Nobel laureate and economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus addressed allegations of corruption against him during a bail hearing at Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-4 on Thursday. 'Do I look like someone who entered business to commit fraud? I have made 10 million poor people owners of a bank,' Dr. Yunus stated to the media after the hearing.

Dr. Yunus expressed his sorrow, 'I am here today with a heavy heart. The Anti-Corruption Commission has levied several severe accusations against me, including fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.'

He further clarified his position regarding the ownership of Grameen Bank, 'If there has been any interest taken, it was done by the owners of the bank, who are the members themselves. You have known me for a long time and have previously judged whether such crimes fit my character. I have been called a usurer repeatedly, but you did not accept these accusations because I am not the owner of Grameen Bank. If interest has been taken, it was by the bank's owners.'

Regarding his forced separation from Grameen Bank, he noted, 'When I was ousted, 97% of Grameen Bank’s ownership was with our members. If interest was indeed taken, it was they who took it. I was merely an employee, which you all knew. I was never the owner of the bank, so you (the media) never accepted that.'

Dr. Yunus also addressed the controversial claims surrounding the Padma Bridge, 'It has been repeatedly said at major events that I sabotaged the Padma Bridge project and caused the World Bank to withdraw its funding; some even suggested I should be thrown into the Padma River. You did not accept these claims either.'

'The allegations brought today are part of the same narrative. Therefore, I leave it to your judgment to decide whether the accusations of fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering are true, or merely like the baseless usury claims,' Dr. Yunus concluded, placing his trust in the media’s discernment.

In response to questions from journalists, Dr. Yunus remarked, 'There is no need for me alone to make a statement! Go to the people of the country, and they will tell you whether the court operates independently or as it wishes. You will get a clear answer from the people about why this is happening.'