Abduction of GB staff protested***
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
FE Report
Hundreds of employees of Grameen Bank Monday observed one-hour work abstention at the bank's headquarters in Mirpur to protest abduction and attack on one of its staff. Nearly 800 employees of the Nobel peace prize winning organisation under the banner of Grameen Bank Employees' Association staged the protest programme at about 3:00pm. Sagirur Rashid Chowdhury, an accounts officer and a former president of the association, was abducted on May 6 and later released on condition to pay ransom of Tk 0.3 million and promise not to be involved in any pro-Yonus movements. Sagirur in the protest programme said a group of 10-12 men abducted him from near his office when he was going to Mirpur 1 at 7:30pm last Friday. During the hour-long protest programme, the employees also sought foolproof security for the greater interest of the bank that has 8.3 million borrowers --- some 97 per cent of whom are women. The employees said if Yunus cannot be allowed to continue as the managing director for age limit, he should be appointed the chairman for a smooth transition. "His appointment as the chairman will create a congenial environment in the bank and help pave the way for smooth handover of leadership to the next generation," a protestor said. Senior officials of the bank also took part in the programme. The 71-year prominent economist lost the legal battle to stay in the microfinance organisation after the Supreme Court rejected both the appeal petitions against Dr Yunus' removal as the bank's chief executive.
Hundreds of employees of Grameen Bank Monday observed one-hour work abstention at the bank's headquarters in Mirpur to protest abduction and attack on one of its staff. Nearly 800 employees of the Nobel peace prize winning organisation under the banner of Grameen Bank Employees' Association staged the protest programme at about 3:00pm. Sagirur Rashid Chowdhury, an accounts officer and a former president of the association, was abducted on May 6 and later released on condition to pay ransom of Tk 0.3 million and promise not to be involved in any pro-Yonus movements. Sagirur in the protest programme said a group of 10-12 men abducted him from near his office when he was going to Mirpur 1 at 7:30pm last Friday. During the hour-long protest programme, the employees also sought foolproof security for the greater interest of the bank that has 8.3 million borrowers --- some 97 per cent of whom are women. The employees said if Yunus cannot be allowed to continue as the managing director for age limit, he should be appointed the chairman for a smooth transition. "His appointment as the chairman will create a congenial environment in the bank and help pave the way for smooth handover of leadership to the next generation," a protestor said. Senior officials of the bank also took part in the programme. The 71-year prominent economist lost the legal battle to stay in the microfinance organisation after the Supreme Court rejected both the appeal petitions against Dr Yunus' removal as the bank's chief executive.