It’s a black day, says frustrated Yunus
He hopes future govt will return GB to its owners
Dhaka, Aug 23 (UNB) - Upset at the government’s latest action, Nobel laureate and former Managing Director of Grameen Bank Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus on Thursday termed ‘August 23’ a black day.
“The day will remain branded as a black day in the nation’s history. Our government has turned the Nobel-winning institution (Garmeen Bank) into a different one snatching its distinctiveness…I don’t have the ability to bear the pain,” he said in a statement.
“I hope, there’ll come a government in the future, the first job of which will be to revive the glory of this bank by returning the bank to its poor women owners holding a function at the national level. And the people of this country will heave a sigh of relief on that day…and the well-wishers of these poor women across the globe will feel relieved,” Yunus said.
The statement came hours after President Zillur Rahman promulgated an ordinance amending the Grameen Bank Ordinance, 1983 giving more power to the Grameen Bank chairman to choose its managing director.
With the amendment, Dr Yunus said, the closing chapter of a glorious history of Grameen Bank has begun. “From now on, the bank owned by the poor women will be run with the direct or indirect influence of the government.”
He said there is no example in history that any such attempt had been able to bring about good for any institution. “I can’t summon words to express my sorrow.”
Yunus said the government has repeatedly been saying that it will not interfere in Grameen Bank affairs.
“Bringing amendment to the ordinance, the government has taken up responsibility of running the bank in its hands by playing a role in appointing its chief executive…there’s no example in the world that the power of appointing the chief executive to an institution, run under the ownership of many, has been handed over to a partner who owns only 3 percent of its share.”
Yunus said he had called upon the people of the country to come forward to convince the government after the Cabinet decision on the amendment so that it (govt) does not proceed towards the amendment.
“Many protested the decision through their statements, staging human chains, holding meetings and writing in mass media. But my sorrow is that the government didn’t pay heed to any of us,” Yunus said thanking all who stood beside the poor women.
The Nobel hero also said many members of Grameen Bank established the bank as a unique institution in the world through their lifelong hard works. “They’re also not finding a place to hide their sorrows by seeing its ending.”
Yunus, however, said, “I’m an optimist…I don’t want to get frustrated. I would like to keep the dim light of hope alight in my mind.”
He made a fresh call to the people of the country to bring a solution to the matter. “I call upon the green minds of the country to take steps so that they, one day, can make the owners of the Grameen Bank free from this bad dream and be determined to get back the control of the bank.”
He said he is not finding anything else other than thinking of such a sweet day to console his grief-stricken mind on this sad day.
Earlier, on August 2, Yunus in another statement expressed deep shock at the government’s latest move to cut the authority of Grameen Bank’s board and give more power to its chairman to pick its managing director.
“I had expressed my apprehension at the very beginning...now my fear has started turning into a reality. I’m very sad we couldn’t be successful in stopping the process,” Yunus said in that statement that came hours after the cabinet approved the proposal for amending the Grameen Bank Ordinance 1983.
He said, “I’m so hurt seeing the bank of the poor, run by the poor owners, is being deprived of exercising their power. I’m so offended, “I’ve become unable to express my feelings in words.”
“The day will remain branded as a black day in the nation’s history. Our government has turned the Nobel-winning institution (Garmeen Bank) into a different one snatching its distinctiveness…I don’t have the ability to bear the pain,” he said in a statement.
“I hope, there’ll come a government in the future, the first job of which will be to revive the glory of this bank by returning the bank to its poor women owners holding a function at the national level. And the people of this country will heave a sigh of relief on that day…and the well-wishers of these poor women across the globe will feel relieved,” Yunus said.
The statement came hours after President Zillur Rahman promulgated an ordinance amending the Grameen Bank Ordinance, 1983 giving more power to the Grameen Bank chairman to choose its managing director.
With the amendment, Dr Yunus said, the closing chapter of a glorious history of Grameen Bank has begun. “From now on, the bank owned by the poor women will be run with the direct or indirect influence of the government.”
He said there is no example in history that any such attempt had been able to bring about good for any institution. “I can’t summon words to express my sorrow.”
Yunus said the government has repeatedly been saying that it will not interfere in Grameen Bank affairs.
“Bringing amendment to the ordinance, the government has taken up responsibility of running the bank in its hands by playing a role in appointing its chief executive…there’s no example in the world that the power of appointing the chief executive to an institution, run under the ownership of many, has been handed over to a partner who owns only 3 percent of its share.”
Yunus said he had called upon the people of the country to come forward to convince the government after the Cabinet decision on the amendment so that it (govt) does not proceed towards the amendment.
“Many protested the decision through their statements, staging human chains, holding meetings and writing in mass media. But my sorrow is that the government didn’t pay heed to any of us,” Yunus said thanking all who stood beside the poor women.
The Nobel hero also said many members of Grameen Bank established the bank as a unique institution in the world through their lifelong hard works. “They’re also not finding a place to hide their sorrows by seeing its ending.”
Yunus, however, said, “I’m an optimist…I don’t want to get frustrated. I would like to keep the dim light of hope alight in my mind.”
He made a fresh call to the people of the country to bring a solution to the matter. “I call upon the green minds of the country to take steps so that they, one day, can make the owners of the Grameen Bank free from this bad dream and be determined to get back the control of the bank.”
He said he is not finding anything else other than thinking of such a sweet day to console his grief-stricken mind on this sad day.
Earlier, on August 2, Yunus in another statement expressed deep shock at the government’s latest move to cut the authority of Grameen Bank’s board and give more power to its chairman to pick its managing director.
“I had expressed my apprehension at the very beginning...now my fear has started turning into a reality. I’m very sad we couldn’t be successful in stopping the process,” Yunus said in that statement that came hours after the cabinet approved the proposal for amending the Grameen Bank Ordinance 1983.
He said, “I’m so hurt seeing the bank of the poor, run by the poor owners, is being deprived of exercising their power. I’m so offended, “I’ve become unable to express my feelings in words.”
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