Saturday, December 2, 2023

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

HSC results: Dhaka has most GPA-5 achievers, while Barishal has highest pass rate

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka had the highest number of GPA-5 recipients in the HSC exams, while Barishal Education Board had the highest pass rate among nine educational boards. Education Minister Dipu Moni announced today that the overall pass rate in the nine general boards is 75.90 percent. In terms of pass rates, Barishal ranked ... Read more

PSC postpones 45th BCS written tests

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) has decided to postpone the written tests for the 45th Bangladesh Civil Service examination, which was scheduled to be held on 27 November. The announcement came through a notification signed by Ananda Kumar Biswas, the exam controller of PSC, issued on Friday. PSC held a ... Read more

After stabbing younger sister to death woman ‘kills herself’ in Hazaribagh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A woman reportedly killed herself after stabbing her younger sister to death in the capital’s Hazaribagh area today. Police said the incident took place in the Kalunagar area at around 12am on Monday (13 November). The deceased have been identified as Jasmine Akhtar, 44, and her younger sister Nasreen Akhtar, 30. ... Read more

Oman stops issuing new visas to citizens of Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Sultanate of Oman has suspended the issuance of visas across all categories for Bangladeshi nationals, the Royal Oman Police (ROP) said on Tuesday. The decision was effective from Tuesday, reported Oman-based English newspaper the Times of Oman referring to the Royal Oman Police. The report said that the ROP confirmed ... Read more

Dhaka girl Nupur takes over as chairman of Unilever for a day

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Seventeen-year-old Nupur from Dhaka, had the opportunity to take over Unilever’s chairman position for one day on Thursday. There, she symbolically carried out the roles and responsibilities of Zaved Akhtar, the chairman and managing director of Unilever Bangladesh, said a press release. Nupur being an active youth club member, works for ... Read more

Hospitals must follow guidelines, orders HC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The High Court on Thursday asked the government to take steps to make it compulsory to follow the relevant guidelines for the prevention of performing unnecessary caesarean section surgery at government and private hospitals and clinics. The court has also directed the government to widely circulate the guidelines within six months. ... Read more

Woman delivers birth to five babies at DMCH

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A woman has given birth to five premature babies. The quintuplets were born at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) at 10am on Thursday to Mansura Begum, 22, the wife of CNG driver Md Mamun from Bandardia village in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi district. One of the newborns, however, died shortly ... Read more

Tk8.44 cr fine imposed to Kazi Farms, 3.44 crore to Suguna Food

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Competition Commission has fined Kazi Farms Group and Saguna Food and Feeds on charges of market manipulation causing abnormal rise in broiler chicken prices. BCC officials said that the companies must deposit the fine amount to the BCC within 10 working days. If they fail to deposit the fine ... Read more

Heritage volunteers visit national museum

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The heritage volunteers participating in UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Programme 2023 visited national museum in Dhaka on Sunday. The ten-day workshop programme organised by Nagar Upakhyan-Perceive started on October 1, said a press release. The Heritage volunteers’ team visited national museum which is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list on ... Read more

Fare for Bangladesh-India trains to increase from November 10

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Ticket prices of three inter-country trains on Bangladesh-India routes are going to be hiked from November 10. The fares are going to increase due to high exchange rate of US dollar and rising travel tax, according to the Bangladesh Railway officials. The trains are – Maitree Express on Dhaka-Kolkata, Bandhan Express ... Read more

Man, nephew killed by lightning

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A man and his nephew were struck by lightning in Satarbari village of Longair union under Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh yesterday. The deceased were identified as Sohel Mondol, 40, a trader of pharmaceutical drugs, and his nephew Razib Mondol, 35 a rice trader in the village. Quoting locals, Raju Ahmed, officer-in-charge ... Read more

TV sales decline despite World Cup: Is streaming to blame?

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 captures the attention of sports enthusiasts across the world and an intriguing trend is emerging in Bangladesh’s television market. While events of this magnitude have traditionally led to an increase in TV sales, recent figures from September show a 30% decline compared to the same ... Read more

Heritage volunteers visit Paharpur archaeological museum

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The heritage volunteers participating in UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Programme 2023 visited Paharpur archaeological museum in Naogaon on Friday. The ten-day workshop programme organised by Nagar Upakhyan-Perceive started on October 1, said a press release. The Heritage volunteers’ team visited Paharpur archaeological museum which is on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative ... Read more

Child among three dead as mud walls collapsed in rain in Gazipur

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Three people including an eight-year-old child died in separate incidents of mud walls collapsing during heavy rain in Sadar and Kaliakoir upazilas of Gazipur. The deceased are Faridul Islam, 8, son of Matiur Rahmon of Konabari Baimile under Sadar upazila, and Imarat Hossain, 65, and his wife Achia Begum, 56, of ... Read more

Sultana Kamal new chairperson of TIB trustee board

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Eminent human rights activist Advocate Sultana Kamal has been elected as the chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB). She takes over the position from Prof Perween Hasan, the Bangladesh chapter of Berlin-based global anti-graft watchdog said in a press release on Wednesday (4 October). The decision ... Read more

Hanging body of SUST student recovered from room

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The hanging body of a student of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology was recovered from his room of a student dormitory adjacent to the main entrance of the university at Akhalia in Sylhet city. The deceased is Arif Mia, a second-year social science student of the university and also a ... Read more

Dhaka to remain silent for one minute on 15 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has decided to observe a minute’s silence in Dhaka city on October 15 from 10:00 to 10:01 a.m. to raise awareness about noise pollution. The ministry of environment, forests and climate change took the decision in an inter-ministerial meeting at the secretariat on Wednesday to prevent noise pollution, according ... Read more

Cybersecurity awareness month begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Cybersecurity awareness month will be observed in October with this year’s theme ‘secure our world’. On the occasion, different educational and technology-based organisations have taken elaborate programmes in the capital Dhaka today, Sunday, the first day of the month. In 2004, the United States declared that the month of October would ... Read more

Gold prices fall for second time in three days

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Jewellers today reduced prices of gold, a move that comes after three days of slashing its rates by 1.2 percent, according to a press release by Bangladesh Jewellers Association (Bajus). From tomorrow, prices of each bhori of gold will be Tk 98,210, down by 1.74 percent from today’s rate Tk 99,960. ... Read more

Habibur takes charge as 36th DMP commissioner

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Additional Inspector General of Police Habibur Rahman took charge as the 36th commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police today. The outgoing commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq formally handed over the charge to Habibur, after receiving a heartfelt farewell from officers at the DMP Headquarters, said a press release. Habibur served as deputy commissioner ... Read more