Following Bangladesh’s independence, Grameen Bank was established with the aim of offering collateral-free loans to the country’s landless and impoverished communities. In line with Article 152 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, Grameen Bank was constituted as a statutory government entity, fully financed by the state. The bank’s legal foundation was formalized through the Grameen Bank Ordinance of 1983.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, was appointed as its Managing Director in 1990, drawing a modest monthly salary of BDT 6,000. He remained in that position until 2011. However, recent financial investigations and official records suggest that Dr. Yunus has since accumulated substantial wealth, raising questions about the sources and legitimacy of these assets.
Below is a summary of the known wealth and financial activities allegedly linked to Dr. Yunus, as compiled by Bangladeshi authorities:
Bank Accounts and Reported Funds
In 2023, personal bank accounts under Dr. Yunus’s name reportedly held a total of BDT 118 crore (approx. USD 11.8 million).
Standard Chartered Bank (Account No: 18121274701)
Southeast Bank (Account No: 0212100020061)
Rupali Bank (Account No: 0489010008096)
Money Transfers and Alleged Laundering
Substantial sums were transferred to Travel International Ltd., a company allegedly involved in money laundering:
Account No: 73300000339 – BDT 11.14 crore
Account No: 90303160910 – BDT 2.52 crore
Grameen-Linked Financial Holdings
Grameen Kalyan Fund: BDT 2,053 crore held in 122 fixed deposits across 26 bank accounts.
Grameen Telecom: BDT 2,721 crore in 128 fixed deposits across 24 bank accounts.
Trusts and Foundations
Professor Yunus Foundation: BDT 6 crore
Yunus Family Trust: BDT 5 crore
Professor Yunus Trust: BDT 72.15 crore
Real Estate and Assets
A luxury apartment in Gulshan, Dhaka, worth BDT 9 crore under the Family Trust
A luxury apartment in Paris, with additional equity in two private banks
A 68-acre resort named “Naiorshog” in Purbachal
Another “Naiorshog” resort on Marine Drive, Cox’s Bazar
Five acres of land in Uttara, Dhaka
In 2015, 87 kathas of land were reportedly allocated by CDA for a proposed “Ananda School”, which was never constructed
Nationwide Land Acquisitions
Land purchased under various Grameen entities reportedly valued at over BDT 6,000 crore
International Investments and Alleged Capital Flight
Alleged illicit capital outflows through social business investments in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Latin America
Use of Foreign Aid and Grants
Establishment of multiple Grameen-branded organizations funded through international grants and aid, with reports of annual misappropriation of hundreds of crores under the pretext of operational costs
Tax Evasion Allegations
The following Grameen-linked organizations have been flagged for unpaid taxes:
Grameen Kalyan: BDT 830 crore
Grameen Telecom Trust: BDT 209 crore
Grameen Shakti: BDT 47.85 crore
Grameen Water Ltd.: BDT 1.69 crore
Grameen Motso and Poshu Sampad Foundation: BDT 1.82 crore
Grameen Trust: BDT 1.07 crore
Grameen Agriculture Foundation: BDT 3.52 crore
Dr. Yunus himself faced allegations of BDT 12.76 crore in unpaid personal income tax, which was later paid after losing a protracted court case.
Sources of Information
These financial details were obtained from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
As of now, Dr. Yunus has not issued a formal statement addressing these reports. His supporters argue that the ongoing scrutiny is politically motivated, while government officials assert that the investigations are based on verifiable financial data.
