[mukto-mona] KHALEDA ZIA'S OUTCRY FOR DR.YUNUS & GRAMEEN BANK !!!!!

On Friday, October 25, 2013 8:19 AM, Muhammad Ali <eastsidepc71@gmail.com> wrote:

Khaleda Zia's outcry for Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank in her speech at Shurowardy Uddan was nothing but an example of "DOUBLE STANDARD" ( BHUTER MUKHEY RAAM NAAM).

Awami League's contribution to promote Grameen Bank :

Shortly after the Awami League government assumed office in 1996, I was invited by the then finance minister the late S.A.M.S. Kibria, to assume the chairmanship of the Board of Grameen Bank, where the government of Bangladesh held a 5% share. I remained in this position until the BNP government assumed office in 2001 when my tenure ended.

This was a productive phase in the history of Grameen Bank as well as the expansion of micro-credit not just in Bangladesh but across the world. The first global micro-credit summit was convened in Washington DC in 1997 where the pioneering role of Bangladesh in the spread of micro-credit was recognised with the invitation to our Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, to co-chair the summit with Hillary Clinton, then the first lady of the US and Queen Sophia of Spain. Sheikh Hasina made a strong impression on the summit through her eloquent advocacy of the micro-credit process.

BNP's Contribution to promote Grameen Bank :

Khaleda Zia is making hue and cry on expulsion on Dr. Yunus from Grameen Bank. Conversely, while she was in power her government's attitude toward Dr. Yunus was full of jealousy. From a close source of Khaleda Zia who dose not wants to be named told journalists that Khaleda Zia directed her Finance Minister Saifur Rahman to disparage the news of Dr. Yunus getting Nobel Prize. Accordingly BNP Finance Minister ridiculed Dr. Yunus saying " FOKIRNIR HATA DUI TEEN HAZAR TAKA AR AKTA MOBILE PHONE DHORAI DILA DESHER UNNOYON HOYNA.Finance Minister Saifur Rahman cast doubt on contributions by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus and micro credit to the country's development.

Following Khaleda Zia's instruction FM Saifur Rahman arranged agitation against Dr.Yunus and Grameen Bank in Sylhet and elsewhere during BNP first term in power. Finance Minister himself said in his speech speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Dutch Bangla Bank Ltd Moulvibazar branch in Oct 19th 2006.

Now in 2011 being opposition leader Khaleda Zia all of a sudden becomes solemn defender of Dr. Yunus and Grameen Bank. Who you believe, Khaleda Zia of 1991 and 1996 who asked her Finance Minister to agitate people against Dr. Yunus and Grameen as well as ridicule role of Grameen small finance in real economy or the champion defender of Grameen and Dr. Yunus in 2011.

Readers please read Daily Star report on October of 2006 and come to your own conclusion.

Thanks,
Shamim Chowdhury
Maryland, U.S.A.

Link: http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/23/d61023011713.htm
Link: http://www.thedailystar.net/2006/10/20/d61020011913.htm

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Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW

Vol. 5 Num 858 Mon. October 23, 2006

Front Page Saifur doubts contributions of Prof Yunus Staff Correspondent Emphasising the BNP-led government's achievements, Finance Minister Saifur Rahman yesterday cast doubt on contributions by Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus and microcredit to the country's development. "What did microcredit do regarding life expectancy, women literacy and reserve of foreign exchange?" Saifur asked while addressing a farewell programme at the finance and planning ministry. Officials of his ministry organised the programme at the ministry auditorium as the government's tenure expires on October 27. The minister sarcastically remarked that the government has established thousands of schools across the country. He posed a question whether a handful of those institutions was established by Prof Yunus or the BRAC. Citing examples of the country's development during the BNP government's rule, he asked how much of it was the result of microcredit system. Though Prof Yunus won Nobel Peace Prize for microcredit Saifur claimed the then government of 1979-80 actually initiated the system. Meanwhile, in his last speech as a minister of the outgoing government, Saifur yesterday discussed a number of other issues. Regretting the current political trend, the minister said he would not involve in politics any further, as unethical "things" have to be done in this arena. He stressed that these unethical "things" are the reasons behind corruption. He mentioned an incident when a World Bank official informed him of a serious corruption attempt in a project. Saifur however ruled out one-sided criticism of Bangladesh in connection with corruption, saying officials from international organisations are equally involved in irregularities. He expressed his frustration over the mammoth size of the government and the differences among the ministers, MPs and bureaucrats and lamented for the "good old days". "We miserably lack democratic mentality," he bemoaned. Though Bangladesh has a permanent civil service, Saifur said corruption occurred too frequently in this sector and it must be stopped. Admitting that his ministry had delayed project implementation process, he said, "The prime minister used to say that the planning ministry is to blame for these." The planning ministry actually holds up the project proposals from the concerned ministries as it finds various problems during scrutiny and thus the implementation further slows down. The accusation is 99 percent appropriate, Saifur observed, adding, though he formed a committee to avoid such circumstances it did not work. The minister started working at 10:30am and except for two to three hours, he was busy signing files even at the farewell venue. Saifur also attended a programme at the Finance Division yesterday.

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