Thursday, October 9, 2025

More support for Yunus from abroad

The world’s best-known microfinance institutions and over a dozen Bangladeshi scholars living abroad condemned the government move to remove Prof Muhammad Yunus from Grameen Bank.
In a statement, Tilman Ehrbeck, chief executive of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), and Vijay Mahajan, chair of the CGAP board, said, “We are deeply concerned by the campaign of the past few months and recent legal actions to remove Muhammad Yunus as managing director of Grameen Bank.”
They said over the past 30 years Yunus and Grameen Bank together have been a powerful force and symbol for the microcredit movement, and for progress for poor people who were previously excluded from formal financial services.
“Prof Yunus has been a pioneer in the field, and his substantial contributions to advancing the cause of poor unbanked women should be celebrated by Bangladesh, and the international community.”
“The current situation is damaging not just to Grameen Bank and poor clients in Bangladesh, but also to the wider microfinance industry,” they said.
They said the widespread international support Yunus has received affirms the important role many countries now see for financial inclusion. “We also sense an increasing awareness and understanding at a political level in many countries including the G20 of what financial inclusion can contribute to social and economic development.”
“We hope that a compromise can be reached that allows Grameen Bank to operate effectively, and for microfinance in Bangladesh to continue to thrive and contribute to the social and economic development of the country.”
CGAP is the world’s leading resource for advancement of microfinance. It provides the financial industry, governments and investors with objective information, expert opinion, and innovative solutions to effectively expand access to finance for poor people around the world.
In a joint open letter in support of Dr Yunus, ACCION, Calvert Foundation, Co-Operative Bank, FINCA, Freedom From Hunger, Grameen Foundation, Grassroots Capital, Microvest Fund, Opportunity International, Pro Mujer, Triple Jump, Visionfund International, and Women’s World Banking, said the banker to the poor has diligently served the poor for decades, and none has done more to inspire generations to work to reduce poverty.
“We are increasingly concerned and dismayed with the troubles Muhammad Yunus is facing in Bangladesh. As we understand it, the government of Bangladesh is resorting to technicalities to remove Dr Yunus from the Grameen Bank, without presentation through legitimate and transparent legal processes of any evidence of wrongdoing.”
“We deeply deplore this lack of justice and unproven allegations that not only impugn Dr Yunus’ character and the integrity of his flagship bank, but reach much further. Forced removal creates unnecessary risk for the more than 8 million borrowers-owners of the bank.”
“The government of Bangladesh previously had respect for the bank’s independence as a majority client-owned microfinance institution; it is our sincere hope that a return to the status quo can be made quickly.”
Meanwhile, 16 non-resident Bangladeshis living abroad wrote an open letter to the Government of Bangladesh under the banner of “Voice for Justice”, protesting the dismissal of Yunus from the country’s most prestigious institution.
Voice for Justice is a global community organisation whose mission is to prevent acts of injustice, and to actively seek and ensure justice against any action of an individual, group or entity deemed illegal, unfair or discriminatory.
“We, the undersigned members of the international community of Bangladeshis, are deeply shocked by the recent dismissal of Nobel Laureate Dr Yunus from the Grameen Bank, an institution he founded and shepherded for the betterment of poor Bangladeshi women.”
“The action by the Bangladesh Bank is an example of government overreach. Even if Dr Yunus recently passed the retirement age, Grameen Bank’s Board of Directors should have had the option to work out a graceful transition for him,” they said.
“Dr Yunus is a distinguished citizen of Bangladesh and a model citizen of the world. His work is recognised by numerous national and international organizations. His micro-credit model is emulated in five continents. It has lifted millions of women and their families out of poverty and empowered them to become dynamic entrepreneurs,” they said.
The group said every Bangladeshi is proud of Dr Yunus’ Nobel Peace Prize and the renown he has brought to the motherland. “It is time we learn to respect a son of the land who has earned high honours and recognition around the world.”
“The sudden and disrespectful dismissal of Dr Yunus is unfortunate and unacceptable. It has caused deep concern worldwide and has tarnished the image of Bangladesh as a progressive and democratic country.”
“We deplore this action by the Government of Bangladesh and demand immediate reinstatement of Dr Yunus,” the members of Voice for Justice said.
The signatories are — Dr Hasanat M Husain MBE (UK), Shah Jahan (New Jersey), Dr Hasan Z Rahim (San Jose, California), Dr Sajedur Rahman (Sydney), Dr Taj Hashmi (Honolulu), Dr Shamsul Islam Choudhury (Chicago), Enam Choudhury (Stockholm), Dr Abdur Rahman (Ireland), Dr Hasan Mahmood (Toronto), Dr Jasmine Tickle (Cambridge), Mustafa Choudhury (Ottawa), Dr Matin Ahmed (California), Ezajur Rahman (Kuwait), Abdur Rahman Chowdhury, and Dr Mosleh-Uddin Ahmed (New Jersey).

 

Courtesy of The Daily Star

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more