GB 'forcibly occupies' eight enterprises housed in Grameen Telecom Bhaban

Outsiders have "forcibly occupied" eight establishments, including Grameen Telecom, housed in the Grameen Telecom Bhaban in Dhaka's Mirpur, Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus has alleged.

"I have witnessed many disasters in my life, but not like this one," said a visibly shaken and disappointed Dr Yunus at a press briefing held on the Bhaban premises on Thursday.

He said, "We are in the midst of a terrible situation. Eight of our establishments have been forcibly occupied. The Grameen Bank is now operating those the way they like. The entrance has been under lock and key since February 12."

The 13-storey Telecom Bhaban houses 16 organisations under the control of Dr Yunus, who is the honorary chairperson of these entities. The Grameen Bank (GB) authorities took control of eight of these entities, including Grameen Kalyan, Grameen Telecom and Grameen Uddoyog. Grameen Telecom owns 34.2-percent stake in the country's largest mobile-telecom operator, Grameenphone.

He alleged that police were yet to take any action though they were informed of the forcible takeover of the organizations. "A general diary with the local police to this effect was made. "Police did come but nothing was done. We are not being able to run our entities."

Dr Yunus had been the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank. He had to leave the post of chairman following a court order. Before the start of the press briefing at noon, some outsiders gathered in front of the Telecom Bhaban and chanted slogans against Dr Yunus. Staying there for some time they had left the place.

Asked by newsmen whether the entities in question had been built with Grameen Bank's money, he replied in the negative. He claimed that profit money was invested in the enterprises in question under the law of the land.

The Noble laureate is facing several cases filed by some agencies, including the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Grameen Telecom’s managing director, Nazmul Islam, Grameen Kalyan’s managing director, AKM Mainuddin Chowdhury, and other officials from different institutions were present at the press conference.