Yunus Centre says US senator's letter on Hillary links is no investigation

The Yunus Centre has denied reports that a US senate committee has launched an investigation to determine whether former secretary of state Hillary Clinton used her position to intervene in Bangladesh government's probe of Muhammad Yunus.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 19 June 2017, 06:42 PM
Updated : 20 June 2017, 05:06 AM

Senator Chuck Grassley, the chairman of the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on June 1, saying 'new evidence shows donations to the Clinton Foundation resulted in favorable treatment for Yunus by the State Department'.

The Yunus Centre, in a rejoinder on Monday, said, the letter "was being presented in the press as a senate judiciary committee investigation".

"This is not correct," the Centre said, claiming that the letter was a 'routine exercise of power' by the senator.

"However, if the Senate decided to begin an investigation, Yunus Centre would welcome it," it added.

Senator Grassley mentioned in the letter that allegations of 'special treatment' for Yunus included reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy living in the US was threatened with IRS audit if the investigation into alleged tax dodging by the Nobel laureate was not stopped.

The Yunus Centre termed 'fabricated' the reports on Yunus' donation to Clinton Foundation.

The Centre said it would be 'inconceivable to think' Yunus-inspired NGOs Grameen Foundation and Grameen America, based in the US, and  Yunus Social Business, based in Frankfurt, got USAID funds "because Yunus 'donated' a small amount to Clinton Foundation".

It added that Grameen America President Vidar Jorgensen, a 'wealthy US business man', paid $20,000 per year as fee to attend Clinton Foundation event called Clinton Global Initiative because he "believed the Initiative was a good place to meet potential donors for his organisation".

Response to PM again

The Yunus Centre also responded to allegations brought by Sheikh Hasina against Yunus during her recent visit to Sweden.

The allegations are Yunus' alleged role in stopping the World Bank fund for Padma Bridge project, instigating Clinton to phone HAsina after losing the managing director's post in Grameen Bank, stealing money from Grameen Bank, and dodging taxes.

"Now we are obliged to respond again," the Yunus Centre said in the rejoinder.

It claimed the Nobel laureate did not violate the age rules of Grameen Bank by not retiring at an age stipulated by the government, as, it argued, the Grameen Bank was not bound to follow government service rules.

Yunus did not step down after crossing the age limit on being 'insisted by the board of directors', the Yunus Centre added.

Yunus was removed from Grameen Bank as managing director on the ground that he had crossed the official age limit in 2011. This came amid an allegation that he had siphoned off the bank’s fund.

He then challenged his dismissal in the Supreme Court but lost and ever since has been at loggerheads with the Hasina administration.

Hasina said on several occasions that she had come under international pressure after the ouster of Yunus.

But, emails released from Hilary Clinton's time as secretary of state later revealed that Yunus desperately solicited her help for ending his feud with the Hasina government over the control of the bank.

Later, Yunus 'created false corruption allegations' against the government to stop the World Bank from funding the Padma Bridge, according to Awami League leaders, including Prime Minister Hasina.

The Yunus Centre denied the allegation, saying he 'always supported the project'.

About the other allegations like tax dodging and stealing money from the Grameen Bank, it said there was no evidence Yunus was involved in the misdeeds.