Zulkarnain Saer urges BNP to review Grameen contracts during Yunus tenure

Journalist Zulkarnain Saer has questioned whether the BNP government will revisit contracts and licences awarded to Grameen organisations during the tenure of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Sunday, Saer alleged that several Grameen entities obtained contracts, licences and other benefits during Yunus’s tenure as chief adviser of the interim government.

He claimed that concerns over a possible conflict of interest were dismissed by Yunus’s press team, who argued that Yunus had stepped down from his positions within Grameen before assuming office and challenged critics to identify any irregularities in the awarding process.

Saer, however, said the explanation failed to address what he described as an apparent conflict of interest, arguing that the name “Grameen” remains closely associated with Yunus. He questioned whether bureaucrats would have been willing to reject applications from Grameen-linked organisations during his tenure.

The journalist further argued that, for the sake of transparency and public confidence, contracts or licences involving Grameen entities could have been deferred until after Yunus’s term in office.

Citing an example, Saer referred to a contract awarded in October last year by the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) to Shukhee, an initiative of Grameen HealthTech under Grameen Trust. He questioned the basis on which Shukhee was selected and sought clarity on the evaluation process.

Saer also noted that Yunus has recently returned to Grameen, describing the development as contradictory to the pledge of building a “new Bangladesh”.

He expressed hope that the BNP government will review the contracts awarded to Grameen organisations, saying such a move would be necessary to ensure good governance and transparency.