Grameen Bank’s micro-finance model has been replicated around the world Microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus has appeared briefly in a Bangladeshi court accused of defamation, officials at the centre named after him have confirmed.
The founder of Grameen Bank is charged over comments he made about Bangladeshi politicians in a 2007 media interview.
The Nobel peace laureate was quoted at the time as telling AFP news agency: “Politicians in Bangladesh only work for money. There is no ideology here.”
His remarks were published in several newspapers the following day.
A spokesman for the Yunus Centre told the BBC on Tuesday: “He [Muhammad Yunus] did appear in court today. He was given bail.”
The centre said it would issue a detailed news release imminently.
AFP reported that Prof Yunus had appeared for about 10 minutes in a court about 100km (60 miles) north of the capital, Dhaka.
Court inspector Shahid Shoqrana told the news agency: “The court has granted him bail.
“His lawyers argued that he is a major international personality so it is impossible for him to appear in court every day. The court has allowed a nominee to appear for him.”
The case against Prof Yunus was filed in January 2007, following a complaint by the joint general secretary of the left-leaning Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal party.
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