During a press conference on Thursday afternoon at the ground floor of Grameen Telecom Bhaban, Dr Yunus expressed grave concern over the current situation. He said, "We find ourselves in a dire predicament as eight of our institutions have been unlawfully seized. Grameen Bank has assumed control over these institutions, disregarding established protocols. The Grameen Bank building has remained inaccessible since February 12th. Imagine how you would feel if someone were to lock your home unlawfully. This begs the question, what purpose does the judiciary serve in our country?"
Dr. Yunus elaborated, "Following my departure from Grameen Bank, we established the Grameen Telecom building, which symbolised the realisation of our aspirations. Our dedicated staff have been diligently working. However, four days ago, we were blindsided by outsiders who seized control of certain facilities, rendering us mere spectators. They are now attempting to dictate the operations of these institutions. We were completely caught off guard."
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Dr. Muhammad Yunus lamented, "My residence feels as if it's been occupied. We promptly notified the police and filed a General Diary. Although the police responded, they failed to provide any resolution, leaving us unable to conduct our operations."
Expressing his frustration, Dr Yunus questioned the state of affairs, stating, "How can a country function when outsiders can arbitrarily claim ownership of property? Some people brought out a broom procession against us — we have no clue why. We are the rightful occupants of these institutions, which cater to the welfare of our nation's citizens, providing essential services such as nursing and education. Despite the success of our institutions, we are being unjustly ousted by external forces. It's perplexing. Even reaching out to the authorities has proven fruitless. I implore our fellow citizens, who do we turn to in times of such injustice? This is why I felt compelled to engage with the media."
The 13th floor of the Grameen Telecom building houses 16 offices under Dr. Yunus's jurisdiction, where he serves as Chairman of each institution. These establishments encompass various sectors, including rural welfare, telecommunications, power, content, fund management, fisheries, agriculture, and industry, including Grameen Telecom, Grameen Trust, Grameen Shakti, Grameen Fisheries and Livestock Foundation. On February 12th, Grameen Bank seized control of these eight institutions.
Dr. Yunus convened the press conference three days after this incident, accompanied by the Managing Director of Grameen Telecom, Nazmul Islam, and the Managing Director of Grameen Kalyan, AKM Moinuddin Chowdhury.