Solve Yunus issue to uphold country's image
Speakers urge prime minister
The prime minister (PM) should rise above political narrowness to solve the issue centring Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus for the sake of the country's image, speakers said yesterday.
They said mistreatment of the founder of Grameen Bank by the government is seriously damaging the country and its people.
They made the call at a discussion meeting organised by “Citizen Committee to Protect the Honour of Nobel Laureate Professor Yunus” at Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in the city.
Mentionable, the committee, consisting of politicians, lawyers, civil society members, rights activists and noted professionals, was formed after Bangladesh Bank relieved the microfinance pioneer from the post of managing director of Grameen Bank.
ABM Mostafa Ameen, the committee convener, said the issue over Prof Yunus is unacceptable and unwanted.
“Prof Yunus regularly interacted with people through the Board of Grameen Bank. (Three of the 12 board members are from the government) Now the government says he was in the post without approval for the last 12 years.
“How was it possible? It means that there was no government in the country in the meantime,” he said.
Former state minister Abul Hassan Chowdhury said, “By dishonouring Yunus, we are actually dishonouring ourselves and the country.”
He urged the prime minister to be aware of people around her, as these “opportunists” would disappear when the masses begin blaming her in this issue.
Stating the time adjourned by the Supreme Court before hearing on two appeals in this issue an opportunity, the former Awami League lawmaker said, “The government should utilise it and reach an amicable solution.”
He said, “The government should keep the Yunus issue out of politics so that no conflict arises.”
Former lawmaker Humayun Kabir said keeping or not keeping Prof Yunus in the post of managing director is a legal issue. “It should not be politicised.”
“Whether we admit or not, Yunus's contribution in empowering women is recognised around the world.”
Former lawmaker of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal Mustafizur Rahman said there is still time for the government to make arrangement so that Yunus could hand over responsibility in a congenial environment, maintaining spirit of Grameen Bank.
Prof Tofail Ahmed, formerly at public administration department of University of Chittagong (CU) and also former member of Local Government Commission, said Bangladesh's identity spawning from the worldwide fame of Dr Yunus is now at stake.
Public health activist Zafar Ullah Chowdhury said the PM has to rise above politics to settle the issue.
Former CU economics department Prof Sikander Khan said Yunus should be allowed to continue in the post of managing director as long as he can properly serve the microfinance bank. “He should be allowed to continue as we need him for the sake of the country. But we are doing the opposite.”
Speakers also chastised Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury for her comments in parliament on the family affairs of Prof Yunus.
Abdur Rouf, presidium member of Gono Forum, chaired the meeting.
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