Rejecting Finance Minister AMA Muhith’s remarks on Muhammad Yunus’ activities, the Yunus Centre, an organisation aimed primarily at promoting and disseminating the Nobel laureate’s philosophy, claimed on Tuesday that Muhith made an attempt to misdirect people with “false information” about Yunus while addressing parliament on 26 June .
In a rejoinder issued on Tuesday, the organisation expressed its astonishment, saying it was unexpected that a minister could come up with such “false information” about a person of Dr Yunus’ stature.
The rejoinder rejected the minister’s claim that all social business organisations that have the title “Grameen” are Yunus’ personal properties.
“None of those organisations belongs to Dr Yunus,” it said.
“If the minister cannot provide evidence defending his statement, it is recommended that he should seek apology for disseminating ‘false information’ concerning a reputable person,” the rejoinder added.
It also binned Muhith’s claim of Yunus taking millions of taka in dividend from Grameen Phone, saying: “How Dr Yunus can take dividends from a company of which he doesn’t own a single share? The minister must clarify it.”
It reiterated its earlier stance that Grameen Bank has no official or financial relationship with Grameen Phone.
The statement also highlighted several issues from Muhith’s June 26 speech including the Grameen Bank, its operation and Yunus’ role as its managing director, and claimed that all of the information provided by the minister was false.
