Three separate platforms of more than 650 persons from different professions yesterday expressed their grave concerns about the future and autonomy of the Grameen Bank.

In a statement, 405 teachers under the banner of University Teachers' Association of Bangladesh said: "We are deeply worried at the present government's ploy in the appointment of managing director of internationally renowned and Nobel winning Grameen Bank out of vendetta and animosity."

"We are also surprised at the amendment to the Grameen Bank Ordinance to prevent the impoverished, neglected and the poor women member-borrowers of the bank from exercising their rights and to halt empowerment of the poor women."

They said the international community is worried about the government's hostile attitude to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.

"Bangladesh's image has been tarnished due to the government's naked interference in Grameen Bank, politics of secret killing and the Padma bridge corruption," said the statement.

The signatories to the statement of the association include its President Prof AFM Yusuf Haider and Secretary General Prof Tahmina Akhter, and Abdul Aziz, Khalilur Rahman, M Farid Ahmed and Ashraful Islam Chowdhury.

In another statement, 65 eminent citizens said: "The government and the head of the government have taken steps to destroy the Grameen Bank in the name of controlling it, which is worrisome."

They said Prof Yunus has shown the dream of activating the country's disadvantaged poor womenfolk, which has injected life into the women awakening.

"The countrymen have started to reap its benefit slowly. We request the government not to destroy the bank that is enabling women awakening," said the statement.

The platform also urged the government to refrain from curbing the authority of the board of directors of the bank in the name of amending the ordinance.

The signatories to the statement include former vice chancellors of Dhaka University Emajuddin Ahmed and Moniruzzaman Miah, former VC of Jahangirnagar University Mustahidur Rahman, former deputy VC of Agriculture University Shah Mohammad Faruque, vice-president of Bangladesh Bar Council Khandokar Mahabub Hossain and former general secretary of Bangladesh Supreme Court Lawyers Association Badruddoza Badal.

Under the banner of "Shato Nagorik", 219 eminent citizens urged the countrymen to be alert about any ploy that could harm the Grameen Bank.

"We are deeply worried that the present government is desperate to establish its control over the country's only Nobel winning organisation Grameen Bank and destroy it through steps taken one after another," they said in a joint statement.

"Besides, the government is spreading vices to vilify and tarnish the image of microcredit and social business pioneer Prof Yunus," it said.

The signatories to the statement include Prof Sadrul Amin, Prof Tajmeri SA Islam, Prof Abu Ahmed, poet Abdul Hye Shikder, Prof ZM Tahmida Begum, Prof Mohammad Golam Rabbani, Borhan Uddin Khan, Mosharraf Hossain Mia and Prof Mokhlesur Rahman.

News: Daily Star/Bangladesh/28-Aug-12