In 2006 Muhammad Yunus of the Grameen Bank won the Nobel Peace prize for pioneering the concept of "microfinance"--giving out small loans to small impoverished households. His award brought international attention to the microfinance industry, which for a while seemed like a magic bullet for international poverty. Problems started in 2010, when reports of endemic suicide, caused by the stress of microfinance, started surfacing in India. In 2011, Bangladesh's government forced Yunus (A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER) to step down. Now according to the Economist, the government is trying to forcibly restructure and lay claim to the Grameen Bank.
The rational for the government trying to intervene with the Grameen empire is somewhat nebulous, considering Grameen has partnerships with many companies abroad, which could be spooked by a government take over. That said, Grameen employs over 37,000 people and made over $592 million dollars worth of profit in 2010, making it a glistening jewel for a power hungry state…
http://www.economist.com/node/21543547
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