False Funding : Government Debunks Allegation Against Yunus
A video claiming that Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus provided financial aid worth BDT 1,000 crore (approximately USD 100 million) to Israel has recently gone viral on social media. The allegation was made by an Islamic speaker, Mufti Alauddin Jihadi, during a recent sermon. In response, the Press Wing of the Chief Adviser has categorically denied the claim, calling it “fake” and part of a coordinated smear campaign.
In a statement issued on Sunday (April 20), the Fact Division of the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said, “Individuals linked to Awami League politics are promoting the false statements of the said Mufti to deliberately mislead the public.” The statement further asserted that “such fabricated propaganda is part of an ongoing orchestrated conspiracy against Professor Yunus and the interim government under his leadership.”
Independent fact-checking organizations have also scrutinized the claim. According to them, the rumour originated from an article published in October 2023 by the online news portal Bangla Insider, which is widely recognized as a propaganda outlet for the ruling Awami League. The article alleged that Grameen America, a microfinance initiative linked to Professor Yunus, had donated USD 10 million to Israel.
Fact-checking platform Rumor Scanner investigated the matter thoroughly. Their findings indicate that during the onset of Israeli military actions in Gaza in October 2023, several Bangladeshi media outlets reported that Dr. Yunus had donated funds to Israel. The claim gained traction following Bangla Insider’s report on October 13, 2023, which mentioned a statement from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Rumor Scanner found no such statement or documentation from the ministry confirming the donation.
Furthermore, when contacted, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Rumor Scanner that no such statement had been issued. Journalists and fact-checkers in Israel also said they were unaware of any financial support from Dr. Yunus or Grameen America to the Israeli government or organizations.
The Yunus Centre has officially dismissed the allegation as “completely false.”
In light of these developments, the interim government has urged all religious scholars and responsible citizens not to be misled by misinformation and to stand firm against attempts to disrupt peace and public order.
