Dhaka, Dec 23 (bdnews24.com) — The government will investigate alleged irregularities against Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus.

Finance minister said Abul Maal Abdul Muhith told reporters on Thursday that a probe committee will soon be formed in this regard.

Norway's national TV NRK aired a documentary on November 30 titled "Fanget i Mikrogjeld" or "Caught in Micro debt", based on which bdnews24.com ran a report on December 1.

According to the documentary, Yunus transferred funds destined for Grameen Bank to Grameen Kalyan, which was in no way involved with microcredit operations.

Responding to the allegations, Grameen Bank claimed there was no wrongdoing in the agreement between the bank and Grameen Kalyan under which it received Tk 3,917 million from Grameen Bank.

bdnews24.com was the first to break the story in Bangladesh on Dec 1.

Muhith told reporters, "We have got Norway's report. It will be investigated."

The minister, however, declined to reveal names of probe committee members.

He also declined to comment on the rumoured resignation of Nobel laureate Yunus as the Grameen Bank chief.

A number of ruling Awami League leaders spoke out against Yunus after the news of siphoning funds had been published. Prime minister Sheikh Hasina also said that the allegations should be investigated.

Muhith, however, in a reaction on Dec 4 had said, "I see no fault in the transfer of funds if [Grameen's] claim is true."

Grameen Bank also claimed that the issue had been settled in 1998 suggesting that it was an old issue and had no currency.

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