Daily Star Editorial 6/12/10
Vilification of Grameen
Discussions should be fact based
The tenor of the comments made by the Prime Minister and in certain section of the media against the Nobel laureate, following a Norwegian TV documentary regarding notional transfer of funds from Grameen Bank (GB) to a sister concern Grameen Kalyan (GK), appears to us to have been done without all facts being considered.
Instead of being objective, impartial, unprejudiced and unbiased, most of the reports and comments, appear to have missed the point and are unnecessarily maligning an institution and an individual, both of whom were awarded the Nobel Prize. We are constrained to say that most of these stem from gross misinformation, deliberate misinterpretation of facts, and are, in some cases, downright fabrication.
The current debate has been triggered by a Norwegian TV report; and many who have engaged in the debate in Bangladesh, are regrettably, not fully aware of the content of the said documentary.
The crux of the TV programme under discussion was based on the notional transfer of fund from GB to GK. The point at issue here is the difference of opinion between it and NORAD, a matter that revolved on the interpretations of the provisions of their agreement. And as it turned out, the matter had been amicably settled 12 years ago, to the satisfaction of the parties concerned, and set at rest since.
That being the case one cannot but be surprised at the manner in which the TV documentary has been projected in certain section of the local media. Phrases and words like "siphoned off" "steal" "removed fund" have been used to ascribe ill motives to Dr. Yunus and convey to the people that the fund was "misappropriated." Needless to say, these are baseless allegations, which neither the producers of the programme nor the TV channel that aired it, nor NORAD, accused Dr. Yunus or Grameen Bank of.
It needs to be pointed out that policy decisions of Grameen Bank are made by a board, nine of whom are elected from among the borrowers, and includes three senior officials representing the government. The chairman happens to be man of high standing. The decisions are collective and not arbitrary, as some of the reports would have us believe. It needs mention that Grameen Bank and its sister organisations are a non-profit conglomerate operating under a special statute of the parliament. Its accounts are subject to regular audit and under the scrutiny of the Bangladesh Bank, who, we assume, are aware of its transactions and manner of funding.
What is perhaps even more reprehensible are the crass and cussed comments that have spewed from the mouths of many, some of whom may not be fully cognisant of the extent of the work done for the poor by GB.
Given that the matter was resolved 12 years ago, one wonders why it has surfaced now via a Norwegian TV channel. But more importantly, why has the matter been given a deliberate slant forsaking the truth only to malign someone? This is far from what one expects form an informed society. It is an abomination that we should guard against.
We urge all concerned to desist form making ill-founded and uninformed observations. All discussions must be based on facts
