces was unacceptable. “Grameen Bank is the bank of the poor. No matter what grudges any individual or political party hold against it, people will stand by Grameen Bank.”He said this at a mass reception accorded to him at the auditorium of the Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital for winning the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award of the United States. Abdul Matin, eminent language hero of the Language Movement, chaired the reception. Eminent jurist barrister Rafiqul Haque, former secretary M Moniruzzaman and convener of the reception organising committee MM Mehebub Rahman were present at the function among others.
At the reception Md. Yunus said, “This award belongs not to me but to the 84 lac poor women associated with Grameen Bank. It is their achievement. I do not understand why there is so much malice against a bank that has earned honour for this country and empowerment for the poor women. A commission was formed to restructure the bank. The commission suggested that the bank should be turned into a public bank or split it into 19 units. What absurdity is this? Grameen Bank is not a public organisation.”
He said, “The commission will soon submit a report advocating splitting the bank into 19 pieces. However, people all over the country are protesting this decision.” “Are we awake or is it a nightmare?” he sought to know.
Reminiscing on Grameen Bank’s history, the noted economist said he started Grameen Bank to free people from greedy loan sharks. After much struggle in the intervening 37 years, Grameen Bank has become the entity that it is today. It started by lending Tk 1,000/1500 credit, whereas now it gives Tk 1,000 crore credit every month. This money comes from the poor rural women. They own Grameen Bank. At present, the bank holds Tk 8,000 crore as deposits from 84 lac female clients. – Source: Ittefaq Report
