A Historic Revolution Bought With Lives and Limbs

As the month of July 2024 dawned, Bangladesh was suffering under more than a decade of autocratic rule. Thousands were languishing in prisons or faced persecution in the form of frivolous lawsuits, harassment, and torture. Citizens under the age of 35 had never voted in a contested election. The economy was faltering. Few predicted that over the next 36 days, brave students and their civil society supporters would topple this regime, though at a terrible cost of thousands of lost lives and limbs.

In early July, students began protesting civil service recruitment quotas that disadvantaged many young graduates from prized government jobs. When they were brutally suppressed, they regrouped and shifted their demands to include broad-based reform of the dysfunctional government. Again, they were killed and injured by the police, paramilitaries, and the violent student wing of the ruling party. Finally their demands were reduced to one: that the Prime Minister resign.

On August 5, 2024 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country in the face of a massive uprising against her dictatorial regime. A new beginning for Bangladesh dawned on August 8, when Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Chief Adviser (Interim Prime Minister) with the strong support of student leaders and the vast majority of the country’s citizens.

However, the revolution came at a great cost. Some 1,400 protesters were killed. Most of those who perished were the breadwinners for their families, or were expected to be for decades to come. More than 20,000 citizens were injured, many seriously. Thousands of them will never fully recover their lost limbs or their eyesight. Many face crippling medical bills that have forced them to deplete savings, sell assets, close businesses, or borrow. Some have deferred the care they need due to the costs involved.

The July Martyrs Memorial Foundation Responds

The mission of the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation (JSSF) is “to provide immediate healthcare, financial relief, and long-term support to the families of martyrs and injured, while preserving the legacy of the July revolution for future generations through education, advocacy, and sustainable initiatives.” As an important first step, it is disbursing Tk. 500,000 (US$4,200) to the families of those who were killed, and Tk. 100,000 (US$840) to those who were injured.

Its volunteer board, which is chaired by Professor Yunus, and its mostly volunteer staff are using exacting means to ensure that 100% of funds reach the intended beneficiaries according to the highest possible ethical standards. Its chief executive is Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, who is the twin brother of martyr Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho.

The Martyrs Who Deserve Honor and Support

One of Professor Yunus’ first acts after taking the oath of office was to visit the family of Abu Sayed, the iconic martyr whose act of peaceful defiance cost him his life while inspiring a nation. Professor Yunus then established a private foundation to compensate all of the victims and their families, and provided it with $8.3 million, roughly one-fifth of what will be needed to meet the needs of all martyrs and victims.

The best known Bangladeshi martyr was Abu Sayed, a brilliant student in the northern district of Rangpur. His family had sacrificed for years to ensure his education, with the hopes that he would succeed and support them. But his commitment to social justice led him to offer himself up as a sacrifice to the police by striking a now iconic pose of outstretched arms. He was shot dead but his martyrdom inspired a nation. Read more about Abu Sayed here.

Nafisa Hossain Marwa was a dedicated female high school student whose father owned a small tea stall and invested all he could in her education. But she felt drawn to march to protest the autocratic regime and headed to Dhaka on August 5 to support the revolution. Minutes after talking to her father for the last time, Nafisa’s group was attacked by police and other forces, including the hated Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. She was at the front of the march when gunfire erupted, and she was shot and killed. Read more about Nasifa Hossain Marwa here.

Many more victims who were brutally attacked survived, but are suffering from their injuries. For example, 35-year-old Dalil Uddin started his own small-scale garment business after working in the industry.  On August 5, Dalil joined a protest led by students.  Police fired indiscriminately at the crowd, and  a one of their bullets struck Dalil near his right ear, exiting through his mouth. The impact shattered his teeth, gums, and tongue. Since then, Dalil has been unable to eat solid food or speak. His family has spent over Tk. 300,000 (US$2,500) on Dalil’s treatment as of early November, relying on savings and loans to cover expenses. Read more about Dalil Uddin here.

Another case is that of Sabbir, a university student in Rajshahi whose family’s economic situation forces him to work 10 hours per day, six days a week even while studying. On July 30, Sabbir became yet another victim of violence when members of Chhatra League severely beat and robbed him. He received basic medical care and returned home, where he was completely bedridden for 10 days. To meet the medical expenses, he and his pregnant wife have had to completely deplete their savings, and go into debt. Because he could not take end of year exams, he lost all credit for his studies in 2024, and will have to start over in 2025.  Read more about Sabbir here.

How You Can Help

Millions of people around the world observed and cheered the revolution against the autocratic regime in Bangladesh, and many wondered what they could do to help. Now, there is a way. U.S. residents can contribute any amount to a fund set up by Myriad USA (a U.S.-based nonprofit) that will support JSSF so that it can help the families of the martyrs and the surviving victims to recover, and in so doing help the birth of a new Bangladesh that has won its second independence. These donations are tax deductible for U.S. taxpayers.

For international donors wishing to make an online donation, click here.  For U.S. donors wishing to send a check, they can do the following: Send a check made out to Myriad USA and be sure to write “Friends of July Shaheed Smrity Foundation” in the memo section of the check. Mail it to Myriad USA, 551 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2400, New York, NY 10176. For information on other ways to give, click here.

Residents of Australia can make tax-deductible donations to Myriad Australia to be used to support JSSF by clicking here.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the July Shaheed Smrity Foundation from Belgium and Germany and the UK), donate here and select your country from the drop-down menu.

Residents of Bangladesh should visit the JSSF website to learn how they can get involved.

On November 17, 2024, Professor Yunus delivered his fourth address to the nation, which can be viewed here. He covered topics of interest to the citizens of Bangladesh. Immediately below is an English translation of the address, and further below is the original Bengali version.

Dear citizens, children, youth people, men, women, students, and elders: my greetings to everyone.

As-salamu alaykum (peace be upon you)

Before starting, I would like to pay my tribute to the millions of martyrs of our liberation war and those martyred during the student, worker, and mass uprising against fascism in July-August of this year. I offer my heartfelt salutation and deep respect to everyone. I would also like to honor the people who suffered injuries, became disabled, and lost their eyesight while fighting against the fascist force—the people who firmly stood for the nine-point demand, and rallied for the one-point demand. I pay my earnest gratitude to everyone who saved our country from the grasp of dictatorship. With profound gratitude, I acknowledge you, your families, your children, and every courageous individual who participated in this revolution.

We have completed the first 100 days of the interim government. You are all well aware of the circumstances under which we had to take responsibility. Following the mass uprising of students, workers, and the general public, the head of the fascist government fled, and the country was temporarily without a government. The police and administration became completely inactive during this period, creating an alarming situation.

We are all required to rebuild this country that collapsed by authoritarian rule. After the July-August revolution, we found a country in chaos and disorder. The law enforcement forces were turned against the people to maintain the fascist regime. Around 1,500 people, among whom were students, workers, and citizens, were martyred during the July Revolution. Our government is meticulously collecting every detail of the people who were martyred in this revolution. We now know that 19,931 people have been reported to be injured in this uprising. We have identified 13 hospitals in Dhaka and some specialized hospitals for their treatment. Every day new names are being added to the list of martyrs who left this world due to the outrageous actions of the dictatorship. We assure you that we will ensure that everyone gets justice. The trials for the killings of innocent citizens in July-August are progressing. We will also ask for the fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina from India to face justice.

We assure you that we will not only bring justice for the massacres of July-August, but also for every crime that was committed in the past 15 years. Countless people have been murdered and abducted by the past regime. We have formed a commission to investigate the abductions. The head of the commission informed me that they had documented 1,600 cases of abductions. They estimate that this number may ultimately exceed 3,500. Many victims are afraid to file complaints to the commission thinking that they may be hurt and victimized again by the accused perpetrators. I assure you that you should report your complaint to the commission without hesitation. No one can lay hands on you again.

The report on the victims of enforced disappearance that we received from the commission is heartbreaking. After the July-August revolution, the students expressed their feelings on the walls of cities [in the form of the murals they painted]. The people who were victims of abduction have written their agonizing stories on the walls of the hidden cells where they were imprisoned for years. Our hearts are shaken with their tales of suffering. We will ensure that those responsible for these horrendous crimes will face consequences. No matter how powerful they are, or which law enforcement force they belong to, they cannot escape justice. We are also taking steps to ensure actions against them in the international courts. I have already discussed the issue with the chief strategist of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan. We have signed an international convention against enforced disappearances to ensure that no member of the law enforcement agencies, or anyone else, can get involved in crimes like murder, enforced disappearances, or similar offenses.

You may have noticed that Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, recently visited Bangladesh. The United Nations has offered to support us in investigating the killings in July-August. They have promised to hand over their report to us by the first week of December. We are also maintaining regular communication with them to investigate past incidents of enforced disappearances. Additionally, they have proposed increasing their staff in Dhaka in order to protect human rights. We have accepted their proposal as well.

Dear Citizens,

As I have already mentioned before, and I’ll repeat, the families of all martyrs from the mass uprising will be rehabilitated. No one will be left behind. The government will take responsibility for the treatment and medical expenses of all injured students, workers, and citizens. Also, to ensure long-term and expensive treatments for the injured and the care of martyr families, a complete list has been prepared under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. We have made arrangements to import corneas from Nepal for those who lost their vision due to bullet injuries. People who require further treatment are being sent abroad at the government’s expense. No martyr or injured individual from the July uprising will be excluded from our rehabilitation and treatment plans. This is a commitment of the interim government.

In memory of these martyrs, the “July Martyrs Memorial Foundation” has been established and is now completely operational. The government has already contributed Tk. 100 crore [US$ 8.3 million] to this foundation. Furthermore, the Ministry of Social Welfare has proposed a US$5 million allocation from the World Bank through the Economic Relations Division to ensure rehabilitation for martyred families and the best medical treatment for the injured from the July-August revolution.

The dethroned dictator used the police force as party workers, and many officers were forced to take part in the massacre. As a consequence, they faced public outrage that badly affected their morale. We are working to establish their confidence and encourage them to maintain law and order. There is some visible progress in this matter. The Bangladesh Army has also been given some executive powers which significantly helped improve the situation.

I would like to express my gratitude to all of the citizens for showing immense patience during this time of crisis. I also thank the political leaders for encouraging their workers to stay calm and avoid engaging in violence. You all also responded to this requested and remained patient. The fascist regime threatened the nation, saying that millions of people would die if they were evicted from power. But we were able to avoid mass violence even with the complete absence of the police force for seven days.

When the Interim Government came to power, our country was in a completely defenseless state. During this period, an attempt has been made to spread unnecessary panic among religious minorities. In some cases, they were attacked. But the hype surrounding it was completely exaggerated. The motive behind these few attacks was purely political whereas some rumors were spread that framed these incidents as communal violence. They intended to destabilize our country. But with our combined effort, we were able to move forward from the crisis.

Within 2-3 months of our government coming to power, Durga Puja was celebrated in approximately 32 thousand temples. We declared an additional public holiday to encourage the festive spirit. We took extensive security measures to ensure the Hindu community could celebrate their biggest festival without any trouble. However, some unpleasant incidents did happen. We are investigating these incidents. We are trying our best to ensure that not only the Hindu community, but also that any other people in the country do not suffer any kind of violence, and we will always try to do so.

As you know, Bangladesh faced six floods in different districts this year. With your cooperation, we could successfully deal with the disasters. Our patriotic armed forces worked alongside the people to combat this crisis. Over US$250 million in grants from the World Bank and Tk. 100 crore (US$ 8.3 million) from local donations were raised to deal with the flood and rehabilitation programs after the flood.

Floods caused severe damage to the crops and hampered the supply chain, leading to the price hike of products we all need on a daily basis. We are trying hard to keep the prices of essential commodities within a reasonable range. To manage the shortage of eggs, we approved the tax-free import of 95 million eggs. We are also taking steps to reduce the dominance of intermediaries so that the producers can directly supply eggs to the market. In many places in Dhaka, government-allocated goods are being sold so that people can afford agricultural products at cheap prices. Also, 5.7 million families—out of the 10 million family TCB (Trading Corporation of Bangladesh) card holders—have been converted into smart cards. Taxes on rice imports have also been exempted to manage the disruption in rice production caused by the flood. The government is having regular meetings with the traders to ensure that the supply and prices of essential goods remain stable during the upcoming month of Ramadan. We are open and honest with the inflation issue, hence we share full information with the public. To control inflation, several policy decisions have been taken, such as increasing interest rates, removing line of credit limits for crop imports, and reducing supply chains.

The price of fuel has been reduced to some degree. We have taken measures to increase the gas supply in the industry, so that local production is not disrupted and exports are not affected. It has also been decided not to increase the price of electricity and gas by executive order without a public hearing. We are also trying to stop extortion in the transport sector. We hope that this will help to bring stability to the market. Moreover, we have made arrangements to bring in hydroelectric power from Nepal.

Along with the management of regular issues, we are also concerned with the future of Bangladesh. As you all know, our most essential responsibility is to arrange a free and fair election and to hand over the power to the a new government elected by the people. We are conducting regular communication with political parties and seeking their opinions on various issues. Their opinions are reflected in many governmental decisions as well. Every suggestion from the parties is considered in this ongoing reform process. We hope the reform commissions will submit their recommendations to the government within the scheduled time, December/January. After getting the recommendations, we will continuously discuss them with the political parties. The final reform proposals will be based on the consensus among all parties.

We are all concerned with the possibilities of the upcoming election. Like everyone, I am also concerned in this matter. As you may have noticed, we have started to take the necessary steps to arrange for elections. The Election Commission will be ready within a few days and will be responsible for making all arrangements for the election. The Election Commission will update the voter lists, along with other tasks, which are directly related holding a free and fair election. We are also working to ensure that emigrants can participate in elections through postal ballots for the first time in Bangladesh’s history.

However, we do not think that our responsibility ends after forming an Election Commission. One of our government’s key commitments is to reform the state system. You have given us the mandate for this. In the beginning, the six reform commissions that we established have significantly progressed. You have seen the updates of their activities in different media outlets. Some reform commissions have created digital platforms as well. I request you to share your opinions on these platforms.

One of the six reform commissions is the Election Commission. Their recommendations are essential for organizing the election. Visit their platforms. Openly share your opinions. You are the owner of this country. Tell us what you need and how you want it. Tell us your every opinion regarding the election without any hesitation. Speak your mind. I request you to talk about reform at the same time. Do not avoid the reform issue. Discuss the need for reform in the electoral process and other areas while speaking about the election. Reforms are the long-term life force of a nation. They will provide our nation, especially our youth, the opportunity to create a better future. Do not deprive the nation of this chance.

One essential commission that requires the opinion of political parties and citizens across the nation to organize the election is the Constitutional Reform Commission. The electoral laws will need to be amended based on which of the recommendations are widely accepted. The process of updating the voter lists will continue simultaneously. I am not certain how much time we will get to implement the proposed reforms. However, I give you my word that if we get enough opportunity, we will complete the essential reforms needed to organize your desired election. Until then, I request that you have patience. We aim to establish an election system that will be followed for the upcoming years. That will protect our country from recurring political crises. Hence I seek enough time from you to achieve these objectives. Once the electoral reform decisions are finalized, you will receive a detailed election roadmap without any delay. This interim government was established to bring principles back into politics and create a new political environment for our country. Do not deprive the nation of this opportunity to fulfill that vision.

The journey toward the election has already begun and this train will not stop. But we need to do some work along the way. How quickly the train will reach the final station depends on how soon we can lay down the tracks, which requires unity among the political parties.

Discussions regarding the recommendations for other reform commissions will continue in the meantime. Additional time may be needed to build consensus on more important reforms beyond elections. We will continue to ask the citizens, especially the political parties, what reforms they want to see completed before the election. Some reforms can happen simultaneously with the election process. The election may also be delayed for some time for reform.

We will leave power within a short time, but I urge everyone—regardless of their political affiliation, gender, religion, age, or profession—to remain firm in ensuring that the historic opportunity is not missed. I sincerely hope you will accept my appeal.

Over one thousand prosecutors have been appointed across different districts to accelerate the judicial process for various crimes in the country. Twenty-three new judges have already been appointed to the High Court. We are making every effort to eliminate corruption and bribery from the judiciary.

The Supreme Judicial Council has been reinstated so that judges can take systematic disciplinary actions. We are trying to prevent widespread corruption in every sector of the nation, not just the judiciary. The reconstruction of the Anti-Corruption Commission is almost complete. A list of 150 influential individuals accused of corruption and money laundering has been prepared, and investigations against 79 of them have begun. The provision that permitted black money or undisclosed assets to be legalized by paying a 15% income tax has been removed.

I can report that 19,084 government officials and employees at various levels have been promoted, 13,429 have been transferred, and disciplinary actions have been taken against 12,636 individuals to streamline government operations. A constitutional body, the Public Service Commission, has been restructured as well. A policy decision has been made to revoke the infamous Cyber Security Act. Cases filed under this law that are related to the right to freedom of expression have been withdrawn. Additionally, 133 laws and regulations have been formulated or amended, and 353 significant policy decisions have been made.

Considering the students’ demands, the age limit for government jobs has already been raised to 32. We understand that you have many more demands. Years of misgovernance, oppression, and injustice have caused much resentment to build up in your hearts. The lack of freedom of speech in the country has prevented any of us from expressing our opinions and demands. We are sympathetic to each of your demands and wish to listen to you patiently. However, if you block roads and create other public inconveniences, it becomes a problem for all of us. We sincerely request you to present your demands through the appropriate channels.

In recent days, there has been significant unrest in our major export sector, the garment industry. The flight of several garment owners who benefitted from the fascist regime created uncertainty regarding workers’ wages and benefits. In many other factories, workers were deprived of fair wages and other rights. To protest these longstanding injustices and free themselves from uncertainty, workers took to the streets. We listened to their concerns and brought them to the negotiation table. We are delighted that an extensive 18-point agreement has been signed between workers and owners. Without any major violence, we have managed to resolve the labour unrest, and workers have returned to production. Bangladesh’s export-oriented industry was also revitalized through this. Despite various adversities, our exports grew by nearly 21% in October.

When we started, the country’s economy was devastated. Foreign exchange reserves were at rock bottom. The reserve situation is now improving. In the last three months, we have been able to repay nearly $2 billion in foreign debt without touching our reserves. We have reduced the accumulated arrears in fuel oil import from $478 million to $160 million. We are making every effort to restore the economy. Various donor agencies, including the World Bank and the IMF, have already pledged about $8 billion in loans and grants, enabling us to mobilize our fragile economy.

The fragile economic situation left behind by the fallen government has made it difficult for the National Board of Revenue to accelerate tax collection. Despite this, there has been an 8.75% growth in revenue collection from July to October. The revised budget of the previous fiscal year had a huge revenue shortfall. This led to the significantly increased revenue target from the start of this year. As a result, even after a nearly 9% revenue increase in the three months following the fall of the autocratic regime, there remains a shortfall of more than 23% compared to the target. To boost tax collection, I am now encouraging online submission of income tax returns.

I had long discussions with the heads of international aid organizations like the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP, etc. They have also expressed their renewed and robust interest in supporting Bangladesh eagerly. In a private meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister, I received assurances of extensive support from China.

The financial mess we started from 100 days ago is now history. Our economy has rebounded remarkably within the last 100 days. It was driven entirely by our policies. It’s important to note that the aid commitments from our friends around the globe have yet to arrive. Not only that, the friendly states committing significant aid hae also promised me that they’ll start disbursing the funds at the earliest convenience. Once the aid starts flowing, our economy will become a very strong. Foreign investors will also be encouraged with various investment incentives.

We have already started discussions with investors. Our reputation has reached new heights within the international community of nations, as a respected and admired country. Thanks to this, the defeated forces are failing to draw their attention despite using various strategies. Still, they are trying to win your favor with varied ploys. Be free from the conspiracies of the defeated powers, and keep the country free. Don’t do anything that helps their efforts. Disappoint them in every manner possible. If we can ensure this, we don’t need to worry about anything else. On behalf of the government, I assure you that despite all the constraints, we will build a stronger economy while ensuring civil rights. No matter how powerful the opposing forces, no matter how outlandish the plan of sabotage  are, we will be prepared to thwart it all. Be ready at all times so that no one can take away from us the freedom that we have now earned.

You are already made aware that the fallen government and its cronies have smuggled US$12-15 billion out of the country every year. The anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International Bangladesh, recently published this information. We have taken all possible initiatives to recover this money that has been smuggled out. If we succeed, our economy will grow faster. We are taking the help of various international aid organizations in this work.

I also want to extend my thanks to various world leaders. Almost all of them have extended a helping hand in this critical time of Bangladesh. When I attended the UN General Assembly session in September, I had the opportunity to meet with the heads of government of many countries around the world, including the United States, the European Union, Canada, Italy, Holland, and also the UN Secretary-General. They have spontaneously pledged their full cooperation to us. I also had meetings with heads of government of several neighboring countries including Nepal, Maldives, and Pakistan, where I spoke about reviving SAARC.

After returning to the country, the ambassadors from these countries voluntarily met me in Dhaka to reiterate the commitments made by their respective heads of government. They have begun designing a completely new framework of support tailored specifically for us. Ambassadors stationed in Delhi have traveled from there to meet with me here. Among them, 20 ambassadors representing EU member states that are stationed in Delhi will join the seven EU ambassadors stationed in Dhaka to convene in Dhaka to hold discussions with me. This marks a historic moment, as EU ambassadors have never before gathered collectively for such discussions. Nor have so many ambassadors traveled from Delhi together for this purpose. This unprecedented initiative reflects the EU’s expression of support and their intent to build high-level economic cooperation with Bangladesh. Also, I have already met with ambassadors from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Turkey, Russia, Finland, Singapore, Libya, and several other nations. They have assured us of various forms of bilateral cooperation, including significant commitments to enhancing trade and investment.

We also call upon expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the private sector in the country. The private sector is at the root of Bangladesh’s economic development and youth employment. The Executive Chairman of our Investment Board has held individual meetings with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and investors of over two hundred private companies. Lack of policy consistency, lack of communication between the public and private sectors, complex bureaucratic processes, and above all corruption, have created trouble for existing investors. We have already taken many initiatives to address the concerns of the investors. A genuine one-stop service has already been launched, an inter-ministerial committee has been formed to solve investment-related challenges. Advisory councils have been formed for the private sector, and steps have been taken to carry out necessary work without coming to government offices, through digitization. The Investment Development Agency is updating everyone on our progress monthly.

We are working for the welfare of our expatriate citizens living abroad. On my request, the UAE has released 57 convicts and other Bangladeshis. These Bangladeshis protested against fascism at the risk of their own imprisonment. Bangladeshis have protested like this in many other countries. We are immensely indebted to them. A few days ago, I had a conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Baku. I thanked him on behalf of Bangladesh. He asked me to inform him if any help is needed for Bangladesh. Our government is taking all possible initiatives for the welfare of expatriates. As you know, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently visited Bangladesh. Around 18,000 Bangladeshis who could not go to Malaysia despite following all of the formalities due to the mismanagement of the fascist government. He assured me that he would open the doors of Malaysia again for them. We have already started working towards this goal.

As you may know, Malaysia will take over the chairmanship of the Southeast Asian Regional Cooperation Organization (ASEAN) next year. We have already applied for ASEAN membership. The Prime Minister of Malaysia has assured us to actively consider our application. We have received similar assurances from Indonesia. Indonesia has also extended an invitation for me to undertake a state visit to their country. Many other countries of the world, including Saudi Arabia, have offered to increase cooperation with us. For the first time, we are appointing ambassadors permanently at OIC headquarters. I had a telephone conversation earlier with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We had a very intimate discussion with him and his wife during my visit to the COP29 conference. He has repeatedly expressed his special support for Bangladesh. A Turkish trade delegation has already visited Bangladesh. Turkey has announced the establishment of an office of the Turkish Investment Authority (TICA) in Dhaka for the further development of economic relations with the country. Turkey’s increase in investment and trade will be ensured through this initiative. For this purpose, a high-level delegation from Turkey is set to visit Bangladesh later this month.

Dear Countrymen,

A new Hajj package has been announced. It will reduce the Hajj cost by more than Tk. 100,000 (US$833).

We have taken the initiative to build the new Bangladesh as an eco-friendly and bio-diverse country. It is the desire of the young generation—it is ours as well. To that end, I have taken a little step at the very beginning. We banned the use of plastic water bottles in the entire secretariat. Already, initiatives are being taken to stop the use of polythene shopping bags in supermarkets. We have taken initiatives to stop the river pollution that has occurred in the last few decades.

You all are aware of how threatening climate change is to our way of life. In the last year, Bangladesh has suffered about 15 natural disasters. We are required to fight against these natural disasters alongside man-made disasters as well. I expressed our concerns to world leaders at the climate conference in Azerbaijan. There, I met with the UN Secretary-General, and heads of the governments of Europe, Asia, and Africa. As much as I could discuss, I have asked everyone for cooperation in Bangladesh’s progress on the path of democratic transition, including dealing with the adverse effects of climate change. All promised to cooperate.

In the last 100 days, we have done many other initiatives for the welfare of the nation that I cannot detail here for lack of time. Our government believes in transparency and accountability. I have therefore directed all the Government Ministries to publish their respective working details on their websites and social media. I have also instructed my office to take necessary action so that the people can be aware of all the initiatives taken by the government.

A master plan is in operation at every moment in every institution, in every part of the world, and in every part of the country, on a grand scale, to make this government ineffective and a failure. One of their greatest strategies is to create division among us. The leaders of the fallen government who smuggled huge sums of money out of this country are trying to return to the country by virtue of their accumulated wealth. Do not let them succeed. Their success means the death of this nation—our demise as a nationality. Be aware. Let us thwart all their nefarious efforts through our unity—the way you’ve already thwarted their guns and bullets—their torture cells (Aynaghars)—and their shackles of inequality for everyone. Stay unanimous on this point, stay united.

May you all stay well.

To all the children, teenagers, youth, students, elders, men, and women of Bangladesh, I extend my heartfelt Salam.

As-salamu Alaykum (peace be upon you).

May the Almighty Allah guide and protect us all.

Khuda Hafiz. (May Allah be your Guardian)

প্রিয় দেশবাসী, শিশু, কিশোর-কিশোরী, তরুণ-তরুণী, ছাত্র-ছাত্রী, বয়স্ক,

বৃদ্ধ, পুরুষ, মহিলা সবাইকে সালাম জানাচ্ছি।

আসসালামু আলাইকুম

শুরুতেই স্মরণ করছি মুক্তিযুদ্ধের লাখো লাখো শহিদ এবং গত জুলাই-

আগস্ট মাসে ফ্যাসিবাদের বিরুদ্ধে ছাত্র শ্রমিক জনতার অভ্যুত্থানে নিহত

সকল শহিদকে। সবাইকে জানাচ্ছি আমার সশ্রদ্ধ সালাম ও গভীর শ্রদ্ধা।

আরো স্মরণ করছি তাদের, ফ্যাসিবাদী শক্তির বিরুদ্ধে লড়াই করে যারা

আহত হয়েছে, পঙ্গুত্ব বরণ করেছে, চোখের দৃষ্টি হারিয়েছে। যারা নয় দফা

নিয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে, যারা এক দফা নিয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। যারা  দেশকে এক হিংস্র

স্বৈরাচারের হাত থেকে বাঁচিয়েছে। কৃতজ্ঞচিত্তে স্মরণ করছি আপনাদের

,আপনাদের ভাই-বোনদের, আপনাদের সন্তানদের যারা এই বিপ্লবে

অংশগ্রহণ করেছে।

আমরা অন্তর্বর্তীকালীন সরকারের প্রথম ১০০ দিন অতিক্রম

করলাম। আপনারা জানেন কি কঠিন এক পরিস্থিতিতে আমাদের দায়িত্ব

গ্রহণ করতে হয়েছে। ছাত্র-শ্রমিক-জনতার অভূতপূর্ব গণ অভ্যুত্থানের

পর ফ্যাসিস্ট সরকার প্রধান পালিয়ে গেলে দেশ সরকার-শূন্য হয়

সাময়িকভাবে। পুলিশ প্রশাসন ও এসময় সম্পূর্ণ নিষ্ক্রিয় হয়ে পড়লে

উদ্বেগজনক এক পরিস্থিতির সৃষ্টি হয়।

স্বৈরশাসনে বিপর্যস্ত এই দেশকে আমাদের সবাইকে মিলে পুনর্গঠন করতে

হচ্ছে। জুলাই-অগাস্ট বিপ্লবের পর আমরা এমন একটি দেশ হাতে পেয়েছি

যার সর্বত্র ছিল বিশৃঙ্খলা।  স্বৈরশাসন টিকিয়ে রাখতে আইন-শৃঙ্খলা

বাহিনীকে জনগণের মুখোমুখি দাঁড় করিয়ে দেওয়া হয়েছিল। বিপ্লব চলাকালে

প্রায় দেড় হাজার ছাত্র-শ্রমিক জনতার শহিদি মৃত্যু হয়। আমাদের সরকার

প্রতিটি মৃত্যুর তথ্য অত্যন্ত যত্নের সাথে জোগাড় করছে। এই বিপ্লবে

আহত হয়েছে ১৯,৯৩১ জন। আহতদের জন্য ঢাকার ১৩টি হাসপাতালসহ

বিভিন্ন বিশেষায়িত হাসপাতালে চিকিৎসার ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছে।  

প্রতিদিনই তালিকায় আরো নতুন নতুন শহিদের তথ্য যোগ হচ্ছে যারা

স্বৈরাচারের আক্রোশের শিকার হয়ে এই পৃথিবী ছেড়ে চলে গেছেন। প্রতিটি

হত্যার বিচার আমরা করবোই। জুলাই-আগস্ট হত্যাকাণ্ডের বিচারের যে

উদ্যোগ আমরা নিয়েছি, তার কাজও বেশ ভালোভাবে এগিয়ে যাচ্ছে। পতিত

স্বৈরাচার শেখ হাসিনাকেও আমরা ভারত থেকে ফেরত চাইবো।

কেবল জুলাই-আগস্ট হত্যাকাণ্ডই নয়, আমরা গত ১৫ বছরে সব

অপকর্মের বিচার করবো। অসংখ্য মানুষ গুম হয়েছে, খুন হয়েছে এই সময়ে।

আমরা গুমের তদন্তে একটি কমিশন গঠন করেছি।  কমিশন প্রধান আমাকে

জানিয়েছেন অক্টোবর পর্যন্ত তারা ১,৬০০ গুমের তথ্য পেয়েছেন। তাদের

ধারণা  এই সংখ্যা ৩,৫০০ ছাড়িয়ে যাবে। অনেকেই কমিশনের কাছে গুমের

অভিযোগ করতে ভয় পাচ্ছেন এই ভেবে যে অভিযুক্ত ব্যক্তিদের দ্বারা তারা

আবার আক্রান্ত হতে পারেন, ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত হতে পারেন। আমি আপনাদের

আশ্বস্ত করতে চাই, আপনারা দ্বিধাহীন চিত্তে কমিশনকে আপনাদের

অভিযোগ জানান। কারো সাধ্য নেই আপনাদের গায়ে আবার হাত দেয়।

গুম কমিশনের সদস্যদের কাছে ভুক্তভোগীদের যে বিবরণ আমরা

পেয়েছি তা অত্যন্ত মর্মান্তিক। জুলাই-আগেস্টের বিপ্লবের পর ছাত্র-

ছাত্রীরা শহর বন্দরের দেয়ালে- দেয়ালে তাদের মনের কথা লিখেছে। তাদেরও

আগে যারা গুমের শিকার হয়েছে, প্রতিটি গোপন আস্তানার দেয়ালে- দেয়ালে

তারা লিখে গেছেন রেখেছেন তাদের কষ্টের মর্মস্পর্শী বিবরণ। তাদের এসব

কষ্টের কথা শুনে আমাদের হৃদয় কেঁপে উঠেছে। এসবের সঙ্গে জড়িতদের

আমরা বিচারের কাঠগড়ায় দাঁড় করাবোই। অভিযুক্ত যতই শক্তিশালী হোক,

যে বাহিনীরই হোক তাকে ছাড় দেওয়ার কোনো সুযোগ নেই।  কেবল দেশে নয়,

গুম, খুন ও জুলাই-আগস্ট গণহত্যার সাথে জড়িতদের আমরা আন্তর্জাতিক

আদালতেও বিচারের উদ্যোগ নিয়েছি। ইন্টারন্যাশনাল ক্রিমিনাল কোর্টের

প্রধান কৌশলী করিম খানের সঙ্গে আমার এ ব্যপারে ইতোমধ্যে কথা

হয়েছে।

আইন-শৃঙ্খলা রক্ষাকারী বাহিনী গুলোর কোনো সদস্য কিংবা অন্য

কেউ যাতে হত্যা, গুমসহ এ ধরনের কোনো অপরাধে জড়িয়ে পড়তে না পারে এ

জন্য আমরা গুম বিরোধী আন্তর্জাতিক সনদে সাক্ষর করেছি। আপনারা

দেখেছেন, জাতিসংঘের আন্তর্জাতিক মানবাধিকার বিষয়ক হাইকমিশনার

ফলকার তুর্ক সম্প্রতি বাংলাদেশ সফর করেছেন। জাতিসংঘ জুলাই-আগস্ট

হত্যাকাণ্ডের তদন্তে আমাদের সহযোগিতার হাত বাড়িয়ে দিয়েছে। 

ডিসেম্বরের প্রথম সপ্তাহেই তারা আমাদেরকে তাদের রিপোর্ট

হস্তান্তরের প্রতিশ্রুতি দিয়েছে। অতীতের গুমের ঘটনা গুলো তদন্ত কাজেও

আমরা নিয়মিত তাদের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ রক্ষা করে চলেছি। মানবাধিকার

রক্ষায় সহযোগিতা করতে ঢাকায় তারা তাদের জনবল বাড়ানোর প্রস্তাব

দিয়েছে। আমরা এই প্রস্তাব গ্রহণ করেছি।

প্রিয় দেশবাসী,

আমি আগেও জানিয়েছি, আবারো জানাচ্ছি, গণ-অভ্যুথানে সকল

শহিদদের পরিবারকে পুনর্বাসন করা হবে। একজনও বাদ যাবে না। সকল

আহত শিক্ষার্থী-শ্রমিক-জনতার চিকিৎসার সম্পূর্ণ ব্যয় সরকার বহন

করবে। আহতদের দীর্ঘমেয়াদি এবং ব্যয়বহুল চিকিৎসা এবং শহিদদের

পরিবারের দেখা-শোনার জন্য স্বাস্থ্য মন্ত্রণালয়ের নেতৃত্বে একটি

পূর্ণাঙ্গ তালিকা প্রস্তুত করা হয়েছে। প্রতিটি শহিদ পরিবারকে সরকারের

পক্ষ থেকে ৩০ লক্ষ টাকা দেয়া হচ্ছে। যারা বুলেটের আঘাতে তাদের দৃষ্টি

শক্তি হারিয়েছেন তাদের চিকিৎসার জন্য নেপাল থেকে কর্নিয়া আনার

ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছে। এবং যাদের প্রয়োজন তাদেরকে সরকারের পক্ষ থেকে

বিদেশে চিকিৎসার জন্য পাঠানো হচ্ছে। জুলাই অভ্যুত্থানের কোন  শহিদ

এবং আহত ছাত্র শ্রমিক চিকিৎসা সেবা এবং পুনর্বাসন পরিকল্পনা থেকে

বাদ যাবে না। এটি অন্তর্বর্তীকালীন সরকারের অঙ্গীকার।

এই গণ-অভ্যুত্থানের শহিদদের স্মৃতি ধরে রাখতে গঠিত  “জুলাই শহিদ

স্মৃতি ফাউন্ডেশন” বেশ পাকাপোক্ত ভাবে তাদের কাজ শুরু করেছে। এই

ফাউন্ডেশনে সরকার ১০০ কোটি টাকা অনুদান দিয়েছে। এছাড়াও জুলাই-

আগস্ট বিপ্লবে শহিদ পরিবারের পুনর্বাসন ও আহতদের সর্বোত্তম

চিকিৎসা নিশ্চিত করার জন্য সমাজকল্যাণ মন্ত্রণালয়ের পক্ষ থেকে ৫

মিলিয়ন মার্কিন ডলারের একটি বরাদ্দ প্রস্তাব অর্থনৈতিক সম্পর্ক

বিভাগের মাধ্যমে বিশ্বব্যাংকে পাঠানো হয়েছে।

পতিত স্বৈরাচার পুলিশকে দলীয় কর্মীর মতো ব্যবহার করেছে। বাধ্য

হয়ে তাদের অনেকেই গণহত্যায় অংশ নিয়েছেন। খুবই স্বাভাবিক প্রতিক্রিয়া

হিসেবে তারা জনরোষের শিকার হয়েছেন। এতে তাদের মনোবল অনেক কমে

যায়। আমরা পুলিশের মনোবল ফিরিয়ে এনে তাদের আবার আইন-শৃঙ্খলা

রক্ষায় কাজে লাগানোর চেষ্টা করছি। এক্ষেত্রে অনেক দৃশ্যমান উন্নতিও

হয়েছে। আইন-শৃঙ্খলা রক্ষায় বাংলাদেশ সেনাবাহিনীকেও কিছু নির্বাহী

ক্ষমতা দেওয়া হয়েছে, যা পরিস্থিতির দৃশ্যমান উন্নতিতে সহায়তা করেছে।

আমি আপনাদের সবাইকে ধন্যবাদ জানাই, কঠিন এই সময়ে আপনারা

সবাই অপরিসীম ধৈর্য্যের পরিচয় দিয়েছেন। ধন্যবাদ জানাই দেশের

রাজনৈতিক দলের নেতৃবৃন্দকে। তারা তাদের কর্মীদের শান্ত থাকার আহ্বান

জানিয়েছেন। প্রতিশোধ স্পৃহায় লিপ্ত হয়ে কেউ যাতে হানাহানিতে জড়িয়ে না

পড়ে সেই আহ্বান জানিয়েছেন। আপনাদের সবাই এই আহ্বানে সাড়া দিয়েছেন।

ফ্যাসিবাদী শক্তি ভয় দেখিয়েছিল তারা ক্ষমতা ছাড়লে দেশে লাখ লাখ লোক

মারা পড়বে। টানা সাত দিন পুলিশ প্রশাসন সম্পূর্ণ নিষ্ক্রিয় থাকার পরও

ব্যাপক আকারে সহিংসতা এড়ানো গেছে।

আমরা যখন দায়িত্ব গ্রহণ করি, বাংলাদেশ তখন সম্পূর্ণ অরক্ষিত

একটা দেশ। এসময় ধর্মীয় সংখ্যালঘুদের মধ্যে অহেতুক আতঙ্ক ছড়ানোর

চেষ্টা করা হয়েছে। কয়েকটি ক্ষেত্রে তারা সহিংসতারও শিকার হয়েছেন।

কিন্তু এটা নিয়ে যে-সব প্রচার-প্রচারণা হয়েছে তা ছিল সম্পূর্ণ

অতিরঞ্জিত। অল্প যেসমস্ত সহিংসতার ঘটনা ঘটেছে তার মূল কারণ ছিল

রাজনৈতিক। কিন্তু এসব ঘটনাকে ধর্মীয় আবরণ দিয়ে বাংলাদেশকে নতুন

করে অস্থিতিশীল করে তোলার চেষ্টা হয়েছে। আপনাদের সবার সহযোগিতায়

আমরা দৃঢ়ভাবে এই পরিস্থিতি সামাল দিয়েছি।

আমাদের দায়িত্ব গ্রহণের দু’মাসের মাথায় দেশে দুর্গাপূজা উদ্‌যাপিত

হয়েছে প্রায় ৩২ হাজার পূজা মণ্ডপে। দুর্গাপূজা উপলক্ষ্যে নির্বাহী আদেশে

একদিন অতিরিক্ত ছুটি ঘোষণা করা হয় যা উৎসবের আমেজকে অনেক গুণ

বাড়িয়ে দেয়।  দূর্গাপুজাকে ঘিরে আমরা ব্যাপক নিরাপত্তা প্রস্তুতি নেই।

যার ফলে, দেশের হিন্দু সম্প্রদায় নির্বিঘ্নে তাদের উৎসব পালন করেছে।

আমরা দায়িত্বে আসার পর যে অল্প কিছু ক্ষেত্রে তারা সহিংসতার শিকার

হয়েছেন আমরা তার প্রতিটি ঘটনার তদন্ত করছি। শুধু হিন্দু সম্প্রদায়ই

নয়, দেশের কোনো মানুষই যাতে কোনো রকম সহিংসতার শিকার না হয়,

সেজন্য আমরা যথাসাধ্য চেষ্টা করেছি। এবং সব সময় সে চেষ্টা করে যেতে

থাকবো। 

আপনারা জানেন চলতি বছর বাংলাদেশের বিভিন্ন অঞ্চলে ছয়টি বন্যা

হয়েছে। আপনাদের সবার সহযোগিতায় আমরা এই বন্যা মোকাবিলা করেছি।

বাংলাদেশের দেশপ্রেমিক সশস্ত্র বাহিনী বন্যা মোকাবিলায় জনগণের সাথে

কাঁধে কাঁধ মিলিয়ে কাজ করেছে। বন্যা মোকাবিলা ও বন্যা পরবর্তী

পুনর্বাসনের লক্ষ্যে বিশ্বব্যাংকের ২৫০ মিলিয়ন মার্কিন ডলার অনুদান

এবং স্থানীয় অনুদানের মাধ্যমে ১০০ কোটি টাকারও বেশি অর্থ সংগ্রহ

করা হয়েছে।

বন্যার ফলে অনেক জায়গায় ফসলহানি হয়েছে, ব্যাহত হয়েছে পণ্য

সরবরাহ শৃঙ্খল। বন্যা পরবর্তী সময়ে বাজারে শাক-সবজিসহ নিত্য

প্রয়োজনীয় পণ্যের দাম বেড়েছে। ফলে আপনাদের কষ্ট হয়েছে। নিত্য

পণ্যের দাম সহনীয় পর্যায়ে রাখতে আমরা যথাসাধ্য চেষ্টা করছি। বাজারে

ডিমের সরবরাহ বাড়ানো জন্য আমরা সাড়ে নয় কোটি ডিম আমদানির

অনুমতি দিয়েছি। এজন্য প্রয়োজনীয় শুল্ক ছাড়ও দেওয়া হয়েছে।  মধ্যস্বত্ব

ভোগীদের দৌরাত্ম্য কমিয়ে ডিমের উৎপাদনকরা যাতে সরাসরি বাজারে ডিম

সরবরাহ করতে পারে সেই উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হয়েছে।

মানুষ যাতে স্বল্প মূল্যে কৃষি পণ্য কিনতে পারে সেজন্য রাজধানীসহ

বিভিন্ন স্পটে সরকারি কিছু পণ্য বিক্রি করা হচ্ছে। টিসিবির মাধ্যমে ১

কোটি নিম্ন আয়ের ফ্যামিলি কার্ডের মধ্যে ৫৭ লাখকে স্মার্ট কার্ডে

রূপান্তরিত করা হয়েছে। বন্যার ফলে চালের উৎপাদন ব্যাহত হওয়ায় চাল

আমদানিতে শুল্ক ছাড় দেওয়া হয়েছে। আসন্ন রমজানে নিত্য প্রয়োজনীয়

দ্রব্যের সরবরাহ ও দাম যাতে স্বাভাবিক থাকে এজন্য সরকারের বিভিন্ন

কর্তৃপক্ষ ব্যবসায়ীদের সাথে নিয়মিত বৈঠক করে যাচ্ছে। দ্রব্য মূল্য নিয়ে

আমাদের কোনো লুকোছাপা নেই। মূল্যস্ফীতির পূর্ণ তথ্য জনগণের সামনে

তুলে ধরা হচ্ছে। মূল্যস্ফীতি রোধে উচ্চ সুদের হার নির্ধারণসহ একাধিক

নীতিগত সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হয়েছে যার মধ্যে রয়েছে শস্য আমদানিতে এলসি

সীমা অপসারণ এবং সরবরাহ চেইন সংক্ষিপ্ত করা।

সামান্য হলেও জ্বালানি তেলের মূল্য কমানো হয়েছে। শিল্প কারখানায়

গ্যাসের সরবরাহ বাড়ানোর উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হয়েছে যাতে স্থানীয় পর্যায়ে

উৎপাদন ব্যাহত না হয় এবং রপ্তানি ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত না হয়। গণ-শুনানি ছাড়া

নির্বাহী আদেশে বিদ্যুৎ গ্যাসের দাম না বাড়ানোরও সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে।

পরিবহন খাতে চাঁদাবাজি বন্ধের চেষ্টা করা হচ্ছে। আমরা আশা করি বাজারে

পণ্যমূল্য কমিয়ে আনতে এটা ভূমিকা রাখবে। নেপাল থেকে পানিবিদ্যুত

বাংলাদেশে আনার ব্যবস্হা করা হয়েছে ।

দৈনন্দিন রাষ্ট্র পরিচালনার পাশাপাশি আমাদের ভবিষ্যতের বাংলাদেশ

বিনির্মাণের কথাও ভাবতে হচ্ছে। আপনারা সবাই জানেন, আমাদের

সবচাইতে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ কাজ হচ্ছে, একটি অবাধ, সুষ্ঠু নির্বাচন আয়োজনের

মধ্যদিয়ে নির্বাচিত সরকারের কাছে দায়িত্ব হস্তান্তর। আমরা রাজনৈতিক

দলগুলোর সঙ্গে আমাদের নিয়মিত যোগাযোগ অব্যাহত রেখেছি। বিভিন্ন

ইস্যুতে তাদের মতামত নিয়ে যাচ্ছি। সরকারের সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণে এসব

মতামত অনেকাংশে প্রতিফলিত হচ্ছে। চলমান সংস্কার প্রক্রিয়ায় তাদের

প্রতিটি মতামত সক্রিয় ভাবে বিবেচনায় নেওয়া হচ্ছে। আমরা আশা করছি

নির্ধারিত সময়ে, ডিসেম্বর-জানুয়ারির মধ্যেই সংস্কার কমিশনগুলো তাদের

সুপারিশমালা সরকারের কাছে পেশ করতে পারবে। তাদের সুপারিশ নিয়ে আমরা

রাজনৈতিক দলগুলোর সাথে ক্রমাগতভাবে আলোচনায় বসবো। সকলের

ঐকমত্যের ভিত্তিতেই আমরা সংস্কার প্রস্তাব চূড়ান্ত করবো।

নির্বাচন কবে হবে এই প্রশ্ন আপনাদের সবার মনেই আছে। আমাদের

মনেও সারাক্ষণ আছে। আপনারা লক্ষ্য করেছেন নির্বাচন আয়োজনের

লক্ষ্যে আমরা প্রয়োজনীয় পদক্ষেপ নিতে শুরু করেছি। কয়েকদিনের মধ্যে

নির্বাচন কমিশন গঠন হয়ে যাবে। তারপর থেকে নির্বাচন আয়োজন করার

সমস্ত দায়িত্ব তাদের উপর বর্তাবে।

নির্বাচন কমিশন ভোটার তালিকা হাল নাগাদসহ আরো কিছু কাজ শুরু

করে দিতে পারবে যা একটি অবাধ নির্বাচনের সাথে সরাসরি সম্পৃক্ত ।

প্রথম বারের মত প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশিরা পোস্টাল ব্যালটের মাধ্যমে যাতে

তাদের ভোটাধিকার প্রয়োগ করতে পারেন সে লক্ষ্যেও সরকার কাজ করছে।

তবে আমরা মনে করিনা যে একটি নির্বাচন কমিশন গঠন করে দিলেই

নির্বাচন আয়োজনে আমাদের দায়িত্ব শেষ। রাষ্ট্র ব্যবস্থায় সংস্কার

আমাদের এই সরকারের অন্যতম অঙ্গীকার। আপনারাই আমাদেরকে এই

ম্যান্ডেট দিয়েছেন। যে ছয়টি সংস্কার কমিশন আমরা শুরুতে গঠন করেছিলাম

তারা ইতোমধ্যে তাদের কার্যক্রম অনেক দূর এগিয়ে নিয়েছে। বিভিন্ন

গণমাধ্যমে আপনারা তাদের কার্যক্রমের আপডেটও দেখছেন। কয়েকটি

সংস্কার কমিশন ডিজিটাল প্ল্যাটফর্ম গঠন করেছে। আমার অনুরোধ

আপনারা এই প্ল্যাটফর্মে উৎসাহ সহকারে আপনাদের মতামত জানাতে

থাকুন।

প্রথম ছয়টি সংস্কার কমিশনের মধ্যে একটি হলো নির্বাচন সংস্কার

কমিশন। নির্বাচন অনুষ্ঠানের জন্য এই কমিশনের সুপারিশমালা অত্যন্ত

জরুরি। তাদের প্ল্যাটফর্মে যান। আপনার মতামত খোলাখুলিভাবে তুলে ধরুন।

আপনি দেশের মালিক। আপনি বলে দিন আপনি কি চান। কীভাবে চান।

নির্বাচন নিয়ে আপনাদের সকল বক্তব্য বিনাদ্বিধায় বলতে থাকুন। সবার

মনের কথা তুলে ধরুন। আমার অনুরোধ সংস্কারের কথাটাও একই সঙ্গে

বলুন। সংস্কারকে পাশ কাটিয়ে যাবেন না। নির্বাচনের কথা বলার সঙ্গে

নির্বাচন ও অন্যান্য ক্ষেত্রে সংস্কারের কথাটিও বলুন। সংস্কার হলো

জাতির দীর্ঘ মেয়াদি জীবনী শক্তি। সংস্কার জাতিকে বিশেষ করে আমাদের

তরুণ-তরুণীদের নতুন পৃথিবী সৃষ্টির সুযোগ দেবে। জাতিকে বঞ্চিত করবেন

না।

নির্বাচন আয়োজনে যে সংস্কার কমিশনের সুপারিশমালায় রাজনৈতিক

দলসমূহ এবং দেশের সকল মানুষের মতামত অপরিহার্য সে কমিশন হলো

সংবিধান সংস্কার কমিশন। এই সুপারিশমালার কোন অংশ সকলের কাছে

গ্রহণযোগ্য হবে তার ভিত্তিতে নির্বাচনী আইন সংশোধন করতে হবে।

সমান্তরাল ভাবে ভোটার তালিকা হাল নাগাদ করার প্রক্রিয়া চলতে থাকবে।

আমি নিশ্চিত নই, সংস্কার প্রস্তাবসমূহ বাস্তবায়নের সুযোগ আমরা

কতটুকু পাবো। তবে আমি আপনাদের কথা দিচ্ছি, আপনারা সুযোগ দিলে

প্রয়োজনীয় কিছু অত্যাবশ্যকীয় সংস্কার কাজ শেষ করেই আমরা

আপনাদের কাঙ্ক্ষিত নির্বাচন আয়োজন করবো। ততো দিন পর্যন্ত আমি

আপনাদের ধৈর্য্য ধারণ করার অনুরোধ করবো। আমরা চাইবো, আমরা যেন

এমন একটি নির্বাচন ব্যবস্থা সৃষ্টি করতে পারি যা যুগযুগ ধরে অনুসরণ

করা হবে। এর ফলে সাংবাৎসরিক রাজনৈতিক সংকট থেকে আমাদের দেশ

রক্ষা পাবে। এজন্য প্রয়োজনীয় সময়টুকু আমি আপনাদের কাছে চেয়ে

নিচ্ছি। নির্বাচনী সংস্কারের সিদ্ধান্ত হয়ে গেলে খুব দ্রুত আপনারা

নির্বাচনের রোডম্যাপও পেয়ে যাবেন।

অন্তর্বর্তী সরকার সৃষ্টি হয়েছে রাজনীতিকে নীতির কাঠামোয় আনার

জন্য, এবং রাজনীতির জন্য নতুন পরিবেশ সৃষ্টির নিবিড় আকাঙ্ক্ষা থেকে।

এই আকাঙ্ক্ষা পূরণ করা থেকে জাতিকে বঞ্চিত করবেন না।

নির্বাচনের ট্রেন যাত্রা শুরু করেছে। এটা আর থামবে না। কিন্তু যেতে

যেতে আমাদের অনেকগুলি কাজ সেরে ফেলতে হবে। এই ট্রেন শেষ স্টেশনে

কখন পৌঁছাবে সেটা নির্ভর করবে কত তাড়াতাড়ি আমরা তার জন্য রেল

লাইনগুলি বসিয়ে দিতে পারি আর তা হবে রাজনৈতিক দলসমূহের ঐক্যমত্যের

মাধ্যমে।

ইতোমধ্যে অন্যান্য সংস্কার কমিশনের সুপারিশমালা নিয়ে আলাপ

চলতে থাকবে। নির্বাচন ছাড়াও আরো গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সংস্কার করার ব্যাপারে

ঐক্যমত্য গঠনের জন্য অতিরিক্ত সময় প্রয়োজন হতে পারে। দেশবাসীর

কাছে, বিশেষ করে রাজনৈতিক দলগুলির কাছে আমরা ক্রমাগতভাবে প্রশ্ন

তুলতে থাকতে থাকবো কী কী সংস্কার নির্বাচনের আগে আপনারা করে নিতে

চান। নির্বাচনের আয়োজন চলাকালীন কিছু সংস্কার হতে পারে। সংস্কারের

জন্য নির্বাচনকে কয়েক মাস বিলম্বিতও করা যেতে পারে।

আমরা দু’দিন পরে চলে যাবো। কিন্তু আমাদের মাধ্যমে জাতির জন্য যে

ঐতিহাসিক সুযোগ সৃষ্টি হলো সে সুযোগটা যেন কোন রকমেই হাতছাড়া করে

না দিই এটার ব্যাপারে দৃঢ় থাকার জন্য আমি দলমত, নারী-পুরুষ, ধর্ম,

তরুণ-বৃদ্ধ, ছাত্র, ব্যবসায়ী, শ্রমিক, কৃষক নির্বিশেষে সবার কাছে আহ্বান

জানাচ্ছি। আশা করি আপনারা আমার এই আবেদন গ্রহণ করবেন।

দেশে সংগঠিত অন্যান্য অপরাধের বিচার প্রক্রিয়া ত্বরান্বিত করার

জন্য দেশের বিভিন্ন জেলায় সহস্রাধিক প্রসিকিউটর নিয়োগ দেওয়া হয়েছে।

হাইকোর্টে ইতোমধ্যে নিয়োগ দেওয়া হয়েছে ২৩ জন নতুন বিচারক। বিচার

বিভাগকে ঘুষ ও দুর্নীতিমুক্ত করার জন্য সম্ভব সব ধরনের চেষ্টাই করা

হচ্ছে।

বিচারপতিদের নিয়মতান্ত্রিক উপায়ে শাস্তিমূলক ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণের

জন্য সুপ্রিম জুডিশিয়াল কাউন্সিল পুনর্বহাল করা হয়েছে। শুধু বিচার

বিভাগই নয়, সর্বগ্রাসী দুর্নীতির হাত থেকে দেশের সব খাতকেই রক্ষা

করতে আমরা সচেষ্ট রয়েছি। দুর্নীতি দমন কমিশন পুনর্গঠনের কাজ প্রায়

শেষ পর্যায়ে। দুর্নীতি ও অর্থ পাচারে অভিযুক্ত প্রভাবশালী দেড়শ

ব্যক্তির তালিকা তৈরি এবং ৭৯ জনের বিরুদ্ধে অনুসন্ধান শুরু হয়েছে। ১৫

শতাংশ হারে আয়কর পরিশোধ করে অপ্রদর্শিত পরিসম্পদ, অর্থাৎ কালো

টাকা সাদা করার বিধান বাতিল করা হয়েছে।

সরকারি কার্যক্রমকে গতিশীল করতে বিভিন্ন পর্যায়ের ১৯,০৮৪ জন

কর্মকর্তা-কর্মচারীকে পদোন্নতি, ১৩,৪২৯ জনকে বদলি এবং ১২,৬৩৬

জনের বিরুদ্ধে শাস্তিমূলক ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণ করা হয়েছে। সাংবিধানিক

প্রতিষ্ঠান পাবলিক সার্ভিস কমিশন পুনর্গঠন করা হয়েছে। কুখ্যাত

সাইবার সিকিউরিটি আইন বাতিলের নীতিগত সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে। এই আইনের

অধীনে হওয়া সেসব মামলা মানুষের মত প্রকাশের অধিকারের সাথে

সম্পর্কিত সেগুলো প্রত্যাহার করা হয়েছে। এছাড়াও ১৩৩টি আইন,

বিধিবিধান তৈরি ও সংশোধন করা হয়েছে এবং ৩৫৩টি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ

নীতিনির্ধারণী সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণ করা হয়েছে।

ছাত্র-ছাত্রীদের দাবি মেনে ইতোমধ্যে সরকারি চাকুরির বয়স সীমা

৩২-এ উন্নীত করা হয়েছে। আমরা জানি আমাদের কাছে আপনাদের আরো

অনেক দাবি-দাওয়া আছে। দীর্ঘ দিনের অপশাসন, অত্যাচার, অনাচারের ফলে

আপনাদের মনে অনেক ক্ষোভ পুঞ্জীভূত হয়েছে। দেশে বাক স্বাধীনতা না

থাকায় আমরা কেউ আমাদের মতামত, দাবি-দাওয়া প্রকাশ করতে পারিনি।

আমরা আপনাদের প্রতিটি দাবির প্রতি সহানুভূতিশীল। আমরা ধৈর্য্য

সহকারে আপনাদের কথা শুনতে চাই। কিন্তু সেজন্য আপনারা সড়ক অবরোধ

করে জন দুর্ভোগ সৃষ্টি করলে আমাদের সকলেরই অসুবিধা হয়। আমাদের

একান্ত অনুরোধ আপনারা নির্দিষ্ট চ্যানেল মেইনটেইন করে আপনাদের

দাবি দাওয়া পেশ করবেন।

আমাদের বৃহৎ রপ্তানি পণ্য গার্মেন্টস শিল্পে গত কিছু দিন ব্যাপক

অস্থিরতা বিরাজ করেছে। ফ্যাসিস্ট সরকারের সুবিধাভোগী বেশ কিছু

গার্মেন্টস মালিক পালিয়ে যাওয়ায় শ্রমিকদের বেতন-ভাতা নিয়ে অনিশ্চয়তা

তৈরি হয়েছে। অন্য অনেক কারখানায়ও শ্রমিকরা ন্যায্য বেতনসহ অন্যান্য

সুবিধা থেকে বঞ্চিত ছিল। শ্রমিকরা তাদের দীর্ঘ দিনের বঞ্চনার প্রতিবাদ

জানাতে এবং অনিশ্চয়তা থেকে মুক্তি পেতে রাস্তায় নেমে আসে। আমরা

তাদের কথা শুনেছি, তাদের আলোচনার টেবিলে নিয়ে আসতে পেরেছি। আমরা

অত্যন্ত আনন্দিত যে মালিক-শ্রমিকের মধ্যে ১৮ দফার একটি

ব্যাপকভিত্তিক চুক্তি স্বাক্ষরিত হয়েছে। বড় ধরনের কোনো সহিংসতা

ছাড়াই আমরা শ্রমিক অসন্তোষ নিরসন করতে পেরেছি। তারা আবার

উৎপাদনে ফিরেছে। এতে প্রাণ ফিরে পেয়েছে বাংলাদেশের রপ্তানিমুখী এই

শিল্পও। নানা প্রতিকূলতা স্বত্বেও অক্টোবর মাসে আমাদের রপ্তানীতে

প্রবৃদ্ধি হয়েছে প্রায় ২১ শতাংশ।

আমরা যখন কাজ শুরু করেছি, দেশের অর্থনীতি ছিল বিপর্যস্ত।

বৈদেশিক মুদ্রার রিজার্ভ তলানিতে। আশার কথা, এই রিজার্ভ পরিস্থিতি

এখন উন্নতির পথে। গত তিন মাসে রিজার্ভে কোনো রকম হাত না দিয়েই

আমরা প্রায় ২ বিলিয়ন ডলার বৈদেশিক ঋণ শোধ করতে পেরেছি। জ্বালানি

তেল আমদানিতে পুঞ্জীভূত বকেয়ার পরিমাণ ৪৭৮ মিলিয়ন ডলার হতে

কমিয়ে ১৬০ মিলিয়ন ডলারে আনতে পেরেছি। অর্থনীতি পুনরুদ্ধারে আমরা

সর্বাত্মক চেষ্টা চালিয়ে যাচ্ছি। বিশ্বব্যাংক, আইএমএফ-সহ বিভিন্ন দাতা

সংস্থা ইতোমধ্যে ঋণ ও অনুদান হিসেবে প্রায় ৮ বিলিয়ন ডলার দেওয়ার

প্রতিশ্রুতি দিয়েছে, যা আমাদের ভঙ্গুর অর্থনীতিকে সচল করতে সক্ষম

হবে।

পতিত সরকার আমাদের জন্য যে ভঙ্গুর অর্থনৈতিক পরিস্থিতি রেখে

গিয়েছে তাতে রাজস্ব আদায়ে গতি আনতে হিমশিম খেতে হচ্ছে জাতীয়

রাজস্ব বোর্ডকে। এর মধ্যেও জুলাইয়ের নেতিবাচক অবস্থা থেকে

অক্টোবর নাগাদ রাজস্ব আদায়ে পৌনে ৯ শতাংশ প্রবৃদ্ধি অর্জিত হয়েছে।

আগের অর্থবছরের সংশোধিত বাজেটে বিপুল রাজস্ব ঘাটতি ছিল। যে কারণে

এবার শুরু থেকেই রাজস্ব আদায়ের লক্ষ্যমাত্রা অনেক বেড়ে যায়। এর ফলে

স্বৈরাচার পতনের পরবর্তী তিন মাসে পৌনে ৯ শতাংশ রাজস্ব বৃদ্ধির পরও

লক্ষ্যমাত্রার বিপরীতে ২৩ শতাংশের বেশি ঘাটতি থেকে যায়। রাজস্ব

আদায়ে গতি আনতে আমি এখন অন লাইনে আয়কর রিটার্ন জমা দিতে

উৎসাহিত করছি।

আন্তর্জাতিক সাহায্য সংস্থা বিশ্বব্যাংক, আইএমএফ, ইউএনডিপি

ইত্যাদির প্রধানদের সঙ্গেও আমার দীর্ঘ বৈঠক হয়েছে। তারাও

বাংলাদেশকে নতুনভাবে এবং সর্বাত্মকভাবে সাহায্যের জন্য তাদের আগ্রহ

ব্যক্ত করেছেন। চীনের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে একান্ত বৈঠকে চীনের

পক্ষ থেকে যাবতীয় সাহায্যের আশ্বাস দিয়েছেন।

১০০ দিন আগে আর্থিক দিক থেকে আমরা যে লন্ডভন্ড অবস্থা

থেকে যাত্রা শুরু করেছিলাম– সেটা এখন অতীত ইতিহাস হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। এই

একশো দিনে অর্থনীতি সবল অবস্থানে চলে এসেছে। এটা সম্পূ্র্ণ নিজস্ব

নীতিমালা দিয়ে হয়েছে। বলা বাহুল্য এখনো আমাদের বন্ধুদের কাছ থেকে যে

সাহায্যের আয়োজন হয়েছে তা আসা শুরু করেনি। বন্ধু রাষ্ট্রগুলি শুধু যে

আমাদের বড় বড় অংকের সাহায্য নিয়ে আসছে তাই নয়, তারা এই সাহায্য

দ্রুততম সময়ে আসা শুরু করবে এই প্রতিশ্রুতিও আমাকে দিয়েছে। এই

সাহায্য আসা শুরু করলে আমাদের অর্থনীতি অত্যন্ত মজবুত এবং

আকর্ষনীয় অর্থনীতিতে পরিণত হবে। বিদেশী বিনিয়োগকারীরাও নানা রকম

বিনিয়োগে উৎসাহীত হয়ে এগিয়ে আসবে।

বিনিয়োগকারীদের সঙ্গে এখন থেকে আমরা আলোচনা শুরু করে

দিয়েছি। বিশ্বের রাষ্ট্রপুঞ্জের মজলিসে আমরা এখন সম্মানিত এবং

প্রশংসিত দেশের অবস্থানে পৌঁছাতে পেরেছি। এর কারণে পরাজিত শক্তি

নানা কৌশল করেও তাদের দিকে দৃষ্টি আকর্ষণ করতে পারছে না। তারা নানা

চেহারা নিয়ে আপনাদের প্রিয়পাত্র হবার চেষ্টা করছে। পরাজিত শক্তির

ষড়যন্ত্র থেকে নিজেকে মুক্ত রাখুন, দেশকে মুক্ত রাখুন। এ ব্যাপারে অনড়

থাকুন। এমন কিছু করবেন না যা তাদেরকে উৎসাহিত করতে সাহায্য করে।

তাদেরকে সকল দিক থেকে নিরাশ করুন। সেটা নিশ্চিত করতে পারলে

আমাদের আর কোন বিষয়ে সংশয় করার প্রয়োজন নেই। সরকারের পক্ষ

থেকে আমি নিশ্চয়তা দিচ্ছি সকল প্রকার সীমাবদ্ধতা সত্বেও আমরা

আপনাদেরকে একটা মজবুত অর্থনীতি দিয়ে যাবো, ভবিষ্যতে চলার পথকে

সহজগম্য করে যাবো, নাগরিক অধিকারসমূহ নিশ্চিত করে যাবো। বিপক্ষ

শক্তি যত শক্তিশালীই হোক, নাশকতার যত রকমই উদ্ভট পরিকল্পনাই

করুক– সব কিছু নস্যাৎ করার জন্য প্রস্তুত থাকুন। এবার যে মুক্তি

আমরা অর্জন করেছি তা আমাদের কাছ থেকে কেউ যেন ছিনিয়ে নিতে না-

পারে তার জন্য সর্বমুহুর্তে প্রস্তুত থাকুন।

আপনারা জেনেছেন, পতিত সরকার ও তার দোসররা প্রতিবছর দেশ

থেকে ১২-১৫ বিলিয়ন ডলার পাচার করেছে। দুর্নীতি বিরোধী সংস্থা

ট্রান্সপারেন্সি ইন্টারন্যাশনাল, বাংলাদেশ সম্প্রতি এই তথ্য দিয়েছে।

পাচার হয়ে যাওয়া এই অর্থ ফিরিয়ে আনার জন্য সম্ভব সকল ধরনের

উদ্যোগ আমরা গ্রহণ করেছি। এ কাজে সফল হতে পারলে আমাদের

অর্থনীতি আরো গতি পাবে। এ কাজে আমরা বিভিন্ন আন্তর্জাতিক সাহায্য

সংস্থার সাহায্য নিচ্ছি।

আমি ধন্যবাদ জানাতে চাই বিশ্ব নেতৃবৃন্দকেও। বাংলাদেশের এই

সংকটময় সময়ে তারা প্রায় সবাই সহযেগিতার হাত বাড়িয়ে দিয়েছেন। আমি

যখন সেপ্টেম্বরে জাতিসংঘের সাধারণ পরিষদের অধিবেশনে যোগ দেই, সে

সময় মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র, ইউরোপিয়ান ইউনিয়ন, কানাডা, ইতালি,

হল্যান্ড, জাতিসংঘ মহাসচিব-সহ বিশ্বের অনেক দেশের সরকার প্রধানের

সঙ্গে আমার বৈঠক করার সুযোগ হয়। তারা স্বতঃস্ফূর্তভাবে আমাদের

প্রতি সর্বাত্মক সহযোগিতা প্রদানের অঙ্গীকার ব্যক্ত করেছেন। নেপাল,

মালদ্বীপ, পাকিস্তান-সহ প্রতিবেশী বেশ কয়েকটি দেশের সরকার প্রধানের

সঙ্গেও আমার বৈঠক হয়েছে যেখানে আমি সার্ককে পুনরুজ্জীবিত করার

কথা বলেছি।

দেশে ফিরে আসার পর এসব দেশের রাষ্ট্রদূতগণ যারা ঢাকায়

স্ব:প্রবৃত্ত হয়ে আমার সঙ্গে দেখা করে তাদের সরকার প্রধানদের

অঙ্গীকার পুনঃব্যক্ত করে গেছেন। তারা সম্পূর্ণ নতুনভাবে আমাদের জন্য

সহায়তার নতুন ছক তৈরির কাজ শুরু করেছেন। যে-সব রাষ্ট্রদূত দিল্লিতে

অফিস করেন তারা দিল্লি থেকে এসে দেখা করে গেছেন। ইউরোপিয়ান

ইউনিয়নের ২০ দেশের ২০ জন রাষ্ট্রদূত দিল্লিতে থাকেন। সাত দেশের সাত

রাষ্ট্রদূত ঢাকায় আছেন। দিল্লি থেকে একসঙ্গে ২০ জন রাষ্ট্রদূতসহ মোট

২৭ রাষ্ট্রের রাষ্ট্রদূত সমবেতভাবে আমার সঙ্গে বৈঠক করার জন্য

আগামী কয়েকদিনের মধ্যে ঢাকায় আসছেন। আগে কখনো ইউরোপিয়ান

ইউনিয়নের ২৭ জন রাষ্ট্রদূত একত্রিত হয়ে সরকারের সঙ্গে আলোচনায়

বসেনি। দিল্লী থেকে এ বিশাল সংখ্যক রাষ্ট্রদূত একসঙ্গে বৈঠক করার

জন্য আসেনি । এবার একাজটি করার পেছনে আছে ইইউ-র  সমর্থন প্রকাশ

করা এবং অর্থনৈতিক ক্ষেত্রে উচ্চ পর্যায়ের সহযোগিতা গড়ে তোলা।

ইতোমধ্যে আমার সঙ্গে দেখা করেছেন সৌদি আরব, সংযুক্ত আরব

আমিরাত, ব্রাজিল, তুরস্ক, রাশিয়া, ফিনল্যান্ড, সিঙ্গাপুর, লিবিয়া-সহ

অনেক দেশের রাষ্ট্রদূত। দ্বিপাক্ষিক নানা সহযোগিতাসহ বাণিজ্য ও

বিনিয়োগ বৃদ্ধির আশ্বাস তারা দিয়েছেন।

আমরা প্রবাসী বাংলাদেশিদেরও দেশে বেসরকারি খাতে বিনিয়োগ করার

আহ্বান জানাচ্ছি। বাংলাদেশের অর্থনৈতিক উন্নয়ন ও তরুণদের

কর্মসংস্থানের মূলে রয়েছে বেসরকারি খাত। আমাদের বিনিয়োগ বোর্ডের

নির্বাহী চেয়ারম্যান দুই শতাধিক বেসরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠানের প্রধান নির্বাহী,

উদ্যোক্তা ও বিনিয়োগকারীর সঙ্গে পৃথক পৃথকভাবে বৈঠক করেছেন।

নীতির ধারাবাহিকতার অভাব, সরকারি-বেসরকারি পর্যায়ে মতবিনিময়ের

অভাব, সরকারি অফিসের জটিল প্রক্রিয়া এবং সর্বোপরি দুর্নীতি,

বিদ্যমান বিনিয়োগকারীদের সমস্যায় ফেলেছে। বিনিয়োগকারীদের উদ্বেগ

নিরসনে আমরা অনেকগুলো কাজ করেছি । ইতোমধ্যে সত্যিকারের ওয়ান

স্টপ সার্ভিস চালু হয়েছে , বিনিয়োগ সংক্রান্ত চ্যালেঞ্জ সমাধানে

আন্তঃমন্ত্রণালয় কমিটি গঠন হয়েছে । বেসরকারি খাতের উপদেষ্টা

কাউন্সিল ও ডিজিটালাইজেশনের মাধ্যমে সরকারি অফিসে না-এসে

প্রয়োজনীয় কর্ম সম্পাদনের পদক্ষেপ নেয়া হয়েছে। বিনিয়োগ উন্নয়ন

সংস্থা আমাদের অগ্রগতির বিষয়ে সবাইকে মাসিক ভিত্তিতে আপডেট করে

যাচ্ছে।

আমরা প্রবাসীদের কল্যাণে কাজ করছি। আমার অনুরোধে সংযুক্ত

আরব আমিরাত  সাজাপ্রাপ্ত ৫৭ জন সহ অন্যান্য বাংলাদেশিকে মুক্তি

দিয়েছে। এসব বাংলাদেশি কারাবাসের ঝুঁকি নিয়ে ফ্যাসিবাদের বিপক্ষে

প্রতিবাদ করেছি। বাংলাদেশিরা এরকম প্রতিবাদ আরো অনেক দেশেই

করেছেন। আমরা তাদের প্রতি কৃতজ্ঞ। 

কয়েকদিন আগে বাকুতে সংযুক্ত আরব আমিরাতের প্রেসিডেন্ট জনাব

শেখ মোহাম্মদ বিন জায়েদ আল নাহিয়ান এর সঙ্গে আমার কথা হয়েছে ।

তাঁকে বাংলাদেশের পক্ষ থেকে ধন্যবাদ জানিয়েছি। তিনি বলেছেন

বাংলাদেশের জন্য যেকোন সাহায্য লাগলে আমি যেন তাকে জানাই।

প্রবাসীদের কল্যাণে আমাদের সরকার সম্ভব সব ধরনের উদ্যোগ গ্রহণ

করে যাচ্ছি। আপনারা জানেন মালয়েশিয়ার প্রধানমন্ত্রী আনোয়ার ইব্রাহিম

সম্প্রতি বাংলাদেশ সফর করেছেন। ১৮ হাজার বাংলাদেশি, যারা সব ধরনের

আনুষ্ঠানিকতা মেনে চলার পরও স্বৈরাচারী সরকারের অব্যবস্থাপনার জন্য

মালয়েশিয়া যেতে পারেননি, তিনি তাদের জন্য মালয়েশিয়ার দ্বার আবার

উন্মুক্ত করার আশ্বাস দিয়েছেন। এ লক্ষ্যে আমরা কাজও শুরু করেছি ।

আপনারা জেনে থাকবেন মালয়েশিয়া আগামী বছর দক্ষিণ পূর্ব এশিয়ার

আঞ্চলিক সহযোগিতা সংস্থা আসিয়ানের চেয়ারম্যানের দায়িত্ব নিতে

যাচ্ছে। আমরা ইতোমধ্যে আসিয়ানের সদস্য পদের জন্য আবেদন করেছি।

মালয়েশিয়ার প্রধানমন্ত্রী আমাদের আবেদন সক্রিয়ভাবে বিবেচনার

আশ্বাস দিয়েছেন। একই ধরনের আশ্বাস আমরা পেয়েছি ইন্দোনেশিয়া

থেকেও। ইন্দোনেশিয়ার পক্ষ থেকে সেদেশে রাষ্ট্রীয় সফরে যাবার জন্য

আমাকে অনুরোধ করেছে । সৌদি আরবসহ বিশ্বের আরো অনেক দেশ

আমাদের সঙ্গে সহযোগিতা বৃদ্ধির প্রস্তাব দিয়েছে। প্রথমবারের মতো

ওআইসি সদর দপ্তরে আমরা স্থায়ীভাবে রাষ্ট্রদূত নিয়োগ দিচ্ছি।

তুরস্কের রাষ্ট্রপতি রিসেপ তাইয়্যেপ এরদোগানের সাথে আগে আমার

টেলিফোনে আলাপ হয়েছে। এবার COP29 সম্মেলনে গিয়ে তিনি ও তাঁর

স্ত্রী'র সঙ্গে অত্যন্ত অন্তরঙ্গ পরিবেশে আলোচনা হয়েছে। বাংলাদেশের

প্রতি তার বিশেষ সমর্থনের কথা তিনি বারবার প্রকাশ করেছেন। তুরস্কের

একটি বাণিজ্য প্রতিনিধি দল ইতোমধ্যে বাংলাদেশ সফর করেছে। তুরস্ক

এদেশের সঙ্গে অর্থনৈতিক সম্পর্ক উন্নয়নের জন্য টার্কিশ

ইনভেস্টমেন্ট অথরিটির (TICA) একটি অফিস ঢাকায় স্থাপনের জন্য

ঘোষণা করেছে। এর মাধ্যমে তুরস্কের বিনিয়োগ এবং বাণিজ্য বৃদ্ধির

উদ্যোগ নেয়া হবে। এই উদ্দেশ্যে চলতি মাসেই একটি উচ্চ ক্ষমতা সম্পন্ন

দল তুরস্ক থেকে বাংলাদেশে আসছেন।

প্রিয় দেশবাসী,

নতুন হজ প্যাকেজ ঘোষণা করা হয়েছে। তাতে হজের ব্যয় এক লাখ

টাকারও বেশি কমিয়ে আনা হয়েছে। পাশাপাশি আমরা এই সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণ

করেছি, এ বছর সরকারি খরচে কাউকে হজে পাঠানো হবেনা।

আমরা নতুন বাংলাদেশকে একটি পরিবেশ বান্ধব এবং জীব

বৈচিত্র্যময় দেশ হিসেবে গড়ে তোলার উদ্যোগ নিয়েছি। এটি তরুণদের

আকাঙ্ক্ষা। আমাদের সবারই আকাঙ্ক্ষা। সেই লক্ষ্যে আমি প্রথমেই

একটি ক্ষুদ্র পদক্ষেপ নিয়েছি। সমগ্র সচিবালয়ে প্লাস্টিকের পানির বোতল

ব্যবহার নিষিদ্ধ করেছি। ইতিমধ্যে সুপার শপগুলোতে পলিথিনের শপিং ব্যাগ

ব্যবহার বন্ধ করার উদ্যোগ নেওয়া হয়েছে। গত কয়েক দশকে যে পরিমাণ

নদী দূষণ হয়েছে, আমরা তা বন্ধ করার উদ্যোগ নিয়েছি।

আপনারা সবাই অবগত আছেন জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন আমাদের

জীবনযাত্রার জন্য কীরকম হুমকি হয়ে আসছে। গত এক বছরে বাংলাদেশ

প্রায় ১৫টি প্রাকৃতিক দুর্যোগের শিকার হয়েছে। মানুষের সৃষ্ট নানাবিধ

দুর্যোগের পাশাপাশি এসব প্রাকৃতিক দুর্যোগের বিপক্ষেও আমাদের লড়তে

হচ্ছে। আজারবাইজানে জলবায়ু সম্মেলনে বিশ্ব নেতৃবৃন্দকে আমি আমাদের

উদ্বেগের কথা জানিয়েছি। সেখানে জাতিসংঘ মহাসচিব, ইউরোপ, এশিয়া,

আফ্রিকার অনেক সরকার প্রধানের সঙ্গেই আমার দেখা হয়েছে। যতটুকু

আলাপ আলোচনা সম্ভব হয়েছে, আমি সবার কাছেই জলবায়ুর প্রতিকূল

প্রভাব মোকাবিলাসহ গণতান্ত্রিক উত্তরণের পথে বাংলাদেশের

অগ্রযাত্রায় সহযোগিতা চেয়েছি। তারা সহযোগিতার অঙ্গীকার সবাই

করেছেন।

গত ১০০ দিনে আমরা আরো অনেক কল্যাণমূলক কাজ করেছি যা

এখানে স্বল্প পরিসরে বর্ণনা করা সম্ভব নয়। আমাদের সরকার স্বচ্ছতা

ও জবাবদিহিতায় বিশ্বাসী। আমি তাই সরকারের সকল মন্ত্রণালয়কে

নির্দেশ দিয়েছি তাদের নিজ নিজ কাজের বিস্তারিত বিবরণ নিজেদের

ওয়েবসাইট ও সামাজিক যোগাযোগ মাধ্যমে প্রকাশ করার জন্য। আমি

আমার দপ্তরকেও বলেছি সরকারের সব কাজের বিবরণ যাতে জনগণ জানতে

পারে এজন্য যেন প্রয়োজনীয় পদক্ষেপ নেওয়া হয়।

এ সরকারকে ব্যর্থ করার জন্য, অকার্যকর করার জন্য বিশাল

অর্থে বিশ্বব্যাপী এবং দেশের প্রতিটি স্থানে, প্রতিটি প্রতিষ্ঠানে এক

মহাপরিকল্পনা প্রতি মুহূর্তে কার্যকর রয়েছে। তাদের একটি বড় প্রচেষ্টা

হচ্ছে আমাদের মধ্যে বিভেদ সৃষ্টি করা। পতিত সরকারের নেতৃবৃন্দ যারা

এদেশ থেকে বিপুল পরিমাণ অর্থ পাচার করে নিয়ে গেছে সে অর্থে বলিয়ান

হয়ে তারা দেশে ফিরে আসার জন্য চেষ্টা করে যাচ্ছে। তাদেরকে কিছুতেই

সফল হতে দেবেন না। তারা সফল হওয়া মানে জাতির মৃত্যু। জাতি হিসেবে

আমাদের অবসান। সাবধান থাকুন। তাদের সকল হীন প্রচেষ্টাকে আমাদের

ঐক্যের মাধ্যমে নস্যাৎ করে দিন। যে ভাবে নস্যাৎ করেছিলেন তাদের

বন্দুকের গুলিকে। তাদের আয়না ঘরকে। প্রতি পায়ে তাদের অনাচারের

শিকলকে। এ ব্যাপারে সবাই একমত থাকুন, ঐক্যবদ্ধ থাকুন।

আপনারা সবাই ভালো থাকবেন।

 বাংলাদেশের সকল শিশু, কিশোর-কিশোরী, তরুণ-তরুণী, ছাত্র-ছাত্রী, বয়স্ক,

বৃদ্ধ, পুরুষ, মহিলা সবাইকে আমার সালাম জানাচ্ছি।

আসসালামু আলাইকুম ।

মহান আল্লাহ আমাদের সহায় হোক ।

খোদা হাফেজ ।

Amidst much hyperbolic commentary on the performance of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, the International Crisis Group performed a laudable public service recently by holding a webinar titled “Bangladesh Three Months After Hasina’s Downfall: Opportunities and Challenges” featuring three experts on Bangladesh: Zafar Sobhan, Amena Mohsin, and Thomas Kean. (The entire 83 minute webinar can be viewed here.) Their sober and fact-based assessment of the Interim Government was noteworthy for its generally positive tone. They include:

1. There was no massive retribution against those who backed the regime led by Sheikh Hasina, as would have been expected from prior transitions in Bangladesh.
2. Generally, the security situation, which was challenging immediately after the fall of prior government, has stabilized. It has not degenerated, as was possible.
3. A political consensus in favor of reforms by the Interim Government has emerged and has held. Students have been especially supportive. This has given the Interim Government time and space to pursue needed reforms.  
4. Giving the reform commissions a deadline of the end of December has created a needed sense of urgency and possibility.
5. Domestic support for the Interim Government has remained strong. The populace regards the government as honest, committed to reform, and inclusive of respected intellectuals.
6. The macro-economy has stabilized and the banking sector has improved noticeably. There was no run on the banks, no major increase in inflation, and foreign reserves had not plummeted – all of which could have happened with less able leadership in place.
7. International support for Bangladesh since the Interim Government coming to power has been significant. Professor Yunus’ meetings in New York while attending the U.N. General Assembly were seen as very successful.
8. People realize that this is a watershed moment in Bangladesh history, and that the prior regime damaged and destroyed vital institutions. Many of the statistics put out by the prior government were falsified, meaning the state of the country and especially the economy was worse than had been imagined. There is much goodwill in the population for the Interim Government as it tries to pick up the pieces.
9. The Interim Government, including the Chief Adviser and the entire cabinet, came out strongly and appropriately against violence against minorities.
10. Economic problems were one of the main causes of the revolution, and an economic disaster during the second half of the years was a possibility. But this has been averted; the bleeding as stopped. The Interim Finance Minister Salehuddin Ahmed is widely respected and is doing an excellent job.
11. The Interim Government’s relations with the army and with its leadership have remained stable and generally positive.  

The speakers naturally identified some improvement areas, including enlarging the cabinet and being more transparent in decision-making. There was much commentary about misleading media reports from India about the treatment of Hindus, and how they are harming India-Bangladesh relations. The Netra News investigative report about one alleged instance of mistreatment was mentioned. As we look ahead, more discussions like this one will help ground views about the Interim Government in reality.

This week and next, the Support Yunus Campaign is in Bangladesh, assessing the progress of the Interim Government and the attitudes of people from all walks of life about how much things have changed since August 5 and what the future holds.

A very unscientific sampling of intellectuals, taxi drivers, rickshaw pullers, professionals, retired Bangladeshi diplomats and civil servants, and tea stall owners gives the impression that people are pleased with the change of government while also concerned about inflation, continue to have patience with the Interim Government (and acknowledge that they inherited a mess), are proud of having a charismatic, pragmatic, and non-partisan Nobel laureate heading the government, and support the reforms being pursued by the government prior to holding elections. The Awami League and especially its recent leaders are disgraced, and people are determined to have the billions of dollars they stole returned even if some of them doubt how likely that is. (According to one estimate by Transparency International Bangladesh, the amount looted may have been $15 billion per year for 14 years.) There is wariness about how those stolen billions will be used to try to destabilize the current government, and future governments.

Relations with India remain sensitive. A positive development was the publication of an article by the renowned Indian-American business leader Vinod Khosla in The Wire titled, “With Yunus at the Helm, Bangladesh Reaching its Potential is in India’s Best Interest.” It was later republished by UNB and Prothom Alo English. Khosla argues that Yunus, whom he has known for decades, is leading the country far more effectively than his critics give him credit for. Furthermore, he makes that case that Yunus’ success is good for India.  

Another important and thoughtful article was published by Al Jazeera. It was titled, “Muhammad Yunus can go down in history as the architect of a new Bangladesh.” It contains a well-researched analysis of countries that have gone through similar transitions and what lessons can be gleaned from them by the Interim Government. Towards the end of the article it hits an especially hopeful note, saying, “It is unrealistic to expect any new government to produce satisfactory reforms in all areas and a perfect democracy overnight, especially after decades of authoritarian rule… [I]f Professor Yunus gets it right, draws from the successful experience of other countries, and lays the foundations for a robust democracy in Bangladesh, he could become a Mandela-like inspirational figure, and provide other countries in South Asia, where civic freedoms are widely repressed, with a regional example of a successful post-revolutionary transition. Many in the international community stand ready to support him.”

Certainly the Interim Government has its thoughtful critics, and they have been able to express their views freely. But there are also those who are spreading lies, half-truths, and distortions to confuse people and destabilize the government. Fortunately, investigative journalists and volunteer fact checkers are stepping up to challenge these ignoble efforts. For example, Netra News published an investigation into the deaths of nine Hindus that was previously linked to communal violence – claims that did not stand up to scrutiny. (It bears mentioning that even one death from violence is one too many, but that blaming the Interim Government without evidence is wrong.) And as noted in our previous post, a service called Rumor Scanner that is active on Twitter/X has debunked dozens of false stories about what is going on in Bangladesh since August.

Most recently, U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump posted a message sending greetings to American Hindus on the occasion of their annual Diwali festival. Unfortunately, lobbyists hired by the U.S.-based son of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (and other advocates) convinced him to include false accusations against Bangladesh in the greeting. Take it from Support Yunus and its team on the ground in Bangladesh: there is no “chaos” here (beyond what is typical for Bangladesh in recent decades), and the idea of systemic “barbaric” attacks on minorities is fictitious (despite some lawlessness that is impacting everyone). Addressing that lawlessness, Professor Yunus has deployed the army to work alongside the police, and the early signs are that it is helping to improve security.

Professor Yunus ‘ press secretary immediately released a strong and measured statement responding to Trump’s message.  

We urge people of goodwill everywhere to share the positive stories coming out of Bangladesh and to consider contributing to the July Martyrs Memorial Fund once we make it possible for people around the world to donate while receiving tax benefits in their home countries.

Systematic efforts to destabilize the Interim Government are likely to continue regardless of how the U.S. presidential election plays our next week. We are reassured, however, that people, journalists, and leaders throughout the world are stepping up to shine lights on the truth and on the positive work of the Interim Government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Recently we posted on Twitter and Facebook to highlight the important debunking done by the BBC of false and exaggerated claims of the mistreatment of Hindus in Bangladesh.

It bears repeating that there has been violence and intimidation of various people and groups in Bangladesh, and that even one attack or killing is one too many. But it is also true that Professor Yunus and the government he leads have been taking practical and symbolic steps to curb violence. Throughout his life he has shown he is a humanist who leads by example through treating all people equally regardless of faith, ethnicity, or gender. Professor Yunus talked about his focus on improving law and order in a wide-ranging interview with Prothom Alo English, in which he said, “We are trying [to improve the law and order situation]. We have not been successful as yet. Law and order is not completely back to normal as yet. I do not want to go into explanations, but things haven’t improved that much. They may have improved to an extent, but not to the level required. So our utmost effort will be to stabilise that. That is our primary task. Unless that is done, we can’t carry out the rest of the tasks.”

Some violence against Hindus appears to be based more on their past association with the now disgraced Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina, rather than on their religion. There are suspicions that some of it is being perpetrated by sympathizers of the prior regime to create the impression of incompetence or malfeasance by the current Interim Government. And some of it is simply made up and completely false.

Regarding those that are untrue, Shohanur Rahman, who goes by @Sohan_RSB on Twitter/X, has been doing some excellent work debunking fake stories. He also publishes under the handle @RumorScanner. Check out this fact check and also this one. Rumor Scanner claims to have debunked more than 40 fake or misleading stories coming from India. Let’s hope they continue this valuable service.

We can expect many more of these stories to surface. It is inevitable that some of the billions stolen by leaders of the Awami League will begin being used to undermine the Interim Government. Indeed, it is already happening. Neither the government nor the Support Yunus Campaign has the resources to match those who seek to destabilize the Interim Government, but with the assistance of people of goodwill playing the roles of fact-checkers and critical thinkers who don’t fall prey to the latest outrage that may be fake or misleading but challenge them instead, we can collectively turn the tide.

Recently, two of the most respected public figures in Bangladesh—one a newspaper publisher, the other a retired diplomat—voiced support and admiration for Professor Yunus in his role as Chief Adviser (or Interim Prime Minister) of Bangladesh in advance of the two month anniversary on October 8 of the new government coming to power as a result of a people’s uprising in July and early August. In doing so, they reflected the wide support Professor Yunus enjoys throughout the country, and across the world.

Mahfuz Anam—the editor and publisher of the Daily Star, a leading Bangladeshi English-language daily— wrote mainly about Professor Yunus’ triumphant trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, which he addressed as a head of government. Anam wrote this in his recent article titled “Chief Adviser Yunus’s UNGA Trip a Critical Turning Point”: “To have a Nobel laureate as the head of government is quite in contrast to our past leaders, some of whom were military dictators or power-hungry politicians. Professor Yunus brings in a new and fresh sense of dignity not only to Bangladesh, but to the leadership of the developing world in general. The last such leader was Nelson Mandela.”

Anam addressed relations with India, a top priority of this or any Bangladeshi government, with some wise words that reject the groundless claims that the student-led “Monsoon Revolution” that brought Professor Yunus to power was somehow the work of Western powers to stymie India: “The collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government profoundly shocked India. It has not yet been able to fully assess what to make of the changes and understand its profundity. As reported by its media, from the outset, India got carried away with the view that foreign hands were behind the July uprising and that it was either the CIA or Pakistan’s ISI or both that were behind what occurred. This prevented the Indian policymakers from understanding and then accepting the reality that the government that it was patronizing in Bangladesh and whose election manipulation it knowingly overlooked had really lost its footing and had suffered a total loss of public support.

“To attribute the whole July uprising as nothing but the work of outsiders and to not see the massive mass participation and obvious popularity of the transformation amounted to India totally not seeing the ground reality and missing out on any realistic assessment of what had happened. This, in my view, has prevented Indian policymakers from making a fact-based reality check.”

He concluded, “Compared to where we were, what Professor Yunus has achieved in the international arena so far is a miracle.”

Ashraf ud Doula—the retired and widely respected diplomat who was the Bangladeshi ambassador to Japan, Australia and other nations—focused in a recent article on how the government led by Professor Yunus performed on the home front. He began by evaluating the cabinet that had to be so hastily assembled after the sudden fall of the prior regime: “Though most of the cabinet members came from the NGO world and apparently lacked administrative experience, their unblemished records and ethical standards offered a silver lining. Their integrity and honesty had a positive psychological effect on their ministries and the broader society. The two student leaders who have been inducted into the cabinet, until now haven’t made any missteps, which, I believe, is a positive sign.”

He continued, “While it is too soon to claim remarkable achievements, the IG’s sincerity and commitment to guiding the nation toward a better path cannot be denied. In his two national addresses, the Chief Adviser clearly outlined the government’s objectives, including fundamental reforms to vital state institutions. Dr. Yunus has also made it clear that he has no desire to remain in power beyond fulfilling his mandate to rebuild the nation.”

He added, “Signs of progress are already visible, particularly in the banking and financial sectors. The government has taken steps to recover funds laundered by Hasina, her family, and her corrupt oligarchs. The surge in remittances from expatriates reflects growing trust in the new government.”

Asraf concluded his assessment at the two-month mark with these words, “As the head of the IG [Interim Government], Dr. Yunus has taken on the immense responsibility of guiding the nation not for personal gain, but out of patriotism. He has staked his global reputation to rescue a nation on the brink of collapse. In Dr. Yunus, we have not only an honest leader but also a man whose global goodwill brings benefits to Bangladesh. His reception at the UN exemplifies this. Dr. Yunus was a brilliant star on the global stage, holding over 50 meetings in four days, including with President Biden, heads of UN agencies, and leaders of financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank…  With Dr. Yunus at the helm, I am optimistic that the IG will complete its reform agenda and pave the way for a new, democratically elected government. In the meantime, I urge my fellow countrymen to be patient for a few more months and observe the direction the country takes.”

So let’s use the two-month anniversary to celebrate the early achievements of the government led by Professor Yunus, and to thank these two statesmen for commenting on them so eloquently. They captured the sense of pride and optimism so common in Bangladesh today due to a new style of leadership and early progress on fundamental and badly-needed reforms.

Professor Yunus arrived last night in New York for the U.N. General Assembly and related festivities. Today, he was greeted warmly by President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau, World Bank president Ajay Banga, and many others. He made a surprise appearance at the Clinton Global Initiative. A substantive and energizing week is shaping up that will surely make Bangladesh and Bangladeshis proud.

In the meantime, Alex Counts, a longtime ally of Professor Yunus, had an important op-ed published about his weeks in Bangladesh this past summer where he witnessed the “Monsoon Revolution” that brought Professor Yunus to power.  He reports on visiting a village he got to know intimately in the 1990s, one with a large Hindu minority. (He wrote extensively about that village in his book Small Loans, Big Dreams.) During his August visit, he asked the people whether there had been hostility against minorities in the aftermath of the revolution, and they literally laughed in response. The local people — both Hindus and Muslims — added that they were very pleased that Professor Yunus was now the country’s leader.

For those who want to see Professor Yunus’ address to the United Nations, it will be at 10am New York time on September 27. It can be viewed on UN TV.

It is clearly a proud moment for Bangladesh. In fact, today the country is celebrating 50 years since it was admitted as a member of the United Nations.

When the government led by Professor Yunus completed its first month, the Protect Yunus Campaign published a review of it which appears below. Around the same time, Professor Yunus did a wide-ranging interview with DW, the German public broadcast service, in English. You can watch the interview here.

Just over one month ago, on August 8, 2024, Professor Yunus was sworn in as the Chief Adviser of the Bangladesh government, along with the 16 founding members of his cabinet. The Chief Adviser position is functionally the interim Prime Minister of the government.

In most countries around the world, there is a transition or at least a preparatory period where someone can gear up for taking on such an awesome responsibility. In the case of Professor Yunus, there was almost no time to prepare. The student-led revolution culminated on August 5, and he returned from a short and long-planned overseas trip and was inaugurated on August 8 after giving brief and widely praised remarks at the airport immediately after arriving.

Despite the many challenges it faces, his government has been doing extremely well. To wit:

1. The police returned to work, immediately improving the law and order situation and people’s sense of personal security.
2. He addressed the nation, and his 25-minute message was very well received. (You can read the English translation of his remarks here.)
3. He has taken tangible steps to protect and reassure the nation’s religious minorities, such as Hindus and Christians.
4. He had a positive call with Indian Prime Minister Modi, which has set the stage for further improvement in bilateral relations.
5. He has enlarged his cabinet and involved them in governing the country in meaningful ways.
6. He addressed the diplomatic community in one of his first speeches as Chief Adviser.
7. He helped secure pardons for 57 Bangladeshis arrested in the United Arab Emirates related to their rallying to support the Monsoon Revolution in August.

Bangladeshis understand that Professor Yunus walked into a difficult situation, with the economy on shaky footing and billions of dollars having been stolen by the prior regime and their cronies.

It is unfortunate that some commentators have been trying to create the impression of widespread attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindus. Some speculate that the stolen billions are being used to promote false and exaggerated claims of persecution through advertising. Fortunately, there has been some good reporting on the facts, including this article by the BBC. Obviously, even one extra-judicial death is one too many. But when you look at the confirmed numbers of deaths and the fact that even those few appear to be politically motivated (rather than based on religion), it puts the matter in a different light. One must also consider that Professor Yunus has been taking all the necessary steps to protect and reassure minority groups, consistent with this lifelong approach to respecting all people regardless of religion, caste, ethnicity, or any other consideration.

The Protect Yunus Campaign is in the process of rebranding itself in this new era, where we are going to be focusing on supporting Professor Yunus and Bangladesh. Expect a new website and new social media handles in the days ahead.

One of our early successes was orchestrating a message of support from 198 global leaders including 92 Nobel laureates and Barack Obama that was published on September 4 online, as part of a widely-circulated news release, and in a full-page ad in the Washington Post. The short and poignant message, which is reproduced in its entirety below, was covered widely in Bangladesh (including in this article in the Daily Star that termed the letter a “major show of international support”). It was seen as a vital vote of confidence at the international level for the government led by Professor Yunus.  

We the undersigned are excited to publicly share our congratulations and heartfelt good wishes to Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, the new interim Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Professor Yunus, like others in Bangladesh, has suffered under the yoke of autocracy. Today, thanks to the power of a democratic and student-led protest, that autocracy has been replaced by hope. As Professor Yunus has said, Bangladesh is now enjoying its second liberation, and it has the chance to fulfill its great potential as a nation.  We have been proud to have supported Professor Yunus over the years. It is the beginning of an exciting new dawn for Bangladesh, and we wish him and the people of Bangladesh peace and success in the months and years ahead.   We are excited to see Professor Yunus finally free to work for the uplift of the entire country, especially the most marginalized, a calling he has pursued with great vigor and success across six decades. Just as the nation’s young people have inspired him, we know that he will inspire them to play a leadership role in bringing a bright new future to Bangladesh. We are also confident that he will inspire millions of young people around the world, including those in the Bangladeshi diaspora, to improve society for the better. We applaud the interim government’s commitment to bring free and fair elections back to Bangladesh and its commitment to allowing democracy to flourish.   We stand ready to help in any way we can to support the efforts of Bangladesh and the interim government to lead the world in creating a new and better civilization, as Professor Yunus has repeatedly called for.

Citizens around the world were encouraged to add their names as signatories of the letter, and many have already responded by doing so. In order to add your name, click here.

Next up will be Professor Yunus’ trip to New York to address the United Nations later this month, a trip for which he promised to take a “small, functional delegation” as compared to the bloated ones that accompanied previous Prime Ministers. Clearly, Professor Yunus is demonstrating a different style of leadership that is resonating well with the vast majority of Bangladeshis. To take one example, veteran journalist Shayan S. Khan, the Executive Editor of the Dhaka Courier, wrote this on his Facebook page after Dr. Yunus’ address to the nation: “ “That was all-business from Dr. Y, said all the right things with sincerity and resolve. How beautiful not to hear a political speech laced with cult worship, distorted history and ‘Me Me Me’ – the first person was always plural -‘We’. And didn’t evade the difficult question of how long they plan to stay. Carry on Professor…”

In the wake of the unprecedented student-led revolution in Bangladesh that culminated in the fall of the autocratic regime led by Sheikh Hasina and the installation of an interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus, people throughout the world have been expressing their excitement and willingness to support the new regime and the Bangladeshi people. Students around the world have drawn inspiration from the courage displayed by their peers in Bangladesh, and mourned those who were lost in the struggle for freedom. Now, 198 global leaders including 92 Nobel laureates and Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, have added their own message of congratulations and support. The statement below was released on September 4, 2024 online, in a full-page ad in the Washington Post, and through a press release. Citizens who want to signal their own solidarity with the interim government in Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi people can add their names to those of the global leaders by clicking here. 

A Message to the People of Bangladesh and Citizens of Goodwill Throughout the World

We the undersigned are excited to publicly share our congratulations and heartfelt good wishes to Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, the new interim Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Professor Yunus, like others in Bangladesh, has suffered under the yoke of autocracy. Today, thanks to the power of a democratic and student-led protest, that autocracy has been replaced by hope. As Professor Yunus has said, Bangladesh is now enjoying its second liberation, and it has the chance to fulfill its great potential as a nation.  We have been proud to have supported Professor Yunus over the years. It is the beginning of an exciting new dawn for Bangladesh, and we wish him and the people of Bangladesh peace and success in the months and years ahead.   We are excited to see Professor Yunus finally free to work for the uplift of the entire country, especially the most marginalized, a calling he has pursued with great vigor and success across six decades. Just as the nation’s young people have inspired him, we know that he will inspire them to play a leadership role in bringing a bright new future to Bangladesh. We are also confident that he will inspire millions of young people around the world, including those in the Bangladeshi diaspora, to improve society for the better. We applaud the interim government’s commitment to bring free and fair elections back to Bangladesh and its commitment to allowing democracy to flourish.   We stand ready to help in any way we can to support the efforts of Bangladesh and the interim government to lead the world in creating a new and better civilization, as Professor Yunus has repeatedly called for.

Signed,

Nobel Laureates

Peace 

Barack H. Obama, Peace, 2009

H.E. José Ramos Horta, Peace, 1996

Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, Peace, 1976

Shirin Ebadi, Peace, 2003

Mohamed ElBaradei, Peace, 2005

Leymah Roberta Gbowee, Peace, 2011

Albert Arnold Gore Jr., Peace, 2007

Tawakkol Karman, Peace, 2011

Nadia Murad, Peace, 2018

Denis Mukwege, Peace, 2018

Dmitry Muratov, Peace, 2021

Oscar Arias Sanchez, Peace, 1987

Juan Manuel Santos, Peace, 2016

Jody Williams, Peace, 1997

Chemistry      

Thomas R. Cech, Chemistry, 1989

Emmanuelle Charpentier, Chemistry, 2020

Aaron Ciechanover, Chemistry, 2004

Johann Deisenhofer, Chemistry, 1988

Gerhard Ertl, Chemistry, 2007

Joachim Frank, Chemistry, 2017

Richard Henderson, Chemistry, 2017

Roald Hoffmann, Chemistry, 1981

Robert Huber, Chemistry, 1988

Martin Karplus, Chemistry, 2013

Brian K. Kobilka, Chemistry, 2012

Roger D. Kornberg, Chemistry, 2006

Yuan T. Lee, Chemistry, 1986

Robert J. Lefkowitz, Chemistry, 2012

Michael Levitt, Chemistry, 2013

Hartmut Michel, Chemistry, 1988

Paul L. Modrich, Chemistry, 2015

William E. Moerner, Chemistry, 2014

John C. Polanyi, Chemistry, 1986

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Chemistry, 2016

Richard R. Schrock, Chemistry, 2005

Sir John E. Walker, Chemistry, 1997

Arieh Warshel, Chemistry, 2013

Sir M. Stanley Whittingham, Chemistry, 2019

Sir Gregory P. Winter, Chemistry, 2018

Economics     

Finn E. Kydland, Economics, 2004

Eric S. Maskin, Economics, 2007

Christopher A. Pissarides, Economics, 2010

Joseph E. Stiglitz, Economics, 2001

Literature                    

J. M. Coetzee, Literature, 2003

Elfriede Jelinek, Literature, 2004

Herta Muller, Literature, 2009

Wole Soyinka, Literature, 1986

Medicine                    

Werner Arber, Medicine, 1978

David Baltimore, Medicine, 1975

Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, Medicine, 2008

Mario R. Capecchi, Medicine, 2007

H. Robert Horvitz, Medicine, 2002

Sir Michael Houghton, Medicine, 2020

Tim Hunt, Medicine, 2001

Louis J. Ignarro, Medicine, 1998

William G. Kaelin Jr., Medicine, 2019

Barry J. Marshall, Medicine, 2005

Craig C. Mello, Medicine, 2006

Edvard Moser, Medicine, 2014

May-Britt Moser, Medicine, 2014

Charles M. Rice, Medicine, 2020

Sir Richard J. Roberts, Medicine, 1993

Michael Rosbash, Medicine, 2017

Randy W. Schekman, Medicine, 2013

Gregg L. Semenza, Medicine, 2019

Thomas C. Sudhof, Medicine, 2013

Jack W. Szostak, Medicine, 2009

Harold E. Varmus, Medicine, 1989

Eric F. Wieschaus, Medicine, 1995

Torsten N. Wiesel, Medicine, 1981

Physics                      

Hiroshi Amano, Physics, 2014

Barry Clark Barish, Physics, 2017

Steven Chu, Physics, 1997

Andre Geim, Physics, 2010

Sheldon Glashow, Physics, 1979

David J. Gross, Physics, 2004

Takaaki Kajita, Physics, 2015

Wolfgang Ketterle, Physics, 2001

Ferenc Krausz, Physics, 2023

Anthony J. Leggett, Physics, 2003

John C. Mather, Physics, 2006

Michel Mayor, Physics, 2019

Konstantin Novoselov, Physics, 2010

Roger Penrose, Physics, 2020

William D. Phillips, Physics, 1997

H. David Politzer, Physics, 2004

Donna Strickland, Physics, 2018

Kip Stephen Thorne, Physics, 2017

Carl E. Wieman, Physics, 2001

Robert Woodrow Wilson, Physics, 1978

David J. Wineland, Physics, 2012

Elected Officials & Business and Civil Society Leaders

Rza Aliyev, Senior Advisor to the Nizami Ganjavi International Center       

Joyce Banda, President of Malawi 2012-2014                     

Fábio Colletti Barbosa, UN Foundation Board Member                    

Marc Benioff, Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Salesforce         

Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister of Norway 1997-2000, 2001-2005

Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group

Gro Brundtland, Former Prime Minister of Norway, Former Director-General WHO

Sharan Burrow, Former General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation

Kathy Calvin, UN Foundation Board Member

Hikmet Cetin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey 1991-1994, Speaker of the Grand National  Assembly 1997-1999   

Julio Cobos, Vice President of Argentina 2007-2011

Emil Constantinescu, President of Romania 1996-2000

Elizabeth M. Cousens, President & CEO, UN Foundation

Mirko Cvetkovic, Prime Minister of Serbia 2008-2012

Sam Daley-Harris, Founder, RESULTS and Civic Courage

Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Roméo Dallaire, Founder, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security

Abigail E. Disney, Filmmaker

Susan Elliott, President & CEO National Committee on American Foreign Policy  

Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador 2017-2018; Minister of Defense 2012-2014

Emmanuel Faber, Chair, International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)

Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria 2000-2004; European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy 2004-2009; European  Commissioner for Trade and European Neighborhood Policy 2009-2010

Christiana Figueres, Founding Partner, Global Optimism

Vicente Fox, Former President of Mexico

Ron Garan, Former NASA Astronaut

Kul Gautam, Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary General of the UN

Ryan Gellert, CEO, Patagonia

Pamela Gillies, Former Vice Chancellor and Professor Emerita, Glasgow Caledonian University

Peter C. Goldmark Jr., Former CEO Rockefeller Foundation and International Herald Tribune

Justice Richard Goldstone, South African Former Judge and Former Chief Prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, President of Croatia 2015-2020

Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of Mauritius 2015-2018  

John Hewko, CEO, Rotary International

Andre Hoffmann, Vice Chair, Roche Holding AG                

Chad Holliday, Chair, Mission Possible Partnership             

Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO, Thrive Global

Mo Ibrahim, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

Ilaha Ibrahimli, Deputy Secretary General Nizami Ganjavi International Center

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoghlu, Secretary-General OIC 2004-2014

Mladen Ivanic, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014-2018

Ivo Josipovic, President of Croatia 2010-2015

Ilham Kadri, CEO, Syensqo

Mats Karlsson, Former Vice President of the World Bank   

Baroness Helena Kennedy, KC, Member of the House of Lords UK

Ted Kennedy Jr.

Kerry Kennedy, President, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

Joseph D. Kenner

Vinod Khosla, Venture Capitalist

Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations

Csaba Korosi, 77th President of the UN General Assembly

Jadranka Kosor, Prime Minister of Croatia 2009-2011         

Leonid Kuchma, President of Ukraine 1994-2005    

Aleksandr Kwasniewski, President of Poland 1995-2005     

Zlatko Lagumdižja, Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2001-2002, Deputy Prime Minister 1993-1996, 2012-2015

Guilherme Leal, Co-Founder, Natura Cosmeticos, B Team Leader

Dr. Frannie Léautier, Senior Partner and CEO, Southbridge Group

Annie Lennox, Singer, Songwriter, and Activist

Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium 2008, 2009-2011

Isabelle de Leyritz, Former CEO, Engie; Co-founder and CEO, Blunomy

Andrew Liveris, Chairman Emeritus and Former CEO, Dow Chemical

Eugene A. Ludwig, Founder and Former CEO and Chairman, Promontory Financial Group; Former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency 

Igor Luksic, Prime Minister of Montenegro 2010-2012

Susana Malcorra, Former Foreign Minister of Argentina

Moussa Mara, Prime Minister of Mali 2014-2015     

Paul Maritz, Former CEO of VMWare

Rexhep Meidani, President of Albania 1997-2002

Aichatao Mindadaoudou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger 1999-2010; UN Special Representative for Cote d’Ivoire

Hiro Mizuno, UN Special Envoy on Innovative Finance and Sustainable Investments

Juan Carlos Mora, CEO, Bancolombia

Michael Moskow, Former President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago            

Amre Moussa, Secretary-General, Arab League 2001-2011; Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt  1991-2001

Rovshan Muradov, Secretary General Nizami Ganjavi International Center

Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta 2013-2020

Jean Oelwang, Founding CEO and President, Virgin United

Djoomart Otorbayev, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan 2014-2015

Dr. Michael Otto, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Otto Group

Milica Pejanovic-Durisic, Minister of Defense of Montenegro 2012-2016

Jan Piercy, Former US Executive Director, The World Bank

Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria 2012-2017

Paul Polman, Business Leader

Robert Post, Professor of Law, Yale Law School

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta 2014-2019 

Donald Riegle, Former U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan; Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development

Sir Malcom Rifkind, KC, Former UK Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary

Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, Former Secretary General, NATO

Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland

Ellen Seidman, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute

Hedva Ser, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO

Ismail Serageldin, Co-Chair Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Vice President of the World Bank 1992-2000

Rosalia Arteago Serrano, President of Ecuador 1997

Wayne Silby, Founder, Calvert Investments

Yeardley Smith, Actress

Petar Stoyanov, President of Bulgaria 1997-2002

Laimdota Straujuma, Prime Minister of Latvia 2014-2016

Dr. David Suzuki, Prof. Emeritus, University of British Columbia

Boris Tadic, President of Serbia 2004-2012

Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President of Liberia 2018-2024

Ted Turner, Founder and Chair of the UN Foundation Board of Directors; Chairman, Turner Enterprises; Founder, CNN

Cassam Uteem, President of Mauritius 1992-1997  

Melanne S. Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University

HE Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Co-chair Nizami Ganjavi International Center, President of Latvia 1999-2007

Filip Vujanović, President of Montenegro 2003-2018

Jimmy Wales, Co-Founder and Internet Entrepreneur, Wikipedia

Timothy E. Wirth, Former U.S. Senator, Colorado

Antonio Zanardi Landi, Former Diplomatic Adviser to the Italian President; Ambassador of the Military Order of Malta to Vatican

Valdis Zatlers, President of Latvia 2007-2011

Note: A version of this message published in the Washington Post inaccurately referred to signer Joseph D. Kenner as being currently associated with Greyston. We regret the error, which was due entirely to a mistake made by the Protect Yunus Campaign.

Supportive Citizens

Philippe Axus, Saint-Verain, France

Golam Mortaza, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Sabrina Quaraishi, Washington DC, USA

Michael Wirtz, Cologne, Germany

Jason Bajaj, Hong Kong

Nasser Alkahtani, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Mohammad Ullah, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Muhammad Abdullah Al Farabi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abdul Kadir, Saarbrücken, Germany

Jayadur Rahman, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Mohammad Zahinul Islam, Dhaka, Bangladesh

MD Siam, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ketan Raikar, Mumbai, India

MD YUSUF, Buffalo, NY, USA

Shah Kawthar Mustafa Abululayee, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Qudsia Huda, Geneva, Switzerland

Mohammad Nazmul Hassan Bhuiyan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Naushad Hossain, Fullerton, USA

Mohammad Imtiazur Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Syed Omar Faruk Towaha, Upmintser, United Kingdom

Faysal Ahmed, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Samiur Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Shafiqul Islam, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Major Md Yousuf Hossain (Rtd), Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh

Mohammad Ferozuddin, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Syed Arif Niazi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md. Faysal Hossain, Sonaimuri, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Zia Ashraf, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md Robiul Islam, Michigan, USA

Mahedi Hasan, Lubbock, USA

Ariful Chowdhury, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Fahim Zubair, Cedar Hill, USA

Md Nazrul Islam, Cumilla, Bangladesh

Prof. Dr. Aziz Akgul, Ankara, Turkey

Farhana Rahman, Marietta, USA

Mian Adnan, Albany, USA

Farhan Khan Chowdhury, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Gafur Abdul, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md Mostafizur Rahman, Jamaica, USA

Towfique Ahmad Khan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rezwan Rahman, Conroe, USA

ASIF RONY, San Marcos, USA

Farzana Khan, Johns creek, USA

Muhammad Mustafa, Austin, USA

Mohammad Shamsul Alam, New York, USA

Md Ahadur Rahman Dawan, Bangladesh

Mohammad Shamsul Alam, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Kerstin Rücker, Wiesbaden, Germany

Tawsif Dowla, Vancouver, Canada

Riyad Hossain, London, United Kingdom

Sadia Sultana, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Javed Helali, Pflugerville, USA

Murtaza Abrar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Prof Tapan Sarker, Brisbane, Australia

Aranya Syed, London, United Kingdom

Shahriar Anwar, Chandler, USA

Zakia Meraj, Los Angeles, USA

Abdus Sattar, Cupertino, USA

Nawarul Gafur Samin, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr. Ishrat Rafique Eshita, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sakil Saikat, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sagar Khan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mohammad Farhad Hossain, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Dominique V. Dauster, WIESBADEN, Germany

Abdullah Al Nayim, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Anjum Islam, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Iftakhar Bhuiyan, Melbourne, Australia

Shihab Quader, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nizam U MIAJI, Melbourne, Australia

Kawser Jamal, San Francisco, USA

Shayela Sharmeen, Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom

Naheed Atiq, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abedul Hoq Chowdhury, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Asif Hazarika, Sunnyvale, USA

Katrina Dunn, Perth, Australia

Julia Wilson, Del Mar, USA

Yeardley Smith, Los Angeles, USA

Filipe Charters, Lisboa, Portugal

Zabir Solihen Dipro, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Gordon Knowles, Brisbane, Australia

Kayoko Tsuchiya, Tokyo, Japan

Elisabetta Righini, Urbino, Italy

Zubaida Bai, Colorado, USA

Mohammad Imran Hossain, New York, USA

Gafur Abdul, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mohammed Mominul Haque, Toronto, Canada

Suresh Krishna, Bangalore, India

Farhat Shafi Chowdhury, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Sabrina Scherzer, Trondheim, Norway

Aitor Ojanguren, Madrid, Spain

Malcolm Hayday, Bedar, Spain

Cam Donaldson, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Tarique Choyon, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Marilu Germscheid, Lugano, Switerland

Algis Krupavicius, Kaunas, Lithuania

Marc Tolo, Lawrenceville, USA

Morshed Nasir, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dr. Azizur Rahman, Toronto, Canada

Sarah Anderson, Tunbridge wells, United Kingdom

Paolo Polidori, Urbino, Italy

Mohammad Saiful Islam, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Afsana Hye, New York, USA

ALICIA HAYDEE JUBERT, LA PLATA, ARGENTINA

Asm Amjad Hossain, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Adnan Zaman, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sanya Singh, Kanpur, India

Alamgir Hosen, Chuadanga, Bangladesh

Pritha Kabir, Khulna, Bangladesh

Joy Bangla, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Pie Phi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Azizul Hossain, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Taimur Arif, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Mostafijur Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Rafin Rahman, Narayanganj, Bangladesh

rafi khan, chattogram, Bangladesh

Shorif Miah, Moulvibazar, Bangladesh

MH Bappi, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Arjun Das, Sunamganj, Bangladesh

Anwar Merchant, Toronto, Canada

MOHAMMED BILLAL HOSSAIN, Jhenaidaho, Bangladesh

Md Razu, Faridpur, Bangladesh

Md Riaz Uddin Kiron, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Humayun Kabir, HAMILTON, Canada

Sakib Hossain, Feni, Bangladesh

Golam Mohiuddin Sifat, cumilla, Bangladesh

Raiyan Rahman, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md Yousuf Ahmed Emon, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Mamun Hasan, Chattogram, Bangladesh

ASHADUL ISLAM, Lephalale, South Africa

Limon Hasan, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Humayun Murtada Zaman, Ilford, United Kingdom

Md Azharul Islam, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Shorforaj Shipon, Bogura, Bangladesh

Mark Ocean, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md Riaz, Barisal, Bangladesh

Tawhid Hasan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Syed Rafsan Ali, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Gazi Golam Zakaria Jyoti, Dubai, UAE

Shah Mohammad Sharwar Shamim, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Md.Ismail Hossain, chittagong, Bangladesh

Juwel Ahmed, Muscat, Oman

Sven Pastowski, Herzogenaurach, Germany

Labib Ul Hasan, Thakurgaon, Bangladesh

md shohag babu, Sapahar Naogaon, Bangladesh

ahad alam, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Sofikul islam Dipu, Lakshmipur, Bangladesh

Tahsin Sarwar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Arif Khan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

OMAR FARUQUE, Comilla, Bangladesh

Abdul Halim, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Forhad Hossain, Fukuoka, Japan

Daniel Ayebare, Kampala, Uganda

Rahmat Ali Sagor, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ariful Haque, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Muhammad Sanuwar, Jawa bazar, chattak, Sunamganj, Bangladesh

MD Saif Ullah, Noakhali, Bangladesh

Md Sabuj Sarker, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Ahasan Habib, Montreal, Canada

Iqbal Uddin, Dhaka, Bangladesh

TAUMIC ISLAM, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Gias Babo, Cumilla, Bangladesh

Mahmud Jaman, Nilphamari, Bangladesh

Nazim Uddin, Saint Malo, France

Humayun Al-Rasheed, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Maliha Mehzabin, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Hasibul Hossain Shanto, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Faysal Ahmed, Parbatipur, Bangladesh

Unni Beate Sekkesæter, Tana, Norway

Anower Solim, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

Scott Leckman, Salt Lake City, USA

Mili Samira Hossain, Fukuoka, Japan

Sajid Kabir Saji, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Mohammad Yeasin, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Mohammad Ferozuddin, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nahid Ul Morsaleen, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Marjanah Boksh, London, United Kingdom

Moheshwar Amarnath Biswas, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Farid Uddin Farid Uddin, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Sihab Talukder, Lisbon, Portugal

Md. Firojul Ferdous, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Shahriar Hasan Abir, Chattogram, Bangladesh

Luisa Brunori, Bologna, Italia

MD AKTARUZZAMAN, Dhaka, Bangladesh

On August 25, Professor Yunus gave a well-received, 25-minute address to the nation from his office. This recording of it in Bengali has received more than 3 million views, and nearly 19,000 comments have been posted in response to it. Shayan Khan, the executive editor of the Dhaka Courier, the Bangladeshi equivalent of Time magazine in the U.S., wrote this about the speech on his Facebook page: “That was all-business from Dr. Y, said all the right things with sincerity and resolve. How beautiful not to hear a political speech laced with cult worship, distorted history and ‘Me Me Me’ – the first person was always plural -‘We’. And didn’t evade the difficult question of how long they plan to stay. Carry on Professor…”

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

My fellow citizens, I salute all the children, adolescents, young people, students, and old men and women of the country.

Assalamualaikum.

I welcome you all to the new Bangladesh, a product of the student revolution.

I pay the deepest respect to all those who died in the student-people revolution against fascism in July and August. May their souls rest in peace. I want to tell you something about the promise to build a new Bangladesh in return for their sacrifice.

I am saying today’s words, remembering those who have died, those who have been injured or fallen ill, and those who have lost everything and who are living in misery due to the terrible floods. We have taken initiatives at the government and private levels to stabilise the lives of the flood victims quickly. We have started discussions internally and with our neighbours to prevent all types of floods in the future.

Fellow citizens, you know that the students and people who led this revolution have entrusted me with a great responsibility at this critical time for the nation.  They want to build a new Bangladesh. I have joined the new generation as a friend in their struggle to make this aspiration a reality. I call upon all people of all ages, all professions, all opinions, and all religions to join this struggle without hesitation. 

Fellow citizens, the Bangladesh that we got in exchange for the blood of millions of martyrs and the sacrifice of millions of mothers and sisters have been destroyed at the hands of fascism and autocracy. You’ve seen how they’ve destroyed each of our institutions. Corruption has crept into the country.  Our country has been transformed into one where even the peons of an autocrat have done unimaginable things like amassing wealth worth 400 crore taka [1 crore = 10 million] through corruption. The education sector has been crippled, there has been looting in the banking and stock market sectors, and world records have been set in project expenditure. There has been unbridled money laundering, turning law enforcement agencies into puppets of a single party, snatching freedom of speech, snatching human rights—and this is just the tip of the iceberg. The fascist government has curtailed the constitutional powers and rights of the people to grab power. Misrule, corruption, injustice, oppression, and farce in the name of justice have endangered public security. People have been exposed to oppression and deprivation and discrimination. The voting rights of millions of people, including the new generation, have been snatched away over the years. By creating all kinds of obstacles in the way of the advancement of the people, the autocrat has taken ownership of the country in her own hands, and shared them with a few people in her family and party.  

Fellow citizens, we have to build the Bangladesh of our dreams at this moment.  I am committed to fulfilling the dream of the students and the people with which they jumped into the movement for a state without discrimination and exploitation.  I invite all of you to come forward with all your might to fulfill this dream today. Their dreams are our dreams. The youth have created a great opportunity in our national life. We urge everyone to take advantage of this opportunity.

After the head of the fascist government left the country in the face of public anger, we want to build a country where the human rights of every citizen will be fully protected. We have only one goal: a liberal, democratic, and non-discriminatory Bangladesh where all communities live peacefully together.  We are one family. We have one goal.  We are committed to ensuring that no form of discrimination can disrupt our dreams. 

Only two weeks have passed since the present government took office. Thank you for the support we are receiving from you in reforming the state in the first phase of our journey. We understand that you have high expectations for us. We are committed to fulfilling those expectations. However, the long absence of democracy—15 years of fascist rule—had left us with mountain-like challenges on almost every front.  But we are ready to take on this challenge. 

Today I have come before you to seek your blessings and cooperation on behalf of the government. I would just request that you be a little patient. Now we have to get out of the tendency to try to push that all our demands to be fulfilled through threats and litigation, and attacks. The glory and potential of the student revolution will fade away in these activities, and the efforts to build a new Bangladesh will also be hampered.

It is difficult to overcome this situation overnight. Our society is built on a shaky foundation. Rebuilding it on that foundation is risky. We want to build Bangladesh from here in such a way that the people are the real source of all power in this country. It is appreciated as a successful state serving the welfare of the people in the eyes of the world. We must be successful in reforming the state to honour the sacrifices of the young generation, students, and people. There is no other alternative. 

Fellow citizens, as you are already aware, we have invited the head of the UN Human Rights Commission to come to Bangladesh and start their investigation into the tragic incidents of use of force and casualties during the mass upsurge in July and August. The investigation will begin this week. Their first group has already arrived. 

We have already withdrawn most of the hundreds of false and harassment cases filed to thwart the student and people’s revolution, and arranged for the release of the students and other people who have been detained. People will be freed from suffering by taking similar measures in all false and fictitious cases gradually.

The families of all the martyrs of the mass uprising will be rehabilitated to ensure justice. The government will bear the entire cost of treatment of all the injured students and the public. To that end, a complete list is being prepared by the Ministry of Health with the help of two advisers representing the Student Movement Against Discrimination in the advisory council.

For this programme and to preserve the memory of the martyrs of the mass uprising, the government has quickly brought the process of establishing a foundation named “July Genocide Memorial Foundation” to its final stage. I request that all brothers and sisters living abroad send donations to this foundation. I have personally accepted the position of chairman of this organisation.

Fellow citizens, you have noticed that after assuming office, we had to handle the unstable situation in the law and order arena. With your cooperation and support, all members of law enforcement agencies have resumed work. Due to the extreme politicization of the fascist government’s administration, a large number of officials and employees have been discriminated against for a long time. We have already started taking corrective measures. However, it takes time to keep the administration moving forward and, at the same time, come to the right decision by following appropriate procedures. That’s why I request everyone to be patient. One of our objectives is to restore the confidence of the people in all areas of our government.

We have taken initiatives to ensure good governance in the banking sector, which has become an arena for looting and corruption. Skilled people are being recruited to help us do this. We have initiated initiatives to bring order to the banking sector, create a supportive environment for business, and bring the prices of daily necessities and inflation under control to make people’s lives easier.

The Banking Commission will be constituted for long term reforms in the financial sector. A vision for the overall situation and reforms in the financial sector will be developed, which will be made public soon. Quick steps are being taken to resolve the extreme chaos in these areas, including the stock market and transport sector.

A police commission will be formed with the aim of creating a police force that is oriented to the public interest, free from party influence, and accountable. Necessary reforms will be carried out under the leadership of the Commission by looking into the UN investigative report and in consultation with all responsible agencies and the public. Measures will be taken so that no one can ever again turn Bangladesh into a police state.

The free flow of information and freedom of the press will be ensured. Fascist regimes also burdened the media with factionalism and harassment. We are committed to ensuring people’s right to information. Existing legal and other barriers to the free flow of information will be removed. All oppressive clauses in laws that impede freedom of expression will be amended. This process has already been initiated by identifying such laws.

We have already lifted the unwritten ban on foreign journalists coming to the country. Officials have been instructed to issue visas to foreign journalists quickly. We hope that members of the media will continue their impartial journalism in this changing situation.

The previous government established extreme anarchy in the education sector. We will reform it completely. It is one of our top priorities. You know that all educational institutions have been reopened since we took charge. It is our commitment to ensure a creative, safe, and fear-free environment for students. At the same time, the work of modernising the curriculum will also start soon.

Local government institutions will be strengthened to consolidate democracy, and decentralisation of power will be ensured. Free, fair, and participatory elections will be organised by completing necessary reforms in the administration, judiciary, election commission and electoral system, the law and order sector, and ensuring information flow to make the student revolution a success. Its goal will be the beginning of an accountable political process that prevents corruption, looting, and genocide.

The present government has taken a clear stand against corruption.  All our advisers will disclose their asset details as soon as possible. It will also become regular and mandatory for all government officials gradually.  An ordinance will be promulgated to appoint the ombudsman, as promised under Article 77 of the Constitution, to take action against corruption at the state level. 

Now, let’s talk a little about the agricultural sector. In agrarian-dependent Bangladesh, it will be ensured that the interests of the farmers are protected, and that the farmers get a fair price for their produce.

People gratefully remember the way migrant workers supported the Student Movement Against Discrimination. Respectful treatment for them will be ensured at all levels.

The health sector in Bangladesh is one of the most corrupt sectors. Necessary reforms will be carried out in the health sector to ensure adequate health services for the people. All concerned in this sector will be held accountable. Initiatives will be taken to modernise hospitals, and the regular presence of government doctors, including specialists, will be ensured. We are determined to take the necessary initiatives so that health services do not remain concentrated in certain regions; we will ensure that people in all regions of the country get equal health services.

The current generation is much more aware than previous ones.  They are not only aware of the changes taking place in different parts of the world, but they are also leading the way. The development they envision is sustainable and environmentally friendly. They understand that development must not destroy nature. GDP alone cannot be the yardstick of a country’s development. Development that destroys and pollutes rivers, canals, mountains, forests, soil, and air is not sustainable in the long term. Our government’s position is consistent with environmentalists’ opposition to fossil fuels. There is no alternative to reducing carbon emissions to zero to prevent climate change and leave a healthy world for future generations. Our government will give utmost importance to the environment and climate protection. The youth community will be engaged in this work.

Already, various states and the United Nations have expressed support for the program of the current government. We will maintain friendly relations with all states. Our foreign policy will be based on mutual trust, confidence, and cooperation. We respect all international laws, including human rights laws. Various steps have been taken by us, including becoming a party to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. We will implement all regional and bilateral agreements and understandings already entered into.

Our government will work with the international community to find a realistic solution to the Rohingya issue.

We believe in national unity. With the aim of necessary reforms, political unity will ensure that women, children, the disabled, religious minorities, and ethnic minorities are all considered full citizens of this country and entitled to equal protection under our laws. Efforts will be made to ensure all their human rights and other rights. For this reason, I have appointed a special assistant with the rank of adviser, whose responsibility will be to promote national integration.

We have activated all the arms of the government to provide proper assistance to alleviate the sufferings of all the people in the flood affected areas. In the meantime, the advisers have gone to the area.  A control room has been set up in my office.  Post-flood measures have been taken, and steps are being taken to determine what needs to be done to control floods in the future.

The army, police, Border Guard Bangladesh, and RAB have been stigmatised by abduction and torture. They are the pride of the country. We don’t want to see the whole force tarnished because of some of their overzealous members. We want to identify the culprits and punish them. So that in the future, no member of any national force, the police, or RAB dares get involved in killings, disappearances, and torture at the behest of anyone. No matter what order comes to them from high authorities, they will ignore it, if it violates fundamental rights. In the future, any explanation that they had been compelled to commit such a heinous act by the order of a higher authority would not be accepted by anyone.

I have directed the country’s defense forces, police, and all other forces to identify and bring to justice those who are directly involved in killings, disappearances, or physical and mental torture. I have asked them to prepare a list of those who have disappeared and been killed. I have no words to console their families. We will continue our efforts to restore peace to their lives. I have directed all the country’s defense forces and law enforcement agencies to take all measures to restore people’s full confidence in them.

A committee has already been formed to prepare a white paper on the corruption, money laundering, signing of anti-public interest agreements, looting in the name of projects, and so on that we have seen these last 15 years.

I have met with ambassadors and representatives of donor agencies in various countries and will keep doing it. I request that they provide all kinds of financial and other support for building the country after the student uprising. They are showing interest in it.  We have taken measures to formulate our proposals for them and send them quickly. I have also requested that they take measures to release the funds immediately due to the urgent needs of today. I also told them that the situation we are going through is catastrophic, as well as a great opportunity in the life of the nation. I sought their cooperation so that we could fully utilise this opportunity.

Bangladeshis living abroad have played a very important role in this mass uprising.  The nation will remember their contributions.  We will seek their participation in building a new Bangladesh. 

One of our targets will be to ensure that every expatriate worker who goes abroad and returns home are treated with dignity and respect. Necessary steps will be taken soon in this regard. I appeal to all the people living abroad to send their earned money to the country through official channels.  This money is especially needed to overcome the economic crisis of the country.  We will take their advice on what measures will make it easier for them to send money through official channels.

The whole country is immersed in a sea of bribery.  Give us advice on how we can get rid of bribery.  Only if we can move forward with this work, I think this government will be remembered for making an important contribution to the country.  I promise that I will devote all my full energy to this.

It is our responsibility to bind all the people of the country into one family.  There will be differences in the family.  There will be arguments.  But we are brothers and sisters, we are parents.  We are not anyone’s enemy. We will not consider anyone an enemy for expressing their opinion.  We will not consider anyone an enemy because of religion.  We will not think of anyone as an enemy because of their gender. We are all equal.  None are above or below anyone else.  We want to establish this idea in all spheres of national life.

We need your help in a particular matter.  Since we took office, rallies have been held every day at the secretariat, around my office, and in different parts of the city. You have accumulated many sorrows over the past 15 years. We understand that. If you don’t let us work, all avenues for overcoming this sorrow will be closed. I ask you to let us work.  Give us what you want in writing.  We are not your opponents. We will do whatever is legally justified.  But don’t besiege us and obstruct our work on these important days.  Please explain to them that they should not obstruct our important daily work at this time to draw attention to their complaints.

One thing everyone is curious to know is when our government will leave.  The answer is in your hands. When will you send us off? None of us are the people to rule the country. We find pleasure in our respective professions. We have taken this responsibility at the call of the students during a time of national crisis.  We will fulfill this responsibility with all our might.  Our advisers are motivated by this goal and are working together as a team. It is purely a political decision when the election will be held, not ours. The country people have to decide when you will send us off.

We are here at the call of the students. They are our primary employers.  The general public of the country supported our appointment. We will quit when we are asked. We will also reform the Election Commission as part of the reform. We will keep the commission ready for an ideal election at any time. 

We have started various reforms. I would request that the Bangladeshi people start a discussion what the minimum amount of work we have to complete and what can be done partially.  Through this discussion, we can get clear direction.  But the final decision is a political decision. Political decisions will come from political discussions. Without this directive, we will not be able to move forward firmly in negotiations with donor countries and international financial institutions.

I assure you that we will not raise any question of extension from our side. We want the blessings of all of you. In the many days we are here, we want to ensure that every member of the advisory council can use their own talents to the best of their ability to overcome the crisis in the country.

We have all earned the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh in exchange for the blood of the students and other martyrs. We do not want to miss this opportunity due to our differences. If we lose this opportunity, we will be defeated as a nation.  We want to remain committed to the martyrs, the injured,, and the surviving students and people. We will not let this achievement be lost.  We have taken an oath to make our country a respectable, exemplary country in all directions through the opportunities they have given us. 

Finally, once again, I seek blessings from all the people of our country—children, adolescents, young people and old people, that we succeed in realising our dream.

May Allah help us and bless us all.

Yesterday was a rather surreal day in Bangladesh’s capital, in the best possible ways. 

At a few minutes after 2pm local time, Professor Yunus returned to Bangladesh from Paris and was greeted by his team and by various dignitaries from government, the military, civil society, the media, and student leaders. It was all broadcast live on national television. The reporters bought time for his arrival and short speech by talking about Dr. Yunus’ national and global leadership on microcredit, social business, the Olympics, and even Grameen Check (fabric woven by Grameen weavers that Dr. Yunus always wears clothing made out of)!

When Dr. Yunus went in front of the cameras to give an 8 minute speech, he did so without notes and with only about a dozen student leaders standing behind him. The television commentators later noted that neither his family, his colleagues at Grameen Bank/Yunus Centre, the military, nor government people were standing with him–only student leaders. It was thought to be symbolically important that he orchestrated his first statement in Bangladesh this way.

His speech, which naturally was in Bengali, was perfect. (You can view a video of the speech here, and read an English translation of it here.) Professor Yunus touched all the right bases, acknowledging the students’ leadership in winning the “second independence for Bangladesh,” calling for calm and no violence, choking up noticeably when he talked about the martyr Abu Sayed (killed in cold blood last month by the government, which was captured on a grisly video that has been viewed millions of times), saying that attacks on anyone for any reason were antithetical to Bangladesh’s needs right now, and calling Bangladesh “one family” while naming each religious minority as being part of that family and that they should be protected.

Furthermore, he called on each and every citizen to protect what he called the second independence or revolution. He lauded the students and said they had inspired not just Bangladesh but young people around the world. He said that the independence that had been won needed to be manifested in every home in the country. He said that if people were not willing to listen to his calls to stop the violence and the attacks, he would relinquish his role and return to his work as a private citizen. He briefly acknowledged the armed forces and government people, but again it was noticeable that they were seated, and the students were behind him. Here is an article that contains the highlights of the speech and related reporting.

Earlier today, it was announced that the Labor Tribunal conviction against him and three others that had been announced on January 1 has been dismissed. We hope and expect that the Anti-Corruption Case is not far behind in being dismissed.

A correspondent for a national TV station said that Grameen Bank sent its managing director and some colleagues to the airport to greet Professor Yunus. It is good to see a reconciliation between Grameen Bank and its founder in process.

The swearing in took place a few hours later and can be viewed here. Dr. Yunus’ longtime colleague Nurjahan Begum was one of the 16 ministers who will form the government with him. She was also a defendant in the meritless cases lodged against him. Also, two student leaders will serve.

While the typical length of time for a caretaker government in Bangladesh is 90 days, there is much talk of this government being longer, in part because the students have reportedly demanded it. They and others think that this interim government needs time to make some reforms before giving the main parties a chance to run again. One of the traditional parties is lobbying to have an election in 90 days, which they would probably win by default. There is not much support for that position, but their demands must be dealt with. Many tricky decisions lie ahead.

All in all, Professsor Yunus got off to a very strong start. It was hard not to get choked up watching it all, especially when you consider where Professor Yunus and those of us who consider ourselves allies were just one week ago.

Upon arriving at Dhaka’s international airport in Dhaka on July 8, Professor Yunus gave brief remarks in front of assembled dignitaries that were broadcast live on national television. Below is an English translation of the remarks that were delivered in Bengali.

Assalamualaikum. Today is a day of glory for us. The revolution through which Bangladesh has earned its new victory day, we have to put that forward and move forward with more strength. 

I wholeheartedly appreciate and admire the young generation, who have made this possible. They are standing right beside me. They have saved this country and given it a new life. And may the Bangladesh that we got today through this rebirth, can move forward very fast. This is our oath and we want to keep it. We want to move forward. We remember Abu Sayed today, the image of whom resides in the heart of all the Bangladeshi people. No one can forget that.

What an unbelievably brave boy! Standing in front of guns! No youth accepted defeat after they saw his bravery. They moved forward and said shoot as much as you can, but we will stand our ground. For them, the movement spread across Bangladesh. For them, Bangladesh achieved its independence for the second time. We must preserve this freedom and every home must benefit from it. Otherwise, this freedom will be meaningless. To benefit from this freedom is our oath and our sole promise.  We have to do it, we have to reach every home. People must know that the meaning of a free Bangladesh is the change in themselves, their opportunities, and their children’s future. Everyone must understand this.

And to make today’s young generation understand that the country is in their hands, and they have to build it as they desire. They were able to free us, they will be able to build the nation as they desire. And the whole world will learn how the youth can take the responsibility of the country into their hands and change it as they see fit. I always advise others to give up the old ways of thinking; we cannot be free with a backward mentality. This is not only relevant for Bangladesh but it is a universal truth. The power and creativity of the youth need to be used. It should not be limited to textbooks only. Power and creativity should be expressed. They have the power to build. Today our job is to clean up all the infrastructure for the students.  

There is something called government in Bangladesh, but the citizens didn’t have any faith left in it. They think of it as a machinery of oppression and suppression. Whenever the government gets the chance, it only exploits. This is the image of the government in Bangladesh. But it is not the right image. The citizens must be proud of their government, they must believe that their government will help and protect them and will be available for them in times of need. But the government never did any of it for them.

The government we will form will protect the citizens, and they will have faith in their government. The citizens will not be forced to do it, rather they will do it willingly and they will think of the representatives of the government as their own. They will know that this person will protect them. We must bring this faith back in the citizens. Then the citizens will work with us, they are afraid to do so now. 

Bangladesh is one big family and we want to march forward together. We want to clear all the doubts and conflicts.  We want to help those who have followed the wrong path so that they can find the right one. We have to work together. On our way here, I heard that there is a breakdown in law and order. People are attacking each other, burning down properties and looting them, attacking offices, and attacking minorities like Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, etc. All of these are a part of a conspiracy, these are not done by us. Our job is to protect them. We must protect everyone. They are our brothers and sisters, we must protect them and bring back discipline. Chaos and violence are the enemies of development and progress.

They are the enemies of the new journey that we have begun. We must make them realize it. It should be gained through discussions or legal actions. But we should not be violent and must not take the law into our hands. And our law enforcement forces must be trustworthy too. They must not be prone to corruption. We must restore trust. Restoring law and order is our priority. We cannot take steps towards development until law and order are restored. All of you have put your faith in me, the students have invited me and I’ve responded to their invitation. I have a request to the people of this country.

If all of you trust me and have faith in me, then please make sure that nobody in the country gets attacked. This is our priority. If I cannot ensure this and if all of you don’t listen to me, then my presence has no effect here. Then please bid me farewell. I’ll be busy with my own work. If you think that you need me, then please prove to me that you listen to me. If you don’t listen to me, I’m not needed here. My first request is that please save the country from chaos and violence so that we can follow the path that our students have shown us. Bangladesh has the potential to become a very beautiful country. We have ruined its potential but now we have to bring it back.

They will prepare the seedbed. It will be done by them and we will follow their actions. Following their suggestions, we will step forward. I request all the government officials, Army, Navy, and Air Force Chiefs that we are a family and there must not be any clash between us.

The Yunus Centre issued two press releases today, August 7. The first announced that Professor Yunus was returning to Bangladesh on August 8 in the afternoon. The second was an urgent message to his fellow citizens to remain calm, to calm others, and above all to refrain from violence. That message appears below in Bengali and English.

প্রেস রিলিজ

দেশবাসীর উদ্দেশ্যে প্রফেসর ইউনূসের বক্তব্য:

“আমি সাহসী ছাত্রদেরকে  অভিনন্দন জানাই যারা আমাদের দ্বিতীয় বিজয় দিবসকে বাস্তবে রূপ দিতে নেতৃত্ব দিয়েছে এবং অভিনন্দন জানাই দেশের আপামর জনসাধারণকে যাঁরা ছাত্রদের এই আন্দোলনে পূর্ণ সমর্থন দিয়েছেন। আসুন আমরা আমাদের এই নতুন বিজয়ের সর্বোত্তম সদ্ব্যব্যবহার নিশ্চিত করি। আমাদের কোনো প্রকার ভুলের কারণে আমাদের এই বিজয় যেন হাতছাড়া হয়ে না যায়। আমি সকলকে বর্তমান পরিস্থিতিতে শান্ত থাকতে এবং সব ধরনের সহিংসা  এবং স্থাবর ও অস্থাবর সম্পদ বিনষ্ট করা থেকে বিরত থাকতে আহ্বান জানাচ্ছি এবং ছাত্র ও দলমত নির্বিশেষে সকলকে শান্ত থাকার জন্য অনুরোধ করছি। আমাদের প্রিয় এই সুন্দর ও বিপুল সম্ভাবনাপূর্ণ দেশটিকে আমাদের নিজেদের ও পরবর্তী প্রজন্মের জন্য রক্ষা করা এবং একে এগিয়ে নিয়ে যাওয়াই এখন আমাদের প্রধান কাজ। একটি নতুন পৃথিবী বিনির্মাণে আমাদের তরুণরা প্রস্তুত। অকারণ সহিংসতা করে এই সুযোগটি আমরা হারাতে পারিনা। সহিংসতা আমাদের সকলেরই শত্রু। অনুগ্রহ করে শত্রু সৃষ্টি করবেন না। সকলে শান্ত থাকুন  এবং দেশ পুনর্গঠনে এগিয়ে আসুন। 

“অনুগ্রহ করে নিজে শান্ত থাকুন এবং আপনার আশেপাশের সকলকে শান্ত থাকতে সহায়তা করুন।”

——————————

Press Release

Statement from Professor Muhammad Yunus:

“I congratulate the brave students who took the lead in making our Second Victory Day possible and to the people for giving your total support to them. Let us make the best use of our new victory.  Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes. I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. I appeal to all students, members of all political parties and non-political people to stay calm.  This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities. We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and for our future generations.

“Our youth is ready to give this leadership in creating a new world. Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence.  Violence is our enemy.  Please don’t create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country.

“If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm.”

Bangladesh has achieved its second liberation, says Muhammad Yunus

The interim government’s new leader argues for releasing political prisoners and holding a free election

Note: This article was published as an opinion article in The Economist on August 6, 2024, as a “By Invitation” Feature.

Editor’s update: Since this article was published, Bangladesh’s president appointed Mr Yunus to lead the new government.

Over the past 30 years Bangladesh has become known for many achievements and positive characteristics: declining poverty rates; being the birthplace of microcredit and the Silicon Valley of social entrepreneurship and social business; developing the concept of holding elections under neutral caretaker governments to inspire trust in the competing parties; developing an industry that employs millions of women to export billions of dollars’ worth of garments to clothe the world; and becoming the eighth-most-populous country in the world. Only four languages have more native speakers than our national tongue, Bengali.

Unfortunately, we have also become known for having our democracy erode into autocracy, with sham elections in 2014, 2018 and most notoriously 2024 overshadowing the vibrant ones held in 1991, 1996 and 2008. No Bangladeshi younger than 30 has ever cast a vote in an unrigged national election. Over the past 15 years the government corrupted many of our institutions, most tragically the judiciary and education system, at all levels.

As a result, many of our talented leaders across every field have left for other countries. Those who remained faced the choice between pledging their support to the prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, or being persecuted. I chose the second option, and as of last week I had 190 court cases pending against me. One criminal case I am facing has a maximum sentence of life in prison. I was charged with forgery, embezzlement and money-laundering.

I have spent more time in courtrooms and preparing my legal defence than on the things that I love, such as designing social businesses that use market-based approaches to solve urgent social and environmental problems. I am hardly alone in facing this harassment; just ask the award-winning photojournalist Shahidul Alam, and many others.

Over the past month Bangladesh earned its independence from this autocracy through a student-led movement. Although it originated in opposition to civil-service quotas, it quickly galvanised the nation to rally around one demand: the resignation of Sheikh Hasina’s government. On August 5th the protesters’ demand was met when the prime minister fled the country. Like virtually all of my fellow citizens, I was overjoyed, even as I mourned the loss of more than 300 lives to state-sponsored violence against peaceful protesters and bystanders. We must commit ourselves to ensuring that those lives weren’t given in vain, but instead usher in a golden era of democracy, prosperity and unity for Bangladesh.

The next step will be to form an interim government that should release all political prisoners and ensure a free and fair election is held within a few months. I am willing to help support this process, and I hope other people will join me. We urgently need new politicians, and new leaders to step forward. Above all, we need young people who are not obsessed with settling scores, as too many of our previous governments were, but are instead intent on becoming a new generation of leaders focused on the future of our great nation. The student leaders who were at the forefront of our second liberation—after the war of independence from Pakistan in 1971—should continue to provide leadership in all respects.

I will wish them well and will continue to support them enthusiastically. I’ll try to encourage them to work towards creating a world of three zeros: zero net carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration and zero unemployment.

I am grateful to the people, institutions and nations that supported the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people during the dark years under Sheikh Hasina. Human-rights organisations such as Amnesty International and the Clooney Foundation for Justice have been especially helpful. Citizens around the world have made their voices heard in advocating justice, democracy and freedom of expression for our people. Members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, especially students and other young people, have worked tirelessly from abroad to bring justice and liberation to their native land. I hope some of them will return to help revitalise our democracy and build our economy.

Although some countries, such as India, backed the ousted prime minister and earned the enmity of the Bangladeshi people as a result, there will be many opportunities to heal these kinds of rifts and to resume bilateral alliances and close friendships soon. In fact, I hope that our liberation can revive the suspended South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation and make it a powerful force for integration in our region and beyond.

For too long, Bangladesh’s politics have been backward-looking. Starting today, let us focus on building a future together that springs from the second liberation that occurred on August 5th. A new generation of young leaders should emerge from among those who led us to this important new victory. Their energy and vision for the nation can help sanctify the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for this new opportunity—an opportunity that we must not squander. 

■Muhammad Yunus is a Nobel prizewinning economist and microfinance pioneer.

The Prime Minister has resigned, and an interim government is being formed. All of us associated with the Protect Yunus Campaign are grateful to everyone who worked for this positive and necessary outcome.

The martyrs who gave their lives did not do so in vain. Much work remains to be done. We are sure that Bangladeshis will channel the idealism and determination they demonstrated today to do what needs to be done.

Joy Bangla. Victory to Bangladesh!

Things continue to unfold quickly in Bangladesh. Yesterday, at least 93 people died in clashes between pro-democracy groups and those backing the current regime. The government blacked out many social media sites and communication vehicles such as WhatsApp, and inexplicably declared a three-day national holiday starting today (Monday, August 5). In the meantime, the protesters announced that they were moving up their “March to Dhaka” to today.

Even amidst such carnage, there were some hopeful signs. Professor Yunus’ interview with The Indian Express, a leading Indian newspaper, was published. It is worth a read, as it spells out for those unfamiliar with what is happening and what it all means, and also what India, Bangladesh’s largest and most influential neighbor, could do to address the crisis.

In another positive sign, the Bangladesh University Teachers’ Network proposed a process for managing the complex transition from the resignation of the current government to a democratically elected one by having a well-designed interim government. They are to be commended for trying to suggest a decent pathway.

Furthermore, retired army officers led by the former chief of the army staff expressed concern for the unnecessary loss of life, and about the fact that the country’s border is largely undefended since Border Guard Bangladesh has been called in as a paramilitary force to suppress the protesters. He added that they retired officers message to the government was: “Do not destroy the good standing of the armed forces by keeping them engaged in a disgraceful campaign.” And the current Chief of Army General Staff has been quietly but noticably distancing himself from the policies of the government with cryptic statements like those in this article.

These developments merited another article in the New York Times co-authored by its Delhi bureau chief, Mujib Mashal.

And if the reaction to this tweet is any indication, the Bangladeshi diaspora is playing an increasingly active and impassioned role in demanding justice in the country. Expect them to continue to creatively engage in the battles for democracy and justice.

Yet, the Prime Minister continues to push for a violent response, calling for dealing with the protesters with an “iron hand,” as described in the headline of this Daily Star article. What comes next is anyone’s guess. But no matter how many lives are tragically lost in the process, the end of the current government seems likely if not assured at this point.

As we have emphasized on this blog since it was launched in 2017, the persecution of Professor Yunus and the mistreatment of the people of Bangladesh by their government are interrelated stories. In fact, the attacks against Yunus have come to symbolize the overall misrule of the country by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In July 2024, the discontent boiled over when the nation’s HIgh Court reinstated quotas for coveted civil service jobs for the children and grandchildren of those who fought for Bangladeshi’s independence war in 1971. By way of background, there have been previous protests about these quotas, which led Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to abolish them in 2018. But once again, Hasina has had the supposedly independent judiciary do her dirty work by reinstating them on June 5, 2024, presumably to mollify her hard core supporters. When that backfired by leading to massive student protests in July and then the deaths of scores of young people and their sympathizers at the hands of the police, paramilitaries, and thugs associated with the ruling party, the court reversed itself and nearly eliminated the quotas entirely. It is amazing how jurisprudence can shift in a matter of weeks when the survival of a hated Prime Minister is hanging in the balance!

But by the time the quotas were nearly abolished again, the country was enflamed by the needless deaths (at least 200 and perhaps as many as 1,000), many more injuries, the imprisonment of around 10,000 students and opposition politicians, curfews and the on-again, off-again Internet and social media blackout imposed by the government. The business community decried the impact on commerce, especially those that required access to the Internet and transit of finished goods to the country’s ports. The protests evolved to be against not just the quotas, but against the entire regime which was increasingly being referred to as “fascist.”

Once the government opened up communications, many tragic stories – including shocking videos of unarmed protesters being assaulted and shot – emerged, further enraging the populace. Lame efforts to excuse the behavior of the government and its allies were mocked and derided. For example, a video emerged of young man named Abu Sayed in Rangpur (a northern district) playfully taunting police from a distance (in a manner that in no way threatened them) and then being shot dead in cold blood by the very police that should have been protecting him and his right to protest peacefully. Then, in an effort to evade responsibility, the authorities initially pinned the blame for his death on a 16-year-old whom they laughably accused of causing Sayed’s death by throwing stones at him. (This is despite the Daily Star reporting that it was “clear as daylight” from video evidence that the police had shot him.) The boy spent 13 days in prison before being released on bail.

The Daily Star among others reported on Sayed’s death, writing, “In two video clips, verified by Amnesty International, at least two police officers fired 12-gauge shotguns directly at him from across the street. Sayed clutched his chest on impact, and the officers fired at least two more times. Amnesty International used satellite images to geolocate the positions of Sayed and the police officers and found that they were at a distance of about 15 meters during the shooting. Also, Sayed posed no apparent physical threat to the police, Amnesty International said in a statement on July 18, adding that the police’s attack on Sayed was reckless and unprovoked. Sayed’s death certificate said he was ‘brought dead’ to the hospital.”

In the meantime, UNICEF has released a statement condemning the deaths of at least 32 children, which the Home Minister responded to by saying that there was not a single child killed.  Who do you trust, a United Nations agency committed to protecting children, or someone installed by Sheikh Hasina to defend her misrule?

Students bravely resumed their protests at the end of July, which culminated in massive gatherings on August 2 and 3. They did so despite intensifying government efforts to intimidate and silence them. For instance, three student leaders who were being treated in hospitals for wounds suffered during the mid-July protests were “taken into custody for their own protection” by the police. After days of mockery and outrage by the public and the media, the leaders were finally released. In a growing number of cases, students, their parents, and other sympathizers have been boldly confronting police and successfully demanding that fellow protesters who are being taken into custody be released. Increasingly, the police have been forced to give in to their demands. It seems that many in law enforcement are increasingly doubting the orders that they are being asked to follow.  

The most common refrain of people in Bangladesh these days is, “The Prime Minister went too far this time and can’t possibly survive this.” For their part, the students shifted from nine demands including an apology from the PM and the resignation of several ministers to a one-point demand: the resignation of the PM and her entire government. The media, which had been guilty of self-censorship for several years, found its voice and began reporting aggressively on the protests, the resulting state-sponsored violence, and the growing disgust amongst the populace about the government’s tragic role.

In a classic too little, too late response, one minister apologized – but only for the Internet being down for a few days. The PM finally stopped her tone-deaf mourning of the damage to government property (while saying nothing about the loss of life), and instead invited students to meet with her in her offices, which the students rejected. But by the time these half-measures were announced, the government had lost all credibility and hardly anyone was paying any attention to what it said. Students called for a national noncooperation movement starting today (Sunday, August 4) to be continued until the government resigns. The inevitability of the fall of this much-hated regime is becoming increasingly obvious to nearly everyone in the country.

There has been some excellent international reporting on the crisis. The latest wave of protests was covered in the New York Times and by Reuters and the Times of India. The Bangladeshi diaspora has weighed in, issuing statements and convincing U.S. Senator Markey and 21 colleagues to send a strong letter to the U.S. Secretary of State demanding action, which received significant coverage in Bangladesh. This compelling segment aired on Al Jazeera featured a courageous student leader in Bangladesh and three young Bangladeshis studying abroad.

Professor Yunus’ statement about the bloodshed, followed by his influential interview with The Hindu (a leading Indian newspaper) where he called for new elections, has given him great moral standing among the protesters and the populace in general. The PM and her hapless ministers could only respond by saying that the protesters were being duped by people like Yunus and the leaders of the opposition parties. In fact, the government took the step of outlawing one of the opposition parties, which sparked additional protests. Actually, students – who have been at the center of progressive political movements in Bangladesh for decades – were in the lead from the beginning, but their courage in challenging oppression has spurred others to step up and offer supportive words and actions.

So where does this go from here? One can imagine it could play out in a manner similar to the fall of the BNP government in March 1996, when a month-long noncooperation movement that had broad popular support shut down the country for several weeks and forced the party in power at the time to resign. A neutral caretaker government ran the country for 3 months until a remarkably free and fair and (this must be said) joyous election was held and a new regime took power, ushering in several of Bangladesh’s best post-independence years.

Professor Yunus is currently in Europe, honoring a longstanding commitment to advance the causes of social business and the positive impact sports can play on society. He is also offering support and encouragement to those advancing positive change in his native land. By the time he returns to Bangladesh, he may be welcomed back by a country that has been transformed through student activism that stirred the conscience of an entire nation to throw off the yoke of authoritarian misrule, corruption, and oppression. Hopefully, the death toll will not grow, as too many young lives have already been lost. (Sadly, though, at least 52 more deaths have been reported on August 4, according to the Daily Star.)

People in Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi diaspora seem intent on pushing for regime change, whatever it takes. The key question is whether or not the Prime Minister and the people around her will insist on going down with a bloody battle, and how the country’s military will respond to any additional orders to attack protesters and to “shoot on sight.” Let’s hope for as peaceful a transition as possible.  

As Professor Yunus increasingly speaks up about the recent killings of students, other protesters and bystanders by the Bangladesh government and its allies, and about the need for new elections, the government finds itself beset by worsening crises of its own making.

For example, the European Union has indefinitely postponed the first round of negotiations on a proposed Partnership and Cooperation Agreement meant to extend Bangladesh’s right to export goods duty-free into the EU after 2026. As reported by the Daily Star on its front page on August 1, the decision to not hold the previously scheduled negotiating session “comes a day after the EU High Representative and Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on Tuesday issued a statement condemning the ‘shoot on sight policy’ announced by the authorities in Bangladesh.” If the Agreement cannot be finalized, Bangladesh would see its exports to the EU significantly reduced. The EU imports 58% of the total goods and services exported by Bangladesh every year, worth $24 billion in 2023.

The recent unrest and the government’s reaction to it contributed to S&P Global downgrading Bangladesh’s long-term sovereign credit rating from BB to B-. This follows Moody’s downgrading of Bangladesh in May 2023. According to an editorial in the Daily Star titled “Stop the economic downward spiral,” the other factors leading to the downgrade were the 35% decline in the country’s foreign currency reserves over the last 24 months, a 5.9 percent decline in exports in fiscal year 2024, persistent high inflation, and a precipitous recent drop in remittances from abroad. 

Meanwhile, protests continue around the country, demanding justice for those killed, imprisoned, and tortured by the government in response to the recent student-led demonstrations. 

The situation in Bangladesh continues to be both tragic and volatile. The needless bloodshed perpetrated by the police, paramilitary groups, and pro-government student organizations hangs over the nation, and the Prime Minister is losing any credibility she previously had through tone-deaf statements, appearances, and press conferences related to the killings. She has not expressed any condolences to the victims of her government’s killing rampage and their families, which is especially troubling.

Professor Yunus’ appeal to global leaders and the United Nations that was published by the Protect Yunus Campaign on behalf of the Yunus Centre (due to the government-imposed communications blackout that lasted for several days) has been influential, and has been picked up by leading international newspapers and media companies, such as The Wire, Bloomberg and Foreign Policy. Notably, the U.N. Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights responded to Dr. Yunus’ appeal by issuing a strongly-worded statement calling “on the Bangladesh Government to immediately end the violent crackdown against protesters and political opponents, fully restore access to the Internet and social media and ensure accountability for human rights violations.”

The New York Times published several lengthy and highly critical articles of the government’s response to the unrest, including one written by its Delhi bureau chief, Mujib Mashal, who had earlier written an in-depth critique of the Awami League government. In this latest article, titled “Longtime Leader’s Crackdown May Prove to be Self-Defeating,” he wrote: “Even in a country with an ample history of deadly political violence, Ms. Hasina’s crackdown has led to what diplomats and analysts have called atrocities without precedent in Bangladesh in recent decades. To many Bangladeshis, a line has now been crossed, and anger at the sheer carnage seems unlikely to diminish soon.”

Mashal continued, “The sustained protests that have convulsed Bangladesh this month are a backlash against Ms. Hasina’s formula for power: absolute, disconnected, and entitled.” The Times article was accompanied by a front-page photo of the aftermath of the carnage in Bangladesh.

The Foreign Minister fulminated against Professor Yunus’ call for an end to the killings, calling his actions treasonous, as reported here and here. The Minister was also forced to comment on the fact that the influential Chief Minister of the Indian state of Bengal (which borders on Bangladesh) commented negatively about the shedding of the blood of “helpless students.” A government briefing for Dhaka-based diplomats was harshly criticized by the U.S. ambassador for being biased and lacking in credibility.

The Foreign Minister’s charge of treason against Professor Yunus may become a pretext for arresting him upon his return to Bangladesh in a few days, something that we (and others in the human rights community) will be watching closely. (Speaking of human rights organizations, just today CIVICUS released a powerful article condemning the government’s violent response to the protests.) The Minister also complained about excellent, hard-hitting reporting by Al Jazeera by calling it “false and fabricated.”

The Bangladesh government is trying to project a sense of normalcy even as its credibility crumbles. Professor Yunus is in Paris, fulfilling a longstanding commitment to attend the Olympics there as a guest of the International Olympic Committee. He will return soon, facing new court dates on August 5 and August 14. It remains to be seen what condition his country will be in when he returns, and what will happen to him when he does.

An Urgent Appeal to World Leaders From Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus To Stop the Nationwide Killing Spree of Bangladeshi Students and Other Citizens Now in its Third Day

Due to the communications blackout in Bangladesh, the Protect Yunus Campaign is disseminating the statement below on behalf of the Yunus Centre.

July 21, 2024

Bangladesh has been engulfed in a crisis that only seems to get worse with each passing day. Students, and others protesting alongside them, have been attacked by the nation’s police, the Border Guard Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Chhatra League, leading to at least 200 estimated deaths and 700 injuries, some of them serious. High school students have been among the victims.

I urgently call on world leaders and the United Nations to do everything within their powers to end the violence against those who are exercising their rights to protest. There must be investigations into the killings that have taken place already.

The Internet and telephone service in Bangladesh has been cut off, so it is unlikely that my fellow citizens will hear this appeal soon or be able to make their own to world leaders. I urge people of goodwill around the world to add their voices to my call for world leaders and the United Nations to end this unnecessary carnage so that we can all get back to the work of building the self-reliant, democratic, and peaceful Bangladesh of our dreams.

The Bangladeshi Prime Minister (PM) has mostly given up on claiming that the persecution of Professor Yunus is not newsworthy, something she and her supporters claimed when global leaders wrote three open letters to the PM asking her to relent in her smear campaign and legal harassment of Professor Yunus, and had the letters published as paid advetisements in the Washington Post (twice) and the New York Times (once). New reporting by NPR, the leading national radio station in the United States, and Bloomberg, further drives home the point that the treatment of Yunus is newsworthy. In fact, it also underscores that his mistreatment is part of a larger pattern of authoritarian regimes abusing human rights, press freedoms, and democratic norms. (The violent crackdown on student protesters in Bangladesh this week is yet more evidence of this troubling trend.)

The NPR segment, which you can listen to here (the transcript is also available through the link), is a straightforward interview with Professor Yunus exploring his work and persecution. The interviewer asked if the charges are fabricated, which Yunus responded to by saying that said they are, and asked whether he can receive a fair trial under the current regime, which he said is impossible. The interviewer did not challenge either of these obviously correct statements from Professor Yunus.

The Bloomberg story is longer, and is composed of a detailed article, a podcast (the transcript of which can be found here), and a 12-minute video. For those who do not have a Bloomberg subscription and may struggle to view this coverage, let us take the liberty of summarizing them for you. (It is possible to register with Bloomberg without a fee and get one free article as a result.)

The article did a good job outlining Professor Yunus accomplishments, the recognition he has gotten for them, and his popularity in Bangladesh and abroad. It makes the important point that the earlier accusations that he “embezzled” Norwegian aid funds were proven false.  It also refutes the claim by the Prime Minister that Professor Yunus blocked World Bank funding of the Padma Bridge by noting that the World Bank stated at the time that corruption within the PM’s government was the actual reason. Finally, it implicitly contradicts the government’s claim that Yunus “begged” the more than 200 global leaders who signed the three letters of support (such as this one) by noting that one of them, fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams, is eager to come to Dhaka to continue to show her strong support for Yunus. (In reality, most of the signers were very eager to help, including venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, who is quoted elsewhere in the article saying that Bangladeshi government actions such as the mistreatment of Yunus “will reduce foreign direct investment very substantially.”)

There are times when the journalists fell down on their job of assessing competing claims or challenging the government’s false narratives. On the shocking occupation of the offices of Grameen Companies earlier this year, it simply notes that the police did not investigate and that the occupiers disappeared after a few days. The breakdown of the rule of law and the brazen attack this represented against the life’s work of Professor Yunus are scarcely broached. Elsewhere, the government’s claims that the companies Professor Yunus started are rightfully the property of Grameen Bank are not challenged, despite the fact that there is no basis for such expropriation under Bangladeshi law, as is described here.

When the Information Minister was asked about the Prime Minister’s public statement to a national television audience that Professor Yunus should be thrown off the Padma Bridge and submerged in water just short of death, he explained it away as “kind of a mix of a joke and anger.” That same minister said that he never saw that his Prime Minister desired the Nobel Peace Prize (despite widespread belief that she covets such recognition*), and, laughably, that “she would have gotten it if she had tried.” Tried to do what, exactly? Tried to rule her nation honestly while respecting human rights? That would be a start, but basic good governance hardly qualifies someone to receive such a prestigious award. We imagine the journalists figured that writing off such an unstatemanlike and violent threat as a “joke” was so obviously inappropriate that they didn’t need to comment on it themselves.

The journalists’ decription of the Grameen Bank could have been better at times. The claim by the hapless Information Minister that Grameen Bank’s interest rates were “very high” is not scrutinized beyond quoting Professor Yunus’ factual statement that they were (and remain) 20% or less, depending on the type of loan. (By the way, once inflation is factored in, even Grameen’s highest rates are effectively much less than the American middle class pays on its credit card debt.) Better reporting would have given essential context by noting, for example, that Grameen’s rates during the time Yunus ran it were not only the lowest of any large microlender in Bangladesh, but were one of the lowest rates offered by any unsubsidized microfinance institution in the world. The article should also have noted that even after the government exerted greater control of Grameen Bank after Yunus’ forced resignation in 2011, its interest rates have not been lowered. (If they were in fact “very high,” one would imagine that the new government-appointed chairman would have ordered them to be lowered on his first day on the job.)

The journalists’ commentary on the microfinance sector in general is also uneven, and perhaps a bit sloppy. Regarding the costs to microfinance borrowers, they wrote that “annualized interest rates were heading to 100%.” Better journalism would have noted that as early as 2006, global interest rates by microlenders were on average 26%, and had been declining for years, according to CGAP (an arm of the World Bank). The same paper notes that the very high interest rates (like the unacceptably high 85% charged by Compartamos in Mexico) impact only about 1% of borrowers globally.    

A more recent study cited in the book The Future of Microfinance (on page 19) found that in 2015, the median interest rates for 18 largest microfinance institutions serving a combined 86% of the global market were between 13% and 18% (including some that, unlike Grameen, receive government or philanthropic subsidies).

However, the article correctly cited Professor Yunus as a strong proponent of client-centered microfinance where interest rates are kept as low as possible and profiteering is minimized. In fact, the gradual decline in microfinance interest rates described above is due to a combination of forces including supportive public policies, media scrutiny, technology advances, operational efficiencies, and the advocacy of global leaders, none more important than Professor Yunus. The journalists themselves visited a Grameen village and were impressed by the evidence they found for Grameen’s positive impact.

Perhaps most telling, the journalists note the incongruity between the claims that Professor Yunus has embezzled millions and his modest lifestyle, based on traveling with him and visiting his home and family in Dhaka. The article dryly notes that, “If Yunus has laundered millions of dollars, it’s hard to see where it went.” To underscore the point, they mention his “modest” apartment and its “unassuming couches,” and let the reader reflect on the obvious disconnect between the wild accusations and the observed reality. For those of us in the Protect Yunus Campaign who have sat—often while sweating profusely—with Professor Yunus in the unassuming and non-air-conditioned office he worked out of for decades at Grameen Bank, that reality is all too familiar.

*In this 2023 article, a Minister seeking to curry favor with the PM mentioned how surprised he was that she hadn’t won the prize yet. Many others in her orbit say such things.

A lot has happened since we last posted to the Project Yunus blog on June 12. Most encouragingly, Professor Yunus made a triumphant return to Manila for Social Business Day and for other engagements, after not having visited the Philippines for a number of years.  In the past, he has served on the board of directors of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), an essential organization that made the Green Revolution possible, and he was honored in 1984 with the Ramon Magsaysay Award, popularly known as the “Nobel Prize of Asia.” (Here is an excerpt of the speech by the president of the Magsaysay Award Foundation at Social Business Day as published in the Daily Star, a leading newspaper in Bangladesh.)

His trip began with a speech at the Asian Development Bank that one participant said kept the assembled ADB leaders and staff “riveted.” Professor Yunus was the main attraction at Social Business Day, held June 27-28 at the SMX Aura Convention Center in Manila and organized by the Yunus Centre and the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWFT).  The gathering attracted around 400 delegates from more than 27 countries. Later, he was the keynote speaker at the Academia Dialogue and Three Zero Club convention held at Asia Pacific College on June 29. (Three Zero Clubs are groups of five young people who organize for and advance Professor Yunus’ vision of a world where there is no wealth concentration, poverty, unemployment, or net carbon emissions.)

On June 30, he was the special guest speaker at the 40^th anniversary of the Negros Women For Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), a nonprofit that spawned Dungganon Bank, one of the largest and most respected microfinance institutions in the Philippines that came into existence due to a former governor of the province of Negros Occidental meeting Professor Yunus at a conference many years ago.  

At Social Business Day, Professor Yunus and allies including McKinsey & Co. announced a new, ambitious digital health-care initiative called Shukhee (“Happy” in Bengali) that you’ll be hearing more about soon.

Before we move on to topics closer to Bangladesh, let’s pause for a moment to reflect on the trip highlights, incomplete as they are, mentioned above. A leading Asian nation honors Dr. Yunus in multiple ways as one of the great civil society leaders of our era, and people from as far away as Mexico, Brazil, and the United States travel to take part. Yet in his own country, he remains persona non grata due to what exactly? Non-existent crimes? Jealousy? Who really knows except the Prime Minister?

Anyway, since our last posting, Reuters published a story very favorable to Professor Yunus that was reprinted widely. In an attempt at fairness, the journalist interviewed a government minister who  made a shockingly false accusation against Professor Yunus. The article said, “[Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul) Huq cited tax paid by Yunus after the Supreme Court ruled against him in a tax-evasion case.”

The Yunus Centre, which often does not refute such things, did issue a response this time. It included this, “There was never a tax evasion case by the tax authority against Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus at any point of time. So the question of the Supreme Court giving any verdict on tax evasion by Professor Muhammad Yunus is totally fictitious. The reason that Professor Yunus went to court was to contest a legal point on a tax issue, whether donation comes under income tax law (because the Tax authority imposed tax on his donation). The case went up to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court agreed with the tax authority and Professor Yunus paid the tax. That resolved the issue. Neither party in the case was ever talking about any tax evasion. Tax authority never went to court on any issue against Professor Yunus. It was Professor Yunus who went to the court to resolve a legal point.” It concluded by noting, “The Honorable Law Minister completely misrepresented the case to the global media against a distinguished citizen of the country and against the image of the country.”

The Protect Yunus Campaign has done additional research on this matter. It turns out that the laws in Bangladesh about tax-deductible contributions to charitable trusts are somewhat ambiguous. For example, the age at which people can contribute to them is not specified; rather, it refers to a “suitably advanced age.” In practice, anyone in their 70s or older has been able to legally contribute tax-free to these trusts. But Professor Yunus, fearing that the ambiguities in the law would be used against him by a hostile administration, asked the Supreme Court to rule on his eligibility to contribute tax free. The Court ruled that he could not, and he immediately paid the required taxes last year without complaint.

In yet another article about Professor Yunus’ persecution that was highly favorable to him, Time magazine published, “From ‘Banker to the Poor’ to ‘Bloodsucker’: The Sorry Saga of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus.” It noted, “Yunus faces the increasingly autocratic government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, [who] pursues, despite widespread condemnation, a bitter and bizarre vendetta against him.”

It continued, “The truth [about this conflict] is complex, melding personal jealousy, a precipitous decline of democracy and human-rights inside Bangladesh, as well as waning American influence across a region suffering a distinct authoritarian revival. First, it’s an open secret that Hasina is consumed with jealousy that Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize given her repeated snubs.”

It added, “…whenever something goes awry, particularly involving Western dignitaries or institutions, Hasina points the finger at Yunus. In 2012, the World Bank reneged on funding construction of the Padma Bridge—Bangladesh’s longest bridge, connecting the less developed southwest of the country to the capital Dhaka and the north—citing ‘credible evidence corroborated by a variety of sources which points to a high-level corruption conspiracy.'” The journalist made many strong and accurate points, but this last one is perhaps the most important: Whenever the Prime Minister finds herself in trouble of her own making, she diverts attention by blaming Professor Yunus.

Upon returning from a trip to India where she probably received negative feedback on her treatment of Professor Yunus, and where she negotiated some highly controversial agreements with India that some say compromise Bangladesh’s sovereignty, Hasina spent a significant amount of time at a press conference responding to the Time article, which she said she had read. She did this instead of discussing her trip in depth, which was the reason the press conference was called in the first place. The PM flatly denied all of the criticisms leveled at her in the article, and then challenged Professor Yunus to a debate. Interestingly, the people she should be debating are her political rivals, but instead she has jailed many of them on trumped-up charges.

In the meantime, the labor court case against Professor Yunus will hold its next hearing on July 4. The Clooney Foundation for Justice is one of many independent organizations that have deemed this case to be without merit and politically-motivated. In their findings issued earlier this year, the Clooney Foundation’s TrialWatch report found “that the proceedings against Yunus appear to have been improperly motivated based on a combination of factors – the fraught political climate in which the trial took place, the many other cases brought against Yunus, the statements made by Sheikh Hasina about Yunus, the expedited nature of the proceedings, the apparent selective targeting of Yunus amongst many other individuals at Grameen Telecom arguably subject to the same law, the authorities’ unusually aggressive and potentially unforeseeable interpretation of the Labour Law, and procedural irregularities… TrialWatch calls on Bangladesh’s Labour Appellate Tribunal to overturn the conviction of Yunus and his co-defendants.”

The equally meritless “embezzlement” charges leveled by the Anti-Corruption Commission were officially accepted by the Bangladesh judicial system last month, leading to the proceedings against Professor Yunus that will begin in mid-July. Journalist David Bergman has exhaustively debunked the charges in this article and this follow up piece. In the end, the entire case hinges on the fact that after an out of court settlement between Grameen Telecom and its workers had been reached, the agreement was signed but the bank account to which the payments were going to be sent had not yet been opened by the workers’ trade union. So it was left blank and filled in by hand a few days later after the account was opened. The funds were then sent, exactly as proscribed by the agreement, to the intended account. Incredibly, that’s it! This is what the government’s laughably thin case calls “embezzlement.” It actually was a pragmatic effort to speed the payment to Grameen Telecom’s workers, or at worst a clerical anomaly that was quickly corrected.

Next up is the Paris Olympics, which Professor Yunus has done so much to shape in collaboration with the French government and the International Olympic Committee. As mentioned above, the case involving the allegations from the Anti-Corruption  Commission begins with a procedural hearing on or around July 15. There has been talk of it having weekly hearings from then on, which would prevent Professor Yunus from traveling to Paris where he would be an honored guest at the Olympics. It will be interesting to see whether the Bangladesh government blocks his participation and if they do, how that impacts Bangladesh-French relations and world opinion of Hasina’s regime.

In the weeks ahead we expect to see more stories that are favorable to about Professor Yunus’ work and the battle with his own government.

On this sad day when Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission has indicted Professor Yunus and 12 co-defendants, about which we will have more to say in the days ahead, we believe it is important to take a step back and take the long view of what is happening. It turns out that a respected Bangladeshi journalist has done this for us. The following is an English translation of a 16 minute statement made by Golam Mortoza, the editor of The Daily Star Bangla, a leading newspaper in Bangladesh, on his YouTube channel that has more than 82,000 subscribers. He addresses several recent incidents related to the persecution of Dr. Muhammad Yunus by the Bangladeshi government. Among other things, he refutes the charges made by the new chief lawyer for Grameen Bank about Professor Yunus’ role in the evolution of Grameen Bank. You can view the video of the original statement in Bengali here. It was titled, “Is Grameen Bank Becoming a BASIC Bank?” (The reference to BASIC Bank is meant to suggest that Grameen Bank is at risk of falling under a degree of maladministration by the government that it ends of degrading if not failing entirely. (This in fact happened to BASIC Bank in Bangladesh, which you can read about in this article, which includes the following, “The BASIC Bank, a state-run institution which was known as a good performing bank in 2009, is now marked as a severely weak financial institution. It is now waiting to be merged with City Bank, a private sector bank, under a recent regulatory initiative.The BASIC Bank serves as a textbook example of how the appointment of a politician as board chairman can lead to the downfall of a bank within only five years.” )

The initiative to rewrite the history of Grameen Bank is underway. A massive movement is taking place to erase the name of Dr. Muhammad Yunus from Grameen Bank from this history. Why am I saying this? I am saying this because today the Chief Legal Adviser in Grameen Bank, Masud Akhtar, made a statement making these false arguments. What he said recently is that Dr. Yunus was not involved in the establishment of Grameen Bank.

Grameen Bank was in fact founded by Dr. Yunus, but now this reality is being denied. Grameen Bank is saying that the organization began as a project of Krishi Bank, and that Krishi Bank is its originator and that the government funded it. It’s almost as if something called Grameen Bank fell from Mars or from the sky. It is not acknowledged that it took an individual to provide the thinking, planning, and vision to bring Grameen Bank into existence to benefit the nation’s poor people. Professor Yunus was this person, but this is now being denied.

The Chief Legal Adviser of Grameen Bank said all these things today. It makes me laugh because Grameen Bank has a history. How was it created? Grameen Bank was not created while researching microcredit. The initiative taken when the Grameen Bank was created, the initiative taken by Dr. Yunus, and that would evolve to be microfinance, was not the original plan. The legal adviser says that there was a project on microcredit and research was being done on that project. As a result of that research, it was converted from the Grameen Bank Project into a bank in 1983.

The credit is being given to Krishi Bank by the chief legal adviser. I can’t say anything but laugh at the fact that a legal ignoramus can give such a wrong interpretation without knowing the history due to his political bias or any other reason. If we summarize the history of Grameen Bank, if we summarize the history of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, then we need to go back to 1971, when Dr. Muhammad Yunus was in the United States.

Dr. Yunus was one of the most important figures for the liberation war of Bangladesh, and served the cause of liberation from the United States. His role has been documented in history books, such as one by Abdul Mal Muhith. Everyone knows that. This history can never be erased. When he returned to the independent country of Bangladesh, he joined the Rural Planning Commission, but he left that job because of lack of work there. He started teaching at the Chittagong University Economic Department. At that time, he was saddened to see the suffering of the poor people in Jobra village, in the area surrounding ​​Chittagong University, and felt an urge to do something for them. Then he undertook an initiative with the farmers of that region. He helped them with his own money. This history is not known to the present legal advisor of Grameen Bank.

At one stage of this agriculture project which was called the “Three Share Cultivation Scheme,” he also started helping the local rickshaw pullers and other day laborers with money from his own money. And he stipulated that what he gave them should be repaid at the end of the day or after seven days. It needed to be decided who will take the payments. Then a certain shop was identified to receive the payments, a tea shop. The borrowers will work all day with a little money, five takas, ten takas, or 25 and do something with it. After a day or three days they would repay their installment to that shop. It turns out that most people repaid the money to that store. He then took the initiative to provide some financial assistance to women to allow them to work. That too was his own money, initially.

Later on, other banks including Krishi Bank got involved, after the whole plan was presented to them by Dr. Yunus. Some agreed, some disagreed, some called it madness, etc. etc. So, in that process, he struggled a lot. Once he went and got a small loan, which means small money of 50 taka, 100 taka, 200 taka, then he came to Tangail and worked. Many struggles, many histories, many worn soles on his shoes. Gradually it emerged as a successful project, and in 1983 it was converted into a bank by an ordinance during the Ershad government.

Grameen Bank did not fall from the sky. Grameen Bank was not created by the Krishi (Agriculture) Bank, and no other person created it. The government did help, that is true. But the thought and vision all came from one man. That man’s name is Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This man’s Grameen Bank won the Nobel Prize. That man also won the Nobel Prize. There are not many such cases in the history of the world. In the same year, the Nobel Prize was awarded to Grameen Bank and Dr. Yunus as independent entities. This rural banking program is running in many places in rural America, rural Australia, rural Africa and other countries, modeled on Grameen Bank that Dr. Yunus created.

The current chief legal advisor and the current chairman of Grameen Bank have not been involved in the organization for very long. When the women were approached on foot to participate in Grameen bank when it was created, I don’t know where this legal adviser was. I do not know where the current chairman was then. I don’t know if they even know anything about Grameen Bank and its history. But even if they take the initiative to change the history, one has to first know the history and then take the initiative to change it. They seem to lack that basic knowledge.

Let me end by saying one more thing: this history can’t be changed. This history cannot be erased. Truth can never be erased. Bangladesh has proved this many times. Attempts have been made to erase political figures and political parties from history, but they cannot be erased. Earlier attempts were made to wipe out Dr. Yunus’ existence, but it was not possible. They are still trying to delete his history, but it can’t be deleted. Trying to remove the name of Dr. Muhammad Yunus from Grameen Bank is an impossible fiction. It can never be removed. By saying all this, only the people saying these things will be ridiculed.

Here comes various little complaints about Dr. Muhammad Yunus by Grameen Bank. The answers have given by Yunus Centre. In most cases the questions are politically biased and containing various accusations. And on behalf of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, every time specific answers are given by the Yunus Centre. But the specific answer that is given is never challenged. That is, the complaint was made and then the complaint was answered correctly.

Now a new complaint has been made by Grameen Bank, which was created by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In the 1990s, the Package Corporation Ltd., which is a family firm of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, was given a loan. The Yunus Centre has given an answer to this, correcting the misinformation. That means, Grameen Bank does not have the information of how much money has been given as a loan. Grameen Bank gives loans to the poor, so Dr. Muhammad Yunus cannot give loans to such institutions, according to Grameen Bank. The organization has asked him to answer for this. In view of this, the Yunus Center replied that Grameen Bank did not give a loan to the institution. Loans have been given to Packages Corporation with the money of various donors through a special fund. Grameen Bank did not give the loans.

The lawyer tried to say that the donor agency and Grameen Bank are the same thing. In fact, it’s not the same thing at all. It is possible to understand this without necessarily understanding all the legal aspects. It is a separate institution that has given a loan of Rs. 9 crore* 66 lakhs. Packages Corporation Limited signed an agreement with Grameen Bank for 25 years. For 25 years, Packages Company has done printing and publications for Grameen Bank under a 25-year agreement. And in that agreement, the company will not get any profit from the dividend, and the owners will not get any financial benefit. So Grameen Bank gave work to this institution, which did not get any profit from doing this work, and after 25 years Grameen Bank returned that institution. And why did Grameen Bank give it back? Because they grew a lot and they decided to do their own printing. The family of Dr. Yunus gave this printing press to Grameen Bank without any condition or financial benefit. This explanation has been given by Yunus Center contradicting the Bank’s claims. If Grameen Bank has any explanation, then they can surely say it. But it needs to be said politely.

Now there is a complaint against Dr. Muhammad Yunus from the country’s Grameen Bank. Now we hear about future complaints by foreign banks. They haven’t come yet, but let them come. When we go abroad, we see only respect for Dr. Yunus. The Olympic Committee took Dr. Yunus to the Olympic Committee to present it to them and wrote a huge report about it.

So here it is said that work worth hundreds of crores* of takas has been given to the printing company. The work was given by Grameen Bank at a reasonable cost, as stated by the Yunus Centre, and the owners did not get any profit. So where is the responsibility of Dr. Muhammad Yunus? You may ask why he gave this work to his own organization? Now this Grameen Bank was established by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. And if his family supports the Grameen Bank with a printing press for 25 years, then where is the problem? I don’t know where the problem is. I can’t find it anywhere. But even on his part, it has been said that Grameen Bank’s ownership change and Grameen Bank’s allegations have been made many times before. And they have been answered many times, but the same complaint is repeated and the Yunus Center responds again and again. It turned into a kind of game of hide and seek.

Grameen Bank’s lawyer made many more complaints. But what is very important about the target here is that there can be allegations made by the Chief Legal Counsel on behalf of Grameen Bank, and then the allegations can be refuted. But disrespecting Dr. Muhammad Yunus is contemptuous. It is perhaps necessary for the chief legal counsel to stand before the law and wonder who he is really talking about. What is he saying, and why? There is no problem with the legal advisors usually receiving money from the organization saying all these things and fulfilling their responsibilities. It is legally valid. But even in that there should be politeness, which we see missing here.

Muhammad Yunus, standing in court, talked about his regrets. He spoke of some of his anger, some of his frustration; can’t these words be said? Who said that a citizen of Bangladesh cannot say these words? It is said that Dr. Muhammad Yunus committed injustices, irregularities, and corruption. But so far, Grameen Bank could not prove anything like that. There was an incident about not giving money to the workers on time, but there is no such incident where he stole any money. Yet he was found guilty in court. I am not talking about that, it is at the next stage of the appeal, that will be seen at the next stage.

Let’s conclude by saying that in the current or past few years of Grameen Bank’s management, it seems that Grameen Bank is actually being managed differently. Suddenly Grameen Bank said that out of institutions created by Dr. Yunus, 7-8 institutions including Grameen Telecom belong to Grameen Bank. An initiative was taken to occupy these organizations by sending people to forcibly enter and remain in their offices. If it is legally the right of Grameen Bank to take over these organizations, then it should be done legally. What do you want to prove by sending people to vandalize these institutions? Again, Dr. Yunus protested this by holding a press conference and highlighted the truth. Then again, they fell silent and said nothing more about it. Again the new thing is the complaint to the Anti-Corruption Commission about the Packages Corporation. Dr.  Yunus replied and refuted those charges. So let’s wait for the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate. But in the meantime, Dr. Muhammad Yunus is being attacked. Why call him a liar? Let the investigation be done on this matter first.

Let me conclude by saying that Grameen Bank needs to be subject to an international audit. We need to see whether it is still being managed properly. It needs to be an international audit. It is necessary to have an international audit because Grameen Bank may be turning into a traditional bank. There is ample reason to be suspicious of the outward behavior of those in charge. No doubt I can claim as a citizen of Bangladesh that it requires an international audit. See how it is managed now and compare it to how it was managed before. There is no point in making new allegations every few days. It is just harassing people, and verbally insulting them. When Dr. Yunus’ reply cannot be answered, when his arguments cannot be answered, he is still insulted.

In what Grameen Bank is doing now to Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Grameen Bank is forgetting that they became the Chairman of Grameen Bank and the Legal Advisor of Grameen Bank only because of the institution was first created by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. They are forgetting this.

*A crore is ten million units of something.

Dr. Yunus gave a wide-ranging interview to the Bonik Barta that was published on June 5, 2024. Below, an English translation of the interview is provided in full. This represents one of the most complete statements by Professor Yunus about his state of mind during this extended period of unjust persecution, and has some interesting historical elements to it dating back to the Bangladesh war of independence and his role in the liberation struggle from his base (at the time) in the United States.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus is the founder of the microcredit institution Grameen Bank and the only Bangladeshi citizen to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. He was awarded the highest civilian honor in the United States, the Congressional Gold Medal, back in 2013. He is one of only seven people in the world to have won these three prestigious awards: Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009), and the Congressional Gold Medal. The ‘Paris 2024 Olympic Village’ was built at a cost of 400 million euros based on Dr. Yunus’s philosophy, and he is an advisor and goodwill ambassador to the Olympics. He is admired around the world for his contributions in alleviating poverty and empowering women. However, he is facing over a hundred cases in court on charges of corruption and labor rights violations in his country. In a recent exclusive interview with Bonik Barta, he spoke on such a variety of issues.

Your name has been in the headlines of the media around the world lately. Due to a number of discrepancies, you are being dragged to court, facing punishment. At your age, are these events collapsing your spirits?

More than damaging my spirits, they are disrupting my work. The work I wanted to do, and the work I had started, have come to a halt. This is tragic. Forcing me to jail means stopping all my initiatives. It’s similar to death. Why should I go to jail? I haven’t committed any crime!

When you founded Grameen Bank and Grameen Telecom, the government cooperated with you. Even now, you have been taking various initiatives. Are you getting cooperation from the government at present? If not, why?

Whether I am getting assistance or not, the journalists will be able to answer that better. As they are observing what is happening in the country and what is not. We are not being able to move forward with the major initiatives we had prepared for. Now, I’m afraid that everything I have built will be lost! There is a lot of hard work behind everything from many; it was not easy to build these things. Seeing them fall apart is the biggest regret for me now.

There has been pressure on Bangladesh’s democracy and human rights from the West for many years. After the elections, a high-ranking US official came here. It was said that they want to rebuild the relationship this time. Do you think that the pressure has eased somewhat now, or are they taking a go-slow approach on Bangladesh’s democracy and human rights?

What the West wants is no major consideration for me. The thing to consider is whether we want democracy, human rights and the freedom of the press, or not. If they want what we want, then that’s a matter of joy. If they don’t, we will keep longing for it in our own way. Why should we let them impose their will on us?

What they say at times does not matter. Each country will formulate its foreign policy according to its own rules. Our needs need to be clear, first. Whether they want or not, even if it goes beyond their opinion—our opinion will not change because of that. Establishing human rights is vital for us, freedom of the press is salient. Until we can establish these things, we will keep talking through multitudes of euphemisms. These words bring no change. What matters is that we have to establish these things ourselves.

You were in the United States during the 1971 Liberation War. You came to the country after independence. How far has Bangladesh progressed in nation-building in the last 50 years? Where are the problems located?

I was then in Nashville, the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee. There I taught at Middle Tennessee State University from 1969 to 1971. During this time, I was keeping up with what was happening in the country. There were six of us Bengalis there together. Then we got the news that Bangladesh had declared independence. Immediately, the six of us sat together for a discussion. There were discussions and debates on taking Bangladeshi citizenship and speaking on behalf of Bangladesh. After a long discussion, we formed the Bangladesh Citizens Committee and informed all the television stations in Nashville about our decision to take citizenship, and gave interviews. This was our first initiative. Then we formed a fund to continue this work and decided that everyone would contribute a fixed amount of monthly fees. Two days later, I went to Washington DC to build public opinion in favor of Bangladesh. Because, all the Bengalis residing in the USA were supposed to meet in Washington. Enayet Karim was then the Deputy Ambassador of Pakistan to the United States. Many of us have taken residence in his house by then. We started working for Bangladesh from there. Within a few days, two organizations were formed, the New York-based one called the Bangladesh League of America and the Chicago-based one named the Bangladesh Defense League.

Who were the main people behind these two organizations?

The world-renowned Bangladeshi-American architect and engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan (FR Khan) was the founder of the Bangladesh Defense League. We were in touch with both organizations. A newsletter was published under the editorship of Professor Shamsul Bari on behalf of the Bangladesh Defense League. We were very happy to receive the newsletter. I was invited to the Chicago conference and I went there. A lot of discussion took place there. Subsequently, the Bangladesh Defense League entrusted me with the responsibility of publishing the newsletter. After getting the responsibility, I used to publish it from my house. Since then I have published many issues. I published the newsletter from the declaration of independence till January 1972. It was a big deal for me.

I did another thing, which was to establish an information center in Washington DC. People did not know what was happening in Bangladesh, or why. Thus, everyone could now know what was happening in Bangladesh or why from this information center. Besides, it is necessary to inform journalists, senators and congressmen about what is happening in Bangladesh. That is why this information center was basically established. It was then the summer vacation of the university and I took over the responsibility of the information center during the vacation.

I kept working. The initiative continued. Each issue of the published newsletter would have had a cartoon of mine. Subsequently, these newsletters were compiled and published as a book by the Liberation War Museum. Professor Shamsul Bari and I wrote the introduction to this book. This was my major contribution until independence.

When the country became independent, I told the Vice Chancellor of my university that I would not stay in America anymore. I will now go to my homeland. I resigned and returned to the country in June 1972.

When you returned, it was a war-torn country. All around there were problems, lack of resources. You had a noble dream of changing Bangladesh. Fifty years later, how much of the Bangladesh you envisioned has been fulfilled?

After its independence, Bangladesh was identical to a bottomless pit. It was known to almost everyone as the poorest country. About 86 percent of the people lived below the poverty line. One cannot even imagine the plight the country was in. When the famine hit in 1974, the country fell into crisis even more. Bangladesh before independence was a Bangladesh full of poverty, misery and disease. Since independence, a gradual change has started in the country. Ordinary people came to play a very active role. The Bangladeshi people were known for their domestication, they never left their homes and villages. Those people started going abroad on their own. As a result, the process of migrating abroad started. The government also did not know what to do about it. In the past 50 years, people have started going to different countries from the villages. In this way, during this period, the people of Bangladesh started getting acquainted with the people of the rest of the world.

The second change after independence came among the educated youth. Before independence, Pakistani investors had set up various establishments in this country. In those establishments, university-educated youths used to work as pen-pushers. They could not go beyond clerical jobs. If they weren’t in a clerk’s position, they were in business. Suddenly a change began to take place among the youth. Due to the quota system of various countries, the garment industry has flourished in Bangladesh. Hong Kong, Korea, and other countries set up garment industries here. Bangladeshi lads started working there. Getting started in the garment industry, they learned the work. Later, they themselves started opening garment factories. This is how the garment industry began in Bangladesh. This industry itself has brought a huge change in Bangladesh. Bangladesh earns a lot of foreign currency by exporting garments. Women started working in this sector. Yet these women never thought that they would be able to work outside the house, or even work. They no longer accepted the various social barriers. Women working outside the home—this is a huge change in Bangladesh. Through this, women have been provided with employment, and they started to become self-reliant. Women from poor families are earning and sending money home to meet household expenses—this is an uncanny event. This marks a huge change. Because of this change, Bangladesh has been able to establish itself as the world’s second largest garment exporter today. In the last 50 years, Bangladesh has undergone a tremendous change from zero.

How would you assess the role of various NGOs in the Post-independence era?

In the aftermath of independence, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) initiated a wide range of activities in Bangladesh. Their presence is ubiquitous from village to village. Whatever each NGO worked on, they implemented it throughout the country. Changes occurred. Earlier, the country was ridden with cholera outbreaks. There was a consensus among people earlier that if people of one village were affected by cholera, the people of other villages would also be affected and they would be wiped out. So they tried to run away from the village in groups. This was the reality of Bangladesh. The International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), developed a salt-water-molasses solution as medication to fight cholera, which can be easily prepared at home. People get cured from drinking this. People slowly got rid of cholera in the post-independence period, which marks a paradigm shift. Initially there was no packaging of this formula, people made it themselves. Later it was packaged and marketed.

Grameen Bank brought loans for women. No one even had heard before that the bank would give loans to the poor women of the village. That too without collateral. At first, it seemed surprising to people. However, some appreciated this initiative, while others approached it with skepticism. The story of loan-giving spread from village to village. Grameen Bank not only gave loans to women, but also made them the owner of the bank. Initially the loan amount was 100-200 takas. How eager the people were to take only this amount of debt! People waited for hours, wanted to know what to do or what to learn.

Earlier, in the villages of Bangladesh, there were no toilets for either the rich or the poor. They were not accustomed to using the toilet. People responded to the call of nature behind the bushes. Then, Grameen Bank encouraged people to build latrines. Because in order to be associated with Grameen Bank, toilets must be built first. The bank also gave a loan to build latrines.

Then we moved to home loans. Earlier, inquiries about where the girls were to be married involved the question: how is the (groom’s) house? At that time, houses with tin roofs were extremely rare. Most people’s houses had roofs and walls made of bamboo and straw. Neither these houses could keep out the rain nor the sun. Grameen Bank began offering housing loans to transform these bamboo and straw houses of the poor into tin-roofed homes. While working with women, Grameen Bank encountered a problem—which was divorce. We then started thinking, what could be the way around to this problem? Grameen Bank informed the women that to receive a housing loan, they had to be the owners of the land. The women said they lived in their husband’s home and did not own any land. Grameen Bank then said, tell your husbands to transfer the land to your name, and then we will give you the loan. Since the husbands were interested in having a tin-roofed house, they reluctantly transferred the land under their wives’ names. We provided loans only to those whose land was transferred. Wherever we provided housing loans later, the question of divorce did not arise.

If the issue of divorce ever came up, the wife then could remind the husband about the ownership of the house and land, saying, if you divorce me, you will have to leave the house. The right to own land and a house has been a tremendous gain for women.

The garment industry was established, Grameen Bank was founded, and people began going abroad—a massive change has happened. The image of the homebound Bengali, the clerk Bengali—changed. Previously, Bangladeshis didn’t leave their homes. The Bangladesh we see today after 50 years of evolution was indeed unimaginable.

Remittances and women joining the workforce—these played a central role in the transformation of Bangladesh. Then, both boys and girls started getting education, and women began moving to the city. Women are even participating in meetings and processions in Dhaka city. It was even unthinkable back then that so many girls could walk together. Renting out rooms to women even when a man is not accompanying them is a great deal, marking a social change. This change has laid the foundation, which will go a long way.

Fifty years ago, South Korea’s situation was not much different from Bangladesh. It went through political crises and military rule. However, it emerged as an industrial giant through investment in education and health. What did we miss that prevented us from achieving such progress?

Many changes could have been brought about in our country. However, the change that has taken place is significant. Now, the foundation has been laid at least. We can go a long way based on this foundation. If you look at Malaysia, you will see that the native Malays were extremely poor farmers. Although the Malays were the owners of the soil, the Chinese held all the money. But by providing various opportunities and educational facilities to these owners of the soil, they have reached a stage where they can now govern the country. In all the areas,  their position has been established. Dramatic changes have occurred in Malaysia due to their politics. By focusing on education, financial structure, and health, we too can write these chapters of success.

You established the Grameen Bank to empower the poor people of Bangladesh. Now you are over eighty years old. At this age, are you thinking of doing something new for the empowerment of the poor?

I am doing everything that is possible for me. From solving banking sector problems to introducing the concept of social business, I am encouraging the youth to become entrepreneurs. I talk about building a world of three zeros. Our current civilization is a suicidal one. It is leading us to our damnation. We have to build a new civilization, a world which will be of three zeros—zero carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment. I encourage youth to establish a three-zero club with just five members. I advise them to work towards fulfilling the three-zero goals and reflect it in their own lives. Because it’s not enough to just tell others; one must first work for change themselves. That means I will not do anything that increases global warming, pollution, or concentration of wealth.

In Bangladesh, there has been a stupendous centralization of wealth in the name of development. Economists and policymakers in the country have all said that this will be a huge problem for the future of Bangladesh. What is your opinion on this matter?

The problem of wealth centralization exists all over the world. However, in Bangladesh, it is happening especially in the name of development. Now development means money going into the hands of the rich. As a result, the rich will continue to become powerful and wealthy. The powerful hold political power. This process is embedded in the existing economic structure. So, without changing the structure, we cannot escape this situation. Therefore, we have to work on transforming the structure. The concept of social business has come for this structural change. We have to do business that solves problems, not just business for profit-making.

Social business centers are being established in various countries around the world in my name—Yunus Social Business Centers have been set up in 108 universities across 39 countries. There, courses on social business are taught. Just as we have created a false world through education, we must also return to the right path through education.

In the 1980s, the youth of Bangladesh established the garment industry together. However, currently, there is an increasing tendency among the youth to leave the country, a phenomenon known as brain drain. Especially, students graduating from renowned universities of the country, such as BUET, are leaving the country. How do you view brain drain? Have the youth moderated dreaming about their country?

I support the youth going abroad. Otherwise, how would they know the world? I myself have been abroad and I find their going abroad justified, for whatever reason it may be. Many ordinary people of the country have gone abroad, which has brought significant changes to the country. Because after seeing foreign countries, they have learned what their own country has and lacks, or what would have been better to have. But if they are leaving out of frustration, then I would say everyone has frustrations. We all have to work together to overcome this frustration. No one will be forced to stay in the country. Every young person should at least go abroad once. Then he or she can decide whether to return to the country or not. There is no reason to think that going abroad deprives the country. One can work for the country even from abroad. It is possible to keep in touch with the country at every moment. Those who return bring back a lot of experience and personal connections. This is very auspicious for the country.

What issues, in your view, are creating frustration in Bangladesh? What needs to be done to reform the education sector in Bangladesh?

We are not changing society as fast as we could. We are only talking about development but are not considering where this development will take us. If we continue this way, frustration will increase, wealth will be centralized in the hands of a few, and the rest will work under them. But people are born to do creative work, not clerical chores. Now, when someone is born, it is said that they must be raised in such a way that they get a job when they grow up. Why do we want to return to a system of servitude? Doing a job is a form of servitude, yet we are born as creative beings. Every person is born as an entrepreneur. Yet, our education system says to hurry to educational institutions so that you can finish your studies quickly and get a job. But this should not be the goal of a person. A person’s goal should be to determine what their contribution or role will be in the world through the application of all their strength, or what signature they will leave behind. The current global education system is a system of servitude. We need to bring the right education system, where a student enters with the hope of becoming an entrepreneur and leaves as one.

You are getting opportunities to work in various countries, is the scenario same for  Bangladesh? Am I even finding opportunities in Bangladesh?

I am being attacked from all sides. I am spending time going from door to door at the courts. No opportunity is arising for working for the future. If I find some opportunity in between, I do it. But then suddenly another terrible attack begins.

Perhaps because the original charges against Professor Yunus that were taken up by the Bangladesh government’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have been so thoroughly debunked and ridiculed, what appeared to be new charges were sent to the ACC by the government appointees on the board of the Grameen Bank. However, these aren’t new at all. They were lodged years ago and then discarded when they too were proven to be meritless.

These additional allegations revolve around the fact that Professor Yunus transferred operational control of a successful printing business he had launched in the early 1970s to the Grameen Bank. The transfer was designed so that neither he nor his family could benefit from it in any way, including financially. Some of the Bangladeshi journalists who contacted the Yunus Centre about these allegations recalled how they had been discredited years ago. It will be telling whether or not, in the days ahead, the ACC will demonstrate a modicum of independence by refusing to take up these obviously phony charges.

In order to set the record straight again, the Yunus Centre dusted off, updated, and published its convincing repudiation of the charges earlier this week. You can read it here in English and Bengali. The local media gave wide coverage to their rejoinder, despite the government’s longstanding efforts to muzzle news that is not favorable to it.  

In the meantime, Professor Yunus’ positive influence on the social dimensions of the upcoming Paris Olympics has been heralded in an Agence France-Presse (AFP) wire story that has been reprinted in many newspapers and online journals around the world. Once again, Professor Yunus’ innovative ideas and their global influence have emerged as a point of pride for Bangladesh. If only his own government would cease its persecution of him and recognize Bangladesh’s only Nobel laureate as the national treasure that he is!

Support for Professor Yunus during the years he has been persecuted by his own government has been strong in G-7 countries. In fact, last week he was in Rome with other leaders and Nobel laureates at the World Meeting on Human Fraternity organized by Pope Francis. On several occasions, he was asked to effectively serve as the spokesperson for all the assembled Nobel Peace Prize laureates—clearly a very high honor. He hosted a roundtable on peace as part of the meeting.

Now, Indian and Indian-American business leaders are going public with important acts of solidarity, which is crucial given India’s influence on the Bangladesh government. For example, famed venture capitalist Vinod Khosla wrote a strongly worded opinion article in The Wire last week titled “The Bangladesh Government’s Attacks on Muhammad Yunus Are an Attack on Human Rights.” Both Khosla and The Wire’s editor, Siddharth Varadarajan, tweeted about the article to their hundreds of thousands of followers.

To take another example, Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of the Indian technology firm Infosys, whose influence and operations span the globe, has recently published a video in support of Professor Yunus.

The contrast couldn’t be more stark: Outside Bangladesh, other political and civil society leaders tap Professor Yunus to be their spokesperson on critical issues facing humanity. Inside Bangladesh, his own government pursues (in the words of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin) “personal vendettas” against him, harassing him with cases that Amnesty International and other human rights groups deplore and that Bangladeshi elder statesman Rehman Sobhan said, in an influential recent article, “would not make it to first base in any well functioning legal system.”

Pressure on the Bangladeshi government to relent in its campaign against Professor Yunus continues to build, with no end in sight.

After a hearing of the Bangladesh government’s Anti-Corruption Commission related to meritless charges against Professor Yunus and 13 of his colleagues, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus made a heartfelt and dignified statement outside the courthouse. You can view and listen to this statement in Bengali here. An English translation of his remarks appears below.

Today, I stand before you with a heavy heart. The Anti-Corruption Commission has levelled accusations of corruption against me: forgery, embezzlement, money laundering, and more.

You, the people of Bangladesh, have known me for a long time, so it’s for you to decide if these charges hold merit, just as you’ve judged me before. I’ve been labelled a usurer, but you’ve rightly seen that I’m not the owner of Grameen Bank. It was Grameen that charged interest to its clients. When I left, 97% of ownership belonged to the bank’s members.

How could I exploit them when I made them owners? They’re still the owners. I was just an employee. You know this about my role.

It has been said that I am the blood-sucker of the poor. I did not create a bank to suck blood from the poor. Rather, I built a bank that 10 million people could become owners of. No one else has made the country’s poor people the owners of bank. This is the truth. They are still the owners today.  

Allegations of sabotaging government projects and blocking World Bank funds are recycled claims. It has been said that I should be dunked in the Padma River. These have been stated many times, sometimes in large gatherings attended by many people.

Today, the charges against me revolve around these same stories.

Whether these accusations of deceit and money laundering are justified, I trust your judgement.  Do you believe I’d deceive and cheat people to earn money from business? The fairness of our courts is a question for the common people to decide and to judge. The media and the public have the information to discern if I’m guilty of exploiting others for personal gain. I hope and expect that you will come to a fair judgement of my conduct.

If you are reading this, it is probably because you care about the work, life, and safety of 83-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and his colleagues in Bangladesh. If so, those of us involved in helping keep him safe welcome you into the “Protect Yunus” campaign. Our collective work in solidarity with Professor Yunus is more important than ever, because ever since his January 1, 2024 conviction on meritless charges, the government has had the right, at any time, to imprison him for a few months or even for years.

Many people have asked how they can help confront this injustice. We have identified several action steps that any citizen can take to help our cause.  They are:

1. Record a short video of 30 seconds to 3 minutes in length where you comment on the work and life of Professor Yunus and why he should be free from persecution and harassment. Then post it on one or more social media channels and tag the Protect Yunus Campaign. Use the hashtag #IStandWithYunus. Recently, NASA astronaut Ron Garan, the legendary primatologist Jane Goodall, and iconic business leader Richard Branson posted model support videos.
2. Take a photo of yourself with a sign or piece of paper that has the words #IStandWithYunus and post it on social media. Think creatively about where you could take it. For example, in front of a Bangladesh embassy or consulate, if one is near you. Or simply in your home or neighborhood. Here is an example on Twitter of what you can do.
3. Write a letter to the Ambassador of Bangladesh to your country detailing why you believe the persecution of Professor Yunus must stop so he can continue his good work on ending poverty, unemployment, wealth concentration, and carbon emissions. (In some countries Bangladesh is represented by a High Commissioner instead  of an Ambassador, but their functions are the same.)
4. Circulate the January 2024 open letter to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister by 243 Global Leaders including 125 Nobel laureates to your friends, colleagues, and associates, and urge others to take action in support of it by sharing this call to action as well.
5. Join the Chilli Foundation’s efforts to help Professor Yunus by downloading its app, which will guide and support you in taking many actions in support of Professor Yunus.
6. Add your name as a concerned citizen wishing to endorse and sign the August 2023 open letter by sending your name, country, and city to this email address: protectmdyunus@gmail.com. Unless you indicate otherwise in your message, we will add you to our mailing list so that you can receive future updates and calls to action.
7. Write to your elected representatives at the federal level (such as your Congressperson and Senators if you live in the United States) and urge them to take action in support of Professor Yunus and human rights in Bangladesh. Send copies of those letters to us so we can track progress.
8. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the Bangladesh government’s treatment of Professor Yunus and the human rights situation there generally (you can read about the human rights issues in Bangladesh here). Send copies of any published letters to us so we can track progress.
9. Follow the Protect Yunus Campaign on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to stay informed, and share our posts and content, and join our mailing list so we can keep in touch with you. (To sign up for the mailing list, click here.)
10. Make a financial contribution to the Protect Yunus Campaign through our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, the Middle Project (now known as Freedom Rising), to help us sustain our efforts. Donations are tax-deductible, to the maximum extent allowable by law, for U.S. taxpayers.

We welcome your suggestions about how we can best work together to protect Professor Yunus.  You can email us anytime at protectmdyunus@gmail.com.

The ongoing persecution of Professor Yunus and his colleagues from Grameen Telecom—a nonprofit organization he chairs in a nonexecutive, unsalaried position—continues.

The next milestones are the convening of a special court to try him and 12 others on meritless charges brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission on May 2 and a court date on May 23 related to the equally spurious Labour Tribunal charges against Professor Yunus and 3 colleagues. Professor Yunus remains free on bail until the May 23 court date, as his lawyers pursue their appeals. For now, he is able to travel internationally with the permission of the government.

Those of us involved in the Protect Yunus Campaign have been encouraged by recent video testimonials from NASA astronaut Ron Garan and Kerry Kennedy of the RFK Human Rights Memorial, as well as supportive commentary by three other leading human rights organizations: Amnesty International, the Clooney Foundation and CIVICUS.

We understand that several additional video testimonials are about to be released. Importantly, the Amnesty statement highlights the risk to Nurjahan Begum, a woman who has been working with Professor Yunus since the 1970s, and gives her voice.

There has been major new media coverage, such as in Le Figaro in France, and more stories are in the pipeline.

As we await the coming court dates, the Protect Yunus Campaign is preparing for all eventualities and scenarios. We are also encouraging people–whether they are public figures or simply concerned citizens–to post their own videos and statements in support of Professor Yunus while using the #IStandWithYunus hashtag.

Please be on the lookout for news and supportive commentary on our social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.  

Recently, Professor Yunus attended the Global Baku Forum and was awarded the prestigious Tree of Peace Award. This same award was bestowed upon Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2014—an award she proudly accepted.

One would think that having this award given to a Bangladeshi for the second time in ten years would be a cause for national celebration. Of course, among some, it was. But government ministers began criticizing this new form of recognition for their countryman from the outset. Their first response was to say that it was given to Professor Yunus due to “lobbyists” advocating for him. In the process, they impugned the integrity of the judges—the same group that deemed the Prime Minister worthy of the award not long ago. This tired tactic of saying that any recognition that Professor Yunus receives is due to “lobbying” begs the question: if there were some elite lobbying firm working for Professor Yunus, wouldn’t the government have figured out which one was on the case and have named it publicly by now?

In fact, through his positive work over decades, Professor Yunus has amassed a vast reservoir of goodwill among people and organizations around the world. The Protect Yunus Campaign is a loose network of these people that works to respond to his persecution. There is no “lobbying firm” involved, and even if there was, what would be wrong with that? Governments, companies, nonprofits and prominent individuals use public relations and lobbying firms all the time.

More recently, the education minister and foreign minister have raised the issue of the Yunus Centre claiming that UNESCO was associated with the Tree of Peace Award. This is what was communicated to the Yunus Centre by the people who requested that Professor Yunus agree to accept the award. It should be noted that Professor Yunus has already received hundreds of awards and honorary degrees, including the Nobel Peace Prize. He is not in need of any others, but he nonetheless agreed to accept this award.

It turns out that some of the information the Yunus Centre received about UNESCO’s affiliation with the award was not accurate. They promptly issued a clarification with complete documentation showing how closely UNESCO was involved in the prize, even if it was not technically a UNESCO prize per se. However, it is interesting to note that when the Prime Minister received the award in 2014, newspapers such as Prothom Alo English ran headlines in their articles about it that mentioned UNESCO and opened their reporting with words such as these: “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday got recognition from the UNESCO…. UNESCO director general Irina Bokova presented a memento titled, ‘Peace Tree’, to the Prime Minister in recognition of her outstanding contribution to girls’ and women education.”

One would think that the Yunus Centre’s clarification would be the end of the controversy. But now the ministers are talking about legal action against the Yunus Centre for this unintentional and minor error (certainly when compared to the lies that the government has propagated in their campaign against Professor Yunus, a few of which you can read about here and here). This escalation is yet another case of the Bangladeshi government weaponizing the judicial system against citizens it deems to be insufficiently loyal. Perhaps this response was an effort to distract attention from the dramatic fall in the nation’s foreign reserves by US$533 million, which came to light last week.

In fact, the only party that could conceivably have standing to sue the Yunus Centre over this matter would be UNESCO, and we are not holding our breath for that to happen. They, like the U.N. in general, admire Professor Yunus and his service to humanity, as you can see here and elsewhere.

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Professor Yunus’ current trip to Central Asia and Europe has been cathartic and productive. At each stop, he has been greeted with all manner of public and private expressions of solidarity, thunderous applause, long standing ovations, and global leaders lining up to have their pictures taken with him.

Most impressively, he was awarded the Tree of Peace Award at the Global Baku Forum just a few days ago, which received coverage around the world including in Bangladesh. The forum’s theme this year was “healing a fractured world.” While in Baku, Professor Yunus also inaugurated the office of the Yunus Social Business Centre at the Azerbaijan State Economic University. For more about this trip, check out the Yunus Centre Facebook page.

Especially since the meritless verdict against him was announced on January 1, people of all walks of life have been seeking ways to express their support for him while at the same time rebuking the Bangladesh government for their mistreatment of him.

Quite a few times during working meetings and conference panels held on this trip, leaders have raised the issue of his persecution even as Professor Yunus urged that the focus be on other matters related to addressing his passions: achieving zero poverty, zero unemployment, zero wealth concentration, and zero net carbon emissions. But people sensed the profound loss that the possibility of Professor Yunus being unjustly imprisoned would be to the global effort to reach those critical goals. So they showed their passionate support for him and asked others to do so.

At the Protect Yunus Campaign, we appreciate all of these expressions of support – for Professor Yunus, for his co-defendants who have done so much to advance his work and ideas, and for others in Bangladesh who have suffered human rights abuses and other forms of persecution. Justice shall prevail if we all work together for it.

On Monday, February 12, 2024, at 4:26pm Dhaka time, approximately 11 people who had arrived in a jeep and a private car entered the reception hall of the Gramee Telecom Building, followed by approximately 24 more people a short time later.

In order to enter the building, as per the building’s rules, visitors have to check in at the front desk of the reception. Accordingly, the officer on duty there requested that the visitors check in.

One of them identified himself as Colonel Rashid, and he said that he was from Grameen Bank and would go to the offices of Grameen Kalyan (Welfare) and Grameen Telecom, two of the largest and most impressive nonprofit organizations established by Professor Yunus. The building staff were asked to contact those organizations from the front desk. Then, the group proceeded to evade the security access control system located in the lobby, and at 4:34pm they took the stairs to Grameen Telecom and then to Grameen Kalyan.

The invaders refused to show any proper identity cards, and forcibly entered the offices without any proper order issued by any authority that allowed them to enter the building or those offices. Later, they started looking at the ID cards of the officers and employees of Grameen Telecom and Grameen Kalyan, and they prevented the employees from leaving the office, even after the scheduled office hours, in what amounted to illegal confinement and imprisonment. The employees were undestandably terrified.

Later, the invaders had separate meetings with the Managing Directors of Grameen Kalyan and Grameen Telecom. Their leader informed the Managing Directors of Grameen Kalyan and Grameen Telecom that the management of the institutions has changed, and that a new chairman and a new managing director had been appointed for both organizations. Professor Yunus has been serving as the non-executive chairman of both organizations, for which he receives no compensation.

After the meeting with Grameen Telecom ended at 7:15pm, all but two of the invaders left. Finally, they ordered everyone to leave and secured the offices with their own locks, promising to return at 10am the next morning.

Something terrible is occurring in Bangladesh, as the rule of law devolves into the rule of the jungle. If this hostile takeover of two of the flagship Grameen companies is not reversed tomorrow, it sends an ominous message to existing and potential investors—both foreign and domestic—in Bangladesh.

We hope that the local and international media covers this evolving story with all of the seriousness it deserves. The valuable work of these two nonprofit organizations is at dire risk, and their employees’ lives have been turned upside down in one of the most terrifying ways imaginable.

The labor law verdict against Professor Yunus and three other Grameen Telecom directors has been rightly condemned within Bangladesh and around the world as a clear miscarriage of justice. Among the many expressions of outrage about such a national embarrassment, this article by Mahfuz Anam, the editor of the Daily Star, stands out. Honestly, there have been too many columns, news articles, and television segments critical of the judgment to even begin to count or list them.

But let’s look at this case, and others that are pending, from the perspective of whether the legal process is being followed consistently in Bangladesh, or whether there is one, much harsher standard for enemies of the Prime Minster, and another for everyone else.

Shayan S. Khan, the executive editor of the Dhaka Courier, which is comparable to Time magazine in the United States, has been looking at these very issues for months. Most recently, he published an article in the Courier this week titled “A Spectacle of Injustice,” along with an excellent post to his Facebook page, which is appended to the bottom of this article.

Khan identifies many instances where the legal system has bent over backwards to treat Professor Yunus unjustly. Some examples:

The case has been put on an incredibly fast track. Khan cites a 2021 study by the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) showing that labor courts typically took 630 days to award compensation, and another 475 for the compensation to be paid. But according to Khan, it only took Judge Merina Sheikh just 130 days “to weigh up all the facts and arguments from each side … and pronounce her guilty verdicts.” Conveniently, this rushed verdict was handed down a few days before the so-called “election” scheduled for January 7, and on a day that was a national holiday in many countries around the world.

In all other such cases, the organization supposedly committing the violations would be charged. In this case, it was Professor Yunus (the non-executive chairman of the organization) and three other directors. In all other such cases, the case would initially be tried as a civil matter, not as a criminal one, as was the case here. (See below for how charges could, theoretically, ultimately become crimal in nature after several steps were taken that were not in this case.)

The violations of the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006 supposedly committed by Grameen Telecom amount to these three: (1) the misclassification of employees, (2) not giving employees enough paid vacation, and (3) not depositing 5% of company profits into a worker’s welfare fund. For these alleged violations, jail time has been ordered. Khan compares this to the treatment of the massive garments industry. He writes, “How many factory owners, not just RMG [ready made garments companies] but any kind of manufacturing, where we’ve seen workers dying due to unsafe conditions, have faced criminal, not civil charges, in light of the countless deadly incidents we’ve witnessed over the years?”

It turns out there has been just one. He continues, “Only Delwar Hossain of Tazreen Garments/Fashions. And even he hasn’t been convicted yet, over the deadliest fire ever in the industry, globally…

“All other cases emanating from such incidents have filed only civil charges against the owners [and] the relief sought has been compensation. But in the case of Grameen Telecom, where no one died or got injured, they just had to file criminal charges. And see it through to a conviction in the same labour tribunal that has seemingly forgotten [about] Delwar’s offences, maybe even his existence…

“Tazreen burned to the ground in 2012, killing around 120 workers who were locked inside the factory floor — a policy implemented by the management to prevent workers from ‘wandering off’ during work hours apparently. That man [responsible] is free today, on bail but not convicted. Dr Yunus has been granted post-conviction bail as well and his appeal will move this to the High Court. But technically, he has a lesser claim on breathing free in Bangladesh today, than Delwar Hossain. And that is your state of justice in Bangladesh.” Recall that the deadly factory fire occurred more than 11 years ago.

Now let’s look at the charge of Grameen Telecom failing to provide 5% of its profits to workers welfare fund. Forget for the moment that Grameen Telecom is nonprofit organization, so it is not covered by this provision of the Labor Act. Let’s also ignore that the funds were eventually paid in an out of court settlement that made many Grameen Telecom employees very wealthy by any standard. (Uncompensated board members like Professor Yunus, it should be noted, received nothing under the settlement.)

Let’s simply ask this question: Are other for-profit companies in Bangladesh paying into these funds? Khan’s reporting shows that 140,000 of the 600,000 companies in Bangladesh have been obliged under the Labor Act to contribute some of their profits into these workers funds, but only 300 have ever done so. (And Khan notes that it is not clear that they have contributed the required amounts.) Khan concludes, “[This] means there are some 139,700 firms in the country today in violation of the law [relating to contributions to worker’s welfare funds], but only Grameen Telecom has ever been prosecuted for it—that too, criminally.”

What about the highly profitable garments sector? They got a waiver making it unnecessary for them to contribute to the workers’ funds. What about the banking industry? They have declined to contribute anything over 18 years, and instead are fighting to secure their own exemption from having to pay.

Finally, let’s look at how the trial was conducted. Under Bangladeshi law, the written verdict is supposed to be read out loud in its entirety. Did that happen on January 1? No. Khan quotes Grameen Telecom’s lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun describing what actually happened: “The rule is, the judge will read the full judgement in open court. That is how it started. But when she saw that every line of the judgement contained errors, she started omitting line after line. She just gave the order, leaving out the full verdict. It is against the law. The rule is that the entire verdict should be read out in the presence of the accused.”

Khan further reports that Mamun substantiated numerous ways that the verdict flouted the Labor Law. He quotes Mamum as saying, “If 5 percent of the profit is not paid to the workers, then section 236 of the Act specifies a time will be fixed for it. If then it is unpaid, they will go for a fine or compensation. Even then, if the money remains unpaid, measures will be taken according to the Public Demand Recovery Act. They can appeal to the government to act on the employer to pay up. None of this was followed. The Supreme Court has ruled that a criminal case can only be filed after a civil case fails to realise the compensation. Here the opposite was done.”

Khan concludes his article in the Courier with the following words, “Barrister Al Mamun said they (he and his team) presented 109 contradictions in the state’s arguments. Usually even in murder cases, presenting a single contradiction can be enough to win an acquittal. But here, even 109 of them were not enough. It all goes to underline the travesty of justice that we have all witnessed, and the damning picture it paints of the state of our judicial system means that even as things move to the High Court, we cannot quite be confident of a sighting of Lady Justice yet.”

Equal justice in Bangladesh? Certainly not for Professor Yunus or others whom the Prime Minister perceives as enemies.  

Post on Shayan S. Khan’s Facebook page that was Made Available to the Public

How many firms in BGMEA have the welfare fund for workers setting aside 5% of their profits, in accordance with the Labour Act?

(Dr Yunus and three others have just been convicted by a labour court for not having this at Grameen Telecom, which is registered as a not-for-profit company and so their accounting doesn’t even allow for profit/loss.)

The answer of course, is zero. That’s more than 3500 profit-oriented companies in violation of the law, which means well but has been ignored on this by everyone.* But they only went after GT – it’s a fact. There are over 600,000 registered companies in th country, of whom none are known to have formed this fund. Yet GT is the only entity that has ever faced litigation for it. And that too criminal, not civil.

How many factory owners, not just RMG but any kind of manufacturing, where we’ve seen workers dying due to unsafe conditions, have faced criminal, not civil charges, in light of the countless deadly incidents we’ve witnessed over the years?

Only Delwar Hossain of Tazreen Garments/Fashions. And even he hasn’t been convicted yet, over the deadliest fire ever in the industry, globally (yes that’s ever, anywhere, surpassing the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire from early 20th century New York). The case has been kicked into the long grass, and he has been out on bail now for years. Even got elected to some AL-affiliate organisation’s presiding council or something. Bless him.

All other cases emanating from such incidents have filed only civil charges against the owners, i.e. the relief sought has been compensation. But in the case of Grameen Telecom, where no one died or got injured, they just had to file criminal charges. And see it through to a conviction in the same labour tribunal that has seemingly forgotten Delwar’s offences, maybe even his existence. It all took only about six months. Tazreen burned to the ground in 2012, killing around 120 workers who were locked inside the factory floor – a policy implemented by the management to prevent workers from ‘wandering off’ during work hours apparently.

That man is free today, on bail but not convicted. Dr Yunus has been granted post-conviction bail as well and his appeal will move this to the High Court. But technically, he has a lesser claim on breathing free in Bangladesh today, than Delwar Hossain.

And that is your state of justice in Bangladesh.

*They are not in violation of the law. I’ve since come to know that with an amendment brought to the Labour Act in 2013, the RMG sector got itself exempted “from the application of Chapter XV of the Act.” That’s the part that contains the offences for which GT has been convicted. Most notably, RMG firms are not required to distribute 5% of profits to their workforce.

The most generous way to explain the errors contained in statements by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that their fact checkers are not especially active or diligent. Previously, the Protect Yunus Campaign reported on the grossly inaccurate claims by the Foreign Minister about the cost of the full-page ad we placed in the Washington Post in March 2023, reproducing an open letter to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister (that was later followed up by another open letter).

Now, in a statement criticizing a U.N. report on human rights abuses in Bangladesh, the Ministry refers to Grameen Telecom being “owned” by Professor Muhammad Yunus. Even the most basic understanding of Bangladeshi law would reveal that nonprofit companies like Grameen Telecom have no owners. One would think that in a response to the serious charges being leveled by the United Nations, the Ministry would be at pains to avoid misstatements of any kind.

Grameen Telecom issued a rejoinder in response to the Ministry’s statement, and called on it to issue a correction. Grameen Telecom’s rejoinder appears below.

Rejoinder to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rejoinder to the UN Rapporteurs

On November 21 and 22, 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a rejoinder to various newspapers and online portals against the statements of three rapporteurs on human rights in Bangladesh. It is mentioned in the related news that, “The case of Dr Muhammad Yunus is pending before the court for depriving the workers of a company owned by him for their fair dues”. A company owned by him is referred to as “Grameen Telecom”. This information is completely false and baseless. We strongly protest against the Government’s false statement in their Rejoinder to the UN.

It should be noted that Dr. Muhammad Yunus has no ownership of any of the organizations he created, including Grameen Telecom. Prof Yunus is an honorary chairman of Grameen Telecom. He takes no honorarium or financial benefits for this service.

Grameen Telecom is a not-for-profit company registered under Section 28 of the Company Act 1994. Its dividend is not distributable as per the Companies Act. Being a not-for-profit company, its earned profits are not distributed as it has no shareholders. It should be noted that no company has been established in Bangladesh or elsewhere which is owned by Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

We request the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide a correction to the information previously provided to the United Nations.

The labour law case involving Professor Yunus is centered on alleged violations of the Bangladesh Labour Act of 2006. The critique of this legal proceeding has centered on the fact that the defendant should be the organization that supposedly violated the Act—Grameen Telecom—rather than any individual or individuals, and also on the reality that the penalty should be, at most, a fine of the local equivalent of $227, not up to six months in prison for four of its volunteer directors. But what has gotten lost in this, and what might be confusing to those not familiar with Professor Yunus’ work in the 1990s, is the significance of the organization Grameen Telecom, which Dr. Yunus established and for which he has served as an unsalaried chairman since its inception.

In short, Grameen Telecom was established to ensure that tens of thousands of Grameen Bank borrowers were able to set up cellular payphone enterprises soon after GrameenPhone—a company Grameen Telecom is also an investor in—was launched as a highly successful business. Professor Yunus’ idea, revolutionary at the time, was that with proper support, poor women could be the agents of bringing new technologies to their villages in a business format that vastly accelerated their journey out of poverty.

To fill this gap in understanding, Professor Yunus recently told the story of how and why he launched Grameen Telecom and of the impact it had on thousands of formerly poor Bangladeshi women, on the concept of doing business with the poor that is now taught in business schools around the world, and ultimately on the global mobile telecommunications industry.

While it might sound odd, on the surface, to set up a Bangladeshi nonprofit company to work in the local mobile telecommunications market, on further inspection it represents one of the most farsighted and high-impact decisions Professor Yunus ever took. The fact that this institution is being harassed rather than celebrated by the Bangladeshi government is one of the many tragedies unfolding in the country today.

The “Telephone Ladies” of Bangladesh will be remembered by historians as a vital force propelling the global mobile telecommunications revolution of the early 21^st century, just as the persecution of Professor Yunus will be recalled as one of the most shameful acts ever perpetrated by the Bangladeshi government.

The growing chorus of voices insisting on free and fair elections, freedom of the press, and respect for human rights in Bangladesh — all of which have been sadly lacking in recent times in the country — now includes more than a dozen Senators and Members of Parliament in Australia. In a carefully worded but still strong letter, they ask their Prime Minister to make advocating for reform in Bangladesh an important part of their nation’s foreign policy. We will be eager to see how the PM and the Australian High Commissioner in Bangladesh respond to this urgent and important message, which is reproduced below.

Dear Prime Minister,

We, the undersigned MPs are writing to express our concerns about the ongoing human rights violations in Bangladesh and their potential impact on the upcoming national election. We believe that it Is crucial for the election to be conducted in a free, fair, peaceful, inclusive and participatory manner.

As a result, we are writing to you after the United States government’s recent announcement regarding a new visa policy in support of Bangladesh’s effort to conduct a democratic election. The policy restricts visas for Bangladeshi individuals suspected of undermining the election process, including government officials, political party members, law enforcement, judiciary, and security services.

We consider any actions that undermine the democratic election process. such as vote rigging, voter intimidation, or measures to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views, to be worrying. It is vital that our government follows suit with similar policies, whether through Magnitsky sanctions or otherwise, to ensure that individuals responsible for undermining the democratic process in Bangladesh cannot enter Australia.

We are alarmed by the allegations of abuse of power by senior members of the ruling party and the shocking human rights violations suffered by ordinary citizens, community activists, union Ieaders, and opposition political party members. These crimes have been documented by Amnesty International and by the U.S. Department of State in its report on Bangladesh.

The reports of torture linked to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed’s government, particularly by the Rapid Action Battalion, which numerous internationally reputed NGOs have characterized as a government “death squad” are deeply concerning. Two informers and former members of the RAB confessed that the incidents of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances could not be possible without the approval of the Home Minister and Prime Minister have only added to our concern.

We urge the government to take appropriate steps to guarantee that the upcoming election meets international standards for free, fair. peaceful, inclusive and participatory elections. We urge you to make representations to the Bangladesh High Commissioner in this regard.

To ensure this, we believe The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner’s Human Rights Standards on Elections should be implemented and followed. The past two national elections in 2014 and 2018 were fraught with controversies and irregularities, including intimidation, and violence against opposition political parties, civil society, and the media. As reported by international human rights organisations, there have been extra-judicial killings, abductions, and torture inflicted upon ordinary citizens, community activists, union leaders, and opposition political party members.

The general election is expected to be held at the end of 2023 or beginning of 2D24. We urge the government to develop a constructive relationship with the Bangladesh government representatives before the election to prevent what was witnessed in the 2014 and 2018 elections. To that end we are seeking that the Australian government:

• Clearly express to the Bangladesh government Australia’s expectation that the election will be held in accordance with the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner’s Human Rights Standards on Elections.

• Commit to working with the Bangladesh government and the UN and international community to help supervise and conduct free and fair elections in Bangladesh, including ensuring unfettered access during the election period to independent electoral observers, and

• Publicly place on notice the Bangladesh government that should any senior officials endorse, promote or participate in serious breaches of democratic electoral standards, that they will be considered by Australia for targeted Magnitsky sanctions.

As a government committed to promoting the rule of law and human rights through diplomacy, we hope that you will give this correspondence serious attention, and we look forward to hearing from you on the matters we have raised.

Yours sincerely.

The undersigned MPs

Senator David Shoebridge

Senator Jordan Steele-John Adam Bandt MP

Senator Larissa Waters

Senator Nick McKim

Senator Janet Rice

Senator Barbara Pocock

Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP

Stephen Bates MP

Senator Mehreen Faruqi

Senator Peter Whish-Wilson

Senator Dorinda Cox

Senator Penny Allman-Payne

Max Chandler-Mather MP

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young

The networks of people, businesses, and civil society organizations making their voices heard about the persecution of Professor Yunus, and other Bangladeshis, is growing every day. The latest to weigh in is Social Enterprise UK, a leading network of socially motivated businesses in the United Kingdom. Below is an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling on him to take action to address the treatment of Professor Yunus. 

October 2, 2023

Dear Prime Minister,

As Chair of Social Enterprise UK, I am writing on behalf of social enterprises in the UK. As a citizen of the Commonwealth, I am writing on behalf of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh.

In 1976, Prof Yunus pioneered the provision of collateral-free loans to the poor, mostly women, in rural Bangladesh. For creating a new model of microfinance, taken up around the world, Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize – making him one of only a handful of people to have received the Nobel Prize, the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom and the United States Congressional Gold Medal. Yunus’ work has inspired millions, showing how enterprise can fight poverty, how business can be a force for good, and how finance can serve society. He has subsequently set up businesses fighting poverty, creating jobs, delivering healthcare and nutrition, advancing agriculture, education, energy and more – pioneering new models of social business through which profits are directed to people and the planet. Yunus is the father of microcredit and social business, and a true global hero.

Yet Prof Yunus also has a close relationship with this country. He has worked with Social Enterprise UK, shared platforms with our leaders, founded the Yunus Centre in Glasgow, inspired our own social entrepreneurs (such as Fair Finance in East London), and strengthened the bonds between the people of the UK and Bangladesh. Encouraged by Yunus’ leadership, the UK and Bangladesh have led the way in social enterprise – often together – and enhanced the reputation of both our countries around the world.

Yet in August this year, 188 global leaders – including over 100 Nobel laureates, Barack Obama, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – signed an urgent letter calling on the government of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stop the “continuous judicial harassment” of Yunus and end his persecution. The letter asked Hasina to immediately suspend judicial proceedings against Prof Yunus. Meanwhile, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern for the “continued intimidation and harassment of human rights advocates and civil society leaders through legal proceedings in Bangladesh, including Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus” and the UN has said they are “concerned that smear campaigns against him, often emanating from the highest levels of government, risk undermining his right to a fair trial and due process in line with international standards.”

In response, the Prime Minister Hasina has said that she would welcome international experts and lawyers in Bangladesh to assess the legal proceedings and examine the charges against Yunus. I believe this is where you can play a pivotal role – offering to coordinate and provide international expertise to support impartial local experts and ensure the just resolution of the situation. We call on you to help take a few small steps to help bring justice to bear.

Yours sincerely,

Lord Victor Adebowale CBE Chair, Social Enterprise UK

cc:

The Rt Hon. James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

The Rt Hon. Stuart Andrew, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DCMS

Social Enterprise UK is a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales as the Social Enterprise Coalition. Company Number 4426564. VAT Number 839549672. Website: www.socialenterprise.org.uk

Registered office: Sabat Accountants, Suite G1, Hartshorne House Delta Gain, Carpenders Park, Watford, England, WD19 5EF

Recently the Bangladesh government has renewed it baseless investigation of Professor Yunus and others associated with Grameen Telecom through the so-called “Anti-Corruption Commission,” even as the labor law case against him progresses towards its predetermined conclusion. This article in Prothom Alo (English) outlines the call for Professor Yunus and other Grameen Telecom directors to appear before the commission this week to respond one more time to their outrageous charges of “embezzlement.”  

Given the obviously political (rather than judicial) nature of both of these cases, Professor Yunus’ lead lawyer has stepped up his public appearances to make the case for the Nobel laureate and founder of Grameen Bank. In one recent interview, he was questioned about the discredited documentary, “The Micro-Debt.”

Soon after this film was released, Alex Counts, then the president of the Grameen Foundation, sent a letter to Hans-Tore Bjerkaas, Editor-in-Chief Brennpunkt, and Vibeke Haug of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. The text of the letter appears below:

I am writing to you to explain three serious respects in which the film contains false and defamatory accusations against Grameen Bank and Professor Muhammad Yunus and to invite you to discuss what NRK could do to reduce the harm inflicted upon Grameen Bank due to the erroneous statements in the film.

NORAD Aid

One principal charge made in the film relates to financial dealings between Grameen Bank and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), a directorate under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The charge concerns matters that arose more than a decade ago, that were promptly addressed by Grameen Bank, the relevant Norwegian authorities and the government of Bangladesh, and that were fully and finally resolved at the time. By selective use of a few documents from that time, the film suggests that very significant sums of aid money were diverted by Grameen Bank, in violation of the conditions on which they were provided, and used for improper commercial enrichment.

I assume that you are aware that, as a consequence of the film’s airing on November 30, 2010, Norway’s Minister of International Development commissioned an urgent and comprehensive review of all NORAD’s support for Grameen Bank. This report, published on December 6, examined the relevant earlier exchanges, and concluded that the issues raised at the time by the Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka had been satisfactorily explained and resolved. The NORAD report demonstrates that the film contains incorrect statements and gives a false impression of the 1997-98 issue.

Interest rates

Another central charge made in the film is that Grameen Bank charges excessive interest rates. Specifically, the film accuses Grameen Bank of charging its borrowers annual interest rates of between 30% to 200%. This was and is factually incorrect. As an expert on microfinance, I was interviewed by Mr. Heinemann on film about this issue, as was David Roodman, Senior Fellow of the Center for Global Development. We both specifically told Mr. Heinemann that his figures were wrong, but he ignored the corrections. We have since set out on film how our statements to Mr. Heinemann were willfully misrepresented in the film. See this video and this one.

In response to the unfounded assertions about interest rates in the film, Grameen Bank invited an independent expert, Chuck Waterfield of MicroFinance Transparency, to examine their rates, providing full access for that purpose. The MicroFinance Transparency report, dated January 4, 2011 and which can be found here, shows, in particular, that the highest effective interest rate charged for Grameen Bank’s “basic loan” (the most expensive) is 22.84%. Other loans for higher education and housing attract substantially lower interest rates, and all loan products score an unprecedented 100% on the Transparency Index. The allegation that Grameen charges interest rates of up to 200% is wrong, defamatory and deeply irresponsible – yet the film repeatedly shows individuals said to be suffering from extortionate rates.

Jobra interview

The film seeks to portray Grameen Bank and Professor Yunus in a damaging light by way of interviews with individuals in Bangladesh, claiming that Professor Yunus made promises to them that were not kept, or that they have suffered in other ways at the hands of Grameen Bank due to high interest rates. The alleged suffering due to high interest rates is, as stated above, false. The film presents no real evidence to substantiate the other claims, and Professor Yunus refutes any claims made concerning him. Grameen Bank also denies such claims.

This element of the film is based on filmed interviews with individuals in Bangladesh, who are identified in the film and accompanied by commentary purporting to explain and clarify what it being said in Bangla by the interviewees. From our enquiries to date, it is evident that at least some of these interviews are not as represented in the film. For example, Mr. Heinemann claims to have interviewed the daughter of Professor Yunus’s original borrower, and, in the voiceover, claims that the original borrower died in deep poverty. An independent filmmaker, Ms. Gayle Ferraro, travelled to the place of the interview and found the person he interviewed. As can be seen from her film, it turns out that the person Mr. Heinemann interviewed was not in fact who he claimed. In addition, Ms. Ferraro found that the woman who was the actual borrower described in Mr. Heinemann’s film was alive and well, and confirmed the true story of how she had been helped by Professor Yunus. Ms. Ferraro’s film shows that this part of Mr. Heinemann’s film is false.

Conclusion and proposed next step

We believe that the false allegations made by Mr. Heinemann are so serious and damaging to Prof. Yunus and Grameen Bank that there is a need for substantial correction, to redress the harm inflicted upon Grameen Bank. Furthermore, the errors already identified bring into question whether there is any factual basis for other allegations made in the film.

Even though Grameen Bank may, due to the publication of the above mentioned false and defamatory statements, have a legal claim against NRK, the Bank does not desire to engage in a legal battle against NRK – at least if it’s possible to redress harm by other means. I should therefore be grateful to receive your urgent response as to what measures NRK could take to correct the false statements made in the film and to rectify some of the harm inflicted upon Grameen Bank. I can confirm that Grameen Bank is willing to engage with you constructively in dealing with this; please do not hesitate to contact me to move this process forward.

I would like to emphasize that it is not Grameen Bank’s or Professor Yunus’s intention to stifle debate on microfinance – indeed, the Bank, Prof. Yunus and Grameen Foundation all welcome healthy, balanced debate on the issues – but deliberate and repeated false and defamatory statements and unfounded attacks with intent to inflict harm and damage do not further that debate: they distort it. They feed sensationalism and confusion, and they damage the progress that they and all responsible microfinance institutions have made in helping millions of the world’s poorest citizens lift themselves from poverty. Some of the wider ramifications of this discussion are not for this letter, but are expressed in a recent article by Professor Yunus in the New York Times, which can be found here.

You may not be aware that Grameen Bank is 95% owned by more than 8 million borrowers and members of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. About 4% is owned by the Government of Bangladesh. The borrowers and members of the Grameen bank are 97% women, who come from the poorest sectors of Bangladesh. To these people, Grameen Bank is a vital resource that enables them to improve the lives of themselves and their families. Attacks upon Grameen Bank directly harm the interests of these people; it is on their behalf in particular that I write to explain the extent of the untrue and defamatory content of Mr. Heinemann’s film.

The letter above fails to capture all of the distortions and lies in the documentary. For example, anyone familiar with both Bengali and English can easily identify multiple cases of the documentary’s translations being highly slanted toward making every accusation against Professor Yunus appear stronger; some translations are simply wrong. The NRK’s response to this letter, which can be found here, shows that their main defense of the documentary is that Professor Yunus’ decision to not be interviewed by the documentarian, despite his well-known biases against microfinance, justified all of the shortcomings of the film.

The fact that allies of the Prime Minister are citing this almost 13-year-old, discredited film points to the hollowness of their cases against Professor Yunus, which a growing number of people inside Bangladesh and beyond are seeing more clearly than ever.

Sadly, the global human rights community has many issues to address, and more than a few in Bangladesh. For example, outrage has been growing about the scandalous conviction of human rights defenders Adilur Rahman Khan and ASM Nasiruddin Elan, leaders of the respected Bangladeshi human rights organization Odhikar.

Now, Amnesty International’s Secretary General has issued a scathing press release about how the Bangladeshi government has “weaponized” labor law to harass Professor Muhammad Yunus.

The statement says, “Amnesty International believes that initiating criminal proceedings against Mohammad Yunus and his colleagues for issues that belong to the civil and administrative arena is a blatant abuse of labour laws and the justice system and a form of political retaliation for his work and dissent.”

Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, added: “Mohammad Yunus’ case is emblematic of the beleaguered state of human rights in Bangladesh, where the authorities have eroded freedoms and bulldozed critics into submission. The abuse of laws and misuse of the justice system to settle vendettas is inconsistent and incompatible with international human rights treaties including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Bangladesh is a state party.”

No amount of photos of the Prime Minister speaking briefly with other global leaders can distract from her regime’s deplorable record on human rights, democracy, and freedom of the press.

On September 13, the trial of Professor Yunus and three other Grameen Telecom (GTC) board members will resume. It will be telling whether and how the court pursues the illegal tampering of evidence that the government committed while building a case against these uncompensated, volunteer directors of Grameen Telecom that emerged in the last session through the diligent cross-examination by GTC’s legal team.

In the meantime, Grameen Telecom released a detailed response (or “rejoinder”) to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement on its website, which was published only in English. One of the many important points in this response is that GTC was actually more generous to its employees than the law required in many respects. A Bengali language version of the response can be found here.

A number of well-researched articles have been published about Professor Yunus’ persecution recently, including this Al Jazeera article and this one in the Daily Star. See also this passionate defense of Professor Yunus by Sharmeen Murshid of Brotee, which lasts only five minutes but speaks volumes about how civil society in Bangladesh is viewing this matter. Even if you don’t understand Bengali, you can probably catch the gist of what she is saying. Perhaps we can find a way to translate it into English — it’s powerful.

Below is the English translation of a press release issued after a rally that was held in Dhaka on September 8 in support of Professor Muhammad Yunus by national leaders from civil society, academia, and politics.

Date: September 8, 2023

Press release

Dr. Yunus is the country’s pride; Prominent people call on the government to stop the harassment

On Friday, September 8 in the afternoon the Dhaka Reporters United and the Bangladesh Professional Rights Council held “Judicial Harassment and a Discussion on Muhammad Yunus.”

In the meeting, President of Public Rights Council Nurul Haque Noor said, “As a person from a remote area, I have seen that many poor children of my village have got the opportunity of higher education because of Grameen Bank’s education loan, the people of the village have got the benefit of mobile. He made significant contributions to the country including women empowerment. But sad, a respectable person like him is being harassed by the government. Dr. Yunus is being called a usurer; in our modern banking system, people are charged some interest normally. As the talented do not come forward in politics, the bad people are in in charge of the state, occupying an important place. So the youth should come forward in politics to change the country.”

Referring to the tastelessness of editors and teachers from Dhaka University speaking against Dr. Yunus for the benefit of the government, Noor said, “We all have to be vocal about the judicial harassment of Dr. Yunus. Otherwise Yunus today, me tomorrow, all of you may have this same fate.”

Bangladesh Welfare Party Chairman Major General Syed Muhammad Ibrahim said, “Dr. Muhammad Yunus is a victim of personal outrage. I request the government to stop harassing Dr. Yunus.”

Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, General Secretary of the Gano Forum, and a senior lawyer of the Supreme Court, said, “The judicial league is now being created to control the judicial system of the country. The people of the country will have to burn a lot of wood to fix the mismanagement in which Sheikh Hasina is leaving the country.”

Referring to the 700 articles by anonymous authors praising the government, Shahidul Alam said it is our plight. Dr. Muhammad Yunus is a respected person all over the world. If you go outside the country, you can understand how respected he is in the international arena. I protest against his harassment. I always respect him.

Barrister Kaiser Kamal, legal affairs secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, said, “Just like Begum Khaled Zia and Tariq Rahman, Dr. Muhammad Yunus has admitted to judicial harassment. Everyone should stand against it.”

Sharmin Murshid, executive director of Brati, said, “There is no objection to being a usurer like Dr. Yunus. It is good to be a usurer like Dr. Yunus, as Dr. Yunus has played a role in changing society through the concept of social business and eliminating poverty through small loans.”

Political scientist Nurul Amin Bepari, the president of the alternative party, said that what the government is doing to Dr. Yunus is unfair. It has been doing to the opposition for the last 14 years. The discussion meeting was chaired by Zafar Mahmud, convener of the Professional Rights Council, and the following leaders spoke: member secretary Md. Nizam Uddin, General Secretary of Public Rights Council, Muhammad Rashed Khan, Senior Leader of Professional Rights Council, Advocate Khalid Hossain, Mr. S. Alam, Mr. Tanveer Yusuf, Journalist Roknuzzaman, and Monirul Mawla.

Following his excellent initial analysis of the labor law case lodged against Professor Yunus and three other Grameen Telecom board members, Shayan S. Khan, Executive Editor of the respected Dhaka Courier, wrote a short follow up article on his lively, informative, and entertaining Facebook page. Because so many ill-informed statements and claims are circulating about this case, we felt it was important to share Khan’s excellent article in full, which we do below with his generous permission.

One of the most misleading claims going around is that it wasn’t the government, but rather the employees of Grameen Telecom who filed the case against Dr Yunus. It was there in the statement by the Supreme Court Bar Association yesterday: শ্রম আইনের মামলা সরকার দায়ের করেনি, তা অধিকার বঞ্চিত শ্রমিকরাই তাদের ন্যায্য অধিকার আদায়ের জন্য দায়ের করেছেন।

The English version of the press release states: “The government filed no cases against him on labour issues; rather the cases were filed by the oppressed labourers for materializing their legal lawful and genuine claim and right.”

In recent weeks, we’ve heard the same claim from the highest levels of government, and Nayeemul Islam Khan on Khaled Mohiuddin’s show last night kept repeating it, going unchallenged throughout.

We’re going to look at what the High Court judgement of August 8, that was later upheld in the Supreme Court (both going against Dr Yunus), says. It is available on the Supreme Court website. Copy/pasting the relevant section verbatim:

Facts in short are that Mr. S.M. Arifuz Zaman, Labour Inspector (General) Department of Inspection, Factories and Establishment, Dhaka lodged a complaint on 20.08.2021 with the

third Labour Court, Dhaka alleging that in course of inspection of Grameen Telecom Company (hereinafter referred to as GTC) he detected the infringements of the following provisions of Bangladesh Labour Ain, 2006 and Bangladesh Labour Rules, 2015.

(1) On completion of probationary period jobs of the labourers and employees are not made permanent in violation of section 4(7)(8 ) of the Bangladesh Labour Ain, 2006 (herein after referred to Act No.42 of 2006)

(2) Labourers and Employees are not granted annual leave with pay or money against earned leave in violation of section 117 of Act No.42 of 2006, and,

(3) Labourers Participatory Fund and Labour Welfare Fund were not constituted and 5% of the net profit of the GTC was not deposited in above funds under the Labour Welfare Foundation Law, 2006.

Later, Justice S M Kuddus Zaman, who authored the verdict on behalf of himself and Justice Shahed Nuruddin, writes about a reference to case law made by Dr Yunus’s lawyer:

“In the case of S.M. Jahidul Islam and others Vs. Syed Ahmed Chowdhury reported in 4 CLR (AD) 2016 the Appellate Division has opined that no complaint under above Ain should be made directly under section 307 without seeking redress to the Labour Court for nonpayment of service benefits.”

Section 307 of the Labour Act is where it says “Whoever contravenes, or fails to comply with, any of the provisions of this act or the rules, regulations or schemes” shall be punishable with fine or imprisonment i.e. it brings punishment in the form of a prison sentence into the picture for violations of the Act.

Towards the end, while dealing with the case law reference, Justice S M Kuddus Zaman writes:

“We have carefully gone through the judgement of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh reported in 4 CLR (AD) (2016) and found that above case was filed by an individual labourer for realization of his service benefits. On the other hand this case was filed by an authorized Inspector of the Government…”

So the judge has even differentiated between the two cases on the basis that one was filed by a labourer, and one by a government officer. If that’s not the government, I don’t know what is.

Elsewhere, while describing the DIFE inspector’s activities, Justice Kuddus Zaman writes how the visit that led to him filing the case on 20.08.21 was made “on the direction” of a higher authority: “On the direction of the higher authority he again inspected GTC on 06.08.2021 and finding repetition of above violations….”

If it wasn’t filed by the government, someone should tell that to the judges handling the case. The fact is it was, and that is the basis on which it is proceeding, and the workers were only later brought on board. [Emphasis added]

Each day, new expressions of support for Professor Yunus emerge from both within Bangladesh and beyond. All are appreciated, valued, and helpful to our cause of protecting Professor Yunus so that he can continue his essential work, free of persecution. One message to the Prime Minister from Azerbaijan came across our desks yesterday, and with the permission of the author we have decided to publish it. This letter is one example of many messages of support, solidarity and outrage that we expect will continue to come until this crisis is over. Statements like this help to focus the attention of the national and international media on this matter, such as this important article published yesterday by the BBC.

Dear Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,

The International Eurasia Press Fund, as a civil society organization with the General Consultative Status of the UN ECOSOC, expresses deep concern over the recent allegations against Dr Muhammad Yunus, a distinguished figure who has dedicated his life to the betterment of society through his groundbreaking work for peace and poverty alleviation, as evidenced by the numerous awards and honours he has received, including the Nobel Peace Prize.

As someone who has closely followed Dr. Yunus’ career and contributions, throughout his life, Dr. Yunus has consistently demonstrated a commitment to ethical practices, social justice, and the empowerment of the underprivileged, including his support for peace.

Dr. Yunus’ pioneering concept of projects has transformed the lives of countless individuals around the world, particularly women and those living in poverty. His efforts have helped individuals to break free from the cycle of poverty and create sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families. The impact of his work on global development and poverty reduction is undeniable.

In July 2016, Dr. Muhammad Yunus visited Azerbaijan upon the invitation of the International Eurasia Press Fund. During his visit, he demonstrated his unwavering support for the people of Azerbaijan and individuals worldwide. Furthermore, his book “Banker to the Poor” is a guidebook, allowing local residents to engage with and learn from the exceptional work of Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

To this day, the influence of Dr. Yunus continues to resonate in Azerbaijan. Many young individuals and students have chosen to follow in his inspirational footsteps, focusing on the transformative potential of social business as a catalyst for global progress, with the ultimate goals of eradicating poverty, reducing unemployment, and achieving net zero carbon emissions. As a result, multiple “3zero clubs” have emerged among university students in Azerbaijan, dedicated to pursuing these ambitious objectives.

Given Dr. Yunus’ longstanding dedication to uplifting marginalized communities and his unwavering commitment to ethical practices, I find it difficult to believe the allegations that have been levied against him. It is crucial to remember that allegations are not convictions, and everyone deserves the right to a fair and impartial investigation.

I kindly urge you to consider the immense positive impact that Dr. Yunus has had on society and to approach this situation with a fair and unbiased perspective. It is my hope that Dr. Yunus will be able to continue his invaluable work without the shadow of these allegations tarnishing his legacy.

Signed,

Umud Mirzayev

President, International Eurasia Press Fund

The last week has seen remarkable displays of courage from Bangladeshis demonstrating solidarity with Professor Yunus despite their government’s abominable and terrifying human rights record. First there was a bold statement from 34 leaders, and more recently there have been supportive street protests. Now comes an incisive essay from Shayan S. Khan, the Executive Editor of the venerable Dhaka Courier.  He addresses head on the lame government response that they are in no position to interfere in a judicial process, without acknowledging how degraded and politicized the Bangladeshi judiciary has become over the last 15 years. Below is the essay in full, taken with the author’s generous permission from his Facebook page. He posted an important follow-up article to this one that can be found here. 

Travesty of justice, guaranteed

It’s ridiculous – nobody is saying Dr Yunus should be spared because he is a Nobel laureate. That is a non-starter, an invalid request. The reason the Nobel laureates are banding together, and rights advocates and anyone who cares for transparency and justice at home or abroad is because a man is being persecuted, unfairly, clearly unfairly. Nobody would give a damn if he seemed truly guilty of the crimes alleged. They would wash their hands of him. And at this stage we should mention it’s not just him, there are 4 others with him, all trustees of Grameen Telecom. The first and foremost red flag is that allegations that are civil in nature have been filed as a criminal case.

What are these allegations? Not killing or mistreating or abusing employees. Delays in making them, or their job status, ‘permanent’ at Grameen Telecom. We all do jobs at different organisations. Has anyone ever even contemplated that their bosses should not only be hauled up in court, but also be jailed for such delays?

The difference between civil and criminal cases is that in civil cases the penalty is a fine, or compensation. In criminal cases the perpetrator goes to jail. What sounds like the appropriate course of action in the situation we just discussed?

Without going into whether the employees’ complaints have merit, when Dr Yunus’s lawyers petitioned to have the case thrown out on that basis (civil v criminal), a full bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court sat to reject that petition. There could be no greater signal that these courts have it in for Dr Yunus this time. The trial in the labour court started just two days later. They seem to be in an awful hurry too.

In a country where 3.2 million cases remain pending with the courts, where labour court cases take especially long to be resolved, if at all, this case has proceeded with remarkable haste.

Important also to note that the first case filed in this connection was not by any of the employees, but by the Department for Inspection of Factories and Establishments, or DIFE, the same guys who are supposed to go check fire alarms, etc, workplace safety at factories, restaurants, eateries, after an ‘inspection visit’ of the Grameen Telecom offices, a private trust, back in September 2021. I’m not saying they can’t do it, but how many of you working in an office setting, not a factory or restaurant or production facility, have experienced DIFE visits going through employee records?

A full bench of the highest court of appeal is supposed to be your highest chance at getting justice, in any judicial system. Unfortunately after 15 years of one-sided politicisation, in Bangladesh today, the fuller the bench, the higher the chances of the higher judiciary being used to pursue political ends.

Travesty of justice, guaranteed.

In a postscript he added, “I should just clarify that the politicisation has always been there of course, not just in the last 15 years. But when power changed hands every 5 years, it meant at any one time the panel of judges in say the Supreme Court or High Court had appointees from both sides, meaning a spectrum of views were present. It is the one-sided politicisation in the last 15 years that ruined everything, as every single judge today is an AL appointee in hock to their agenda.”

There are two important things to know about compulsive liars when they feel under pressure and vulnerable. First, the scope of their lies grows – their untruths become, as they say in the United States, “whoppers.” Second, they are usually more easily disproven than their run-of-the-mill lies.

Take, for example, Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs statement in this article: “‘But you have seen the two-page advertisement that cost at least a million dollars, with most of the signatories being retired individuals. It raises doubts,’ he said, referring to a letter published in the form of an ‘advertisement’ in the Washington Post on March 7 in favour of Dr Yunus.” In this article, the figure he cites is “about $2 million.”

In fact, if someone were to look at this public document published by the Washington Post, the maximum that the March ad could have cost was $83,430, based on the Per Column Inch (PCI) rate of $927 applied to a full-page ad. In fact, the Protect Yunus Campaign negotiated a significant discount below this published amount, as many ad buyers (especially nonprofit ones) do. (It would be indiscreet to say exactly how much of a discount they gave us, but it was substantial.) The fact-checkers working in the Foreign Ministry—if there are any!—could have easily discovered this fact had they spent even ten minutes researching the matter.

The other lie is that the ad was two pages. It is obvious to anyone who saw the ad that it was one page: A7, to be exact.

Another criticism that was leveled at the time the Post ad was published concerned the fact that it was a paid advertisement, rather than news coverage of Professor Yunus’ persecution by his own government. The Campaign responded to that at the time, but a better response can be found in the fact that the Post has recently covered this crisis.

Now, a New York Times ad has just been published based on a more recent open letter to the Prime Minister. When you hear criticisms of this effort in solidarity with Professor Yunus, remember that when liars are feeling the heat, they lie big. We won’t go to the trouble of disproving all the “whoppers” to come, but we invite other people of goodwill to try their hand at doing so. It’s usually not difficult.

If you are as outraged about all this as we are, check out our call to action to get involved and help resolve this crisis in a humane and just manner.

For the last 13 years, the government of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been persecuting Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, as part of a much broader assault on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Bangladesh. In March, 40 global leaders signed a letter asking the Prime Minister to stop this senseless campaign against one of its most accomplished and admired citizens.  With a trial of Professor Yunus now underway, 190 global leaders including 108 Nobel laureates have signed a new letter calling on her to desist. That letter, which was released August 28, 2023, is below with all the signers (a few of whom were added after August 28); concerned citizens have also been signing and are also listed at the bottom. A related news release was issued. Citizens around the world are being asked to join this campaign by responding to its call to action. This letter, which was done in solidarity with 34 courageous Bangladeshi leaders who issued their own statement of support, was published as a full-page ad in the international edition of the New York Times on August 31, just as Professor Yunus’ “trial” resumed.

================

August 28, 2023

Dear Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,

We write to you as Nobel Prize laureates, elected officials, and business and civil society leaders, and as friends of Bangladesh. We admire how your nation has made laudable progress since its independence in 1971.

However, we are deeply concerned by the threats to democracy and human rights that we have observed in Bangladesh recently. We believe that it is of the utmost importance that the upcoming national election be free and fair, and that the administration of the election be acceptable to all major parties in the country. The previous two national elections lacked legitimacy.

One of the threats to human rights that concerns us in the present context is the case of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. We are alarmed that he has recently been targeted by what we believe to be continuous judicial harassment. This letter attempts to build upon an earlier appeal to you by 40 global leaders who were concerned about his safety and freedom.

We respectfully ask that you immediately suspend the current judicial proceedings against Professor Yunus, followed by a review of the charges by a panel of impartial judges drawn from within your nation with some role for internationally recognized legal experts. We are confident that any thorough review of the anti-corruption and labor law cases against him will result in his acquittal.

As you know, Professor Yunus’ work, which has been inspirational to all of us, focuses on how social business can be a force for international progress resulting in zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions. He is a leading example of how Bangladesh and Bangladeshis have contributed to global progress in recent decades. We sincerely wish that he be able to continue his path-breaking work free of persecution or harassment.

We hope that you ensure the resolution of these legal issues in an expedient, impartial, and just manner while also ensuring a free, fair, and participatory national election in the coming months, and respect for all human rights. We will join with millions of concerned citizens around the world in closely tracking how these matters are resolved in the days ahead.

Sincerely,

Nobel Laureates:

PEACE

Barack H. Obama, 2009

José Ramos-Horta, 1996

Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, 1976

Shirin Ebadi, 2003

Leymah Roberta Gbowee, 2011

Albert Arnold Gore Jr., 2007

Tawakkol Karman, 2011

Denis Mukwege, 2018

Nadia Murad, 2018

Maria Ressa, 2021

Oscar Arias Sanchez, 1987

Juan Manuel Santos, 2016

Rigoberta Menchu Tum, 1992

Jody Williams, 1997

CHEMISTRY

Peter Agre, 2003

Thomas R. Cech, 1989

Martin Chalfie, 2008

Emmanuelle Charpentier, 2020

Aaron Ciechanover, 2004

Johann Deisenhofer, 1988

Jacques Dubochet, 2017

Joachim Frank, 2017

Walter Gilbert, 1980

Alan Heeger, 2000

Richard Henderson, 2017

Dudley R. Herschbach, 1986

Avram Hershko, 2004

Roald Hoffmann, 1981

Robert Huber, 1988

Martin Karplus, 2013

Brian K. Kobilka, 2012

Yuan T. Lee, 1986

Robert J. Lefkowitz, 2012

Jean-Marie Lehn, 1987

Michael Levitt, 2013

Tomas Lindahl, 2015

W. E. Moerner, 2014

Paul L. Modrich, 2015

John C. Polanyi, 1986

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, 2016

Sir John E. Walker, 1997

Arieh Warshel, 2013

Sir Gregory P. Winter, 2018

ECONOMICS

Abhijit Banerjee, 2019

Esther Duflo, 2019

Sir Oliver Hart, 2016

Finn E. Kydland, 2004

Paul R. Milgrom, 2020

Edmund Phelps, 2006

Alvin E. Roth, 2012

Vernon L. Smith, 2002

Joseph E. Stiglitz, 2001

LITERATURE

J. M. Coetzee, 2003

Herta Muller, 2009

Orhan Pamuk, 2006

Wole Soyinka, 1986

MEDICINE

Harvey J. Alter, 2020

David Baltimore, 1975

Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, 2008

J. Michael Bishop, 1989

Elizabeth H. Blackburn, 2009

William C. Campbell, 2015

Peter C. Doherty, 1996

Jeffrey Connor Hall, 2017

Leland H. Hartwell, 2001

Jules A. Hoffmann, 2011

Tasuku Honjo, 2018

H. Robert Horvitz, 2002

Sir Michael Houghton, 2020

Craig C. Mello, 2006

Edvard Moser, 2014

May-Britt Moser, 2014

Sir Paul M. Nurse, 2001

Ardem Patapoutian, 2021

Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, 2019

Charles M. Rice, 2020

Sir Richard J. Roberts, 1993

Michael Rosbash, 2017

Gregg L. Semenza, 2019

Hamilton O. Smith, 1978

Jack W. Szostak, 2009

Harold E. Varmus, 1989

Eric F. Wieschaus, 1995

Torsten N. Wiesel, 1981

Michael W. Young, 2017

PHYSICS

Barry Clark Barish, 2017

Steven Chu, 1997

Andre Geim, 2010

Sheldon Glashow, 1979

David J. Gross, 2004

John L. Hall, 2005

Takaaki Kajita, 2015

Wolfgang Ketterle, 2001

Anthony J. Leggett, 2003

John C. Mather, 2006

Michel Mayor, 2019

Arthur B. McDonald, 2015

Konstantin Novoselov, 2010

Giorgio Parisi, 2021

James Peebles, 2019

Roger Penrose, 2020

William D. Phillips, 1997

H. David Politzer, 2004

Brian P. Schmidt, 2011

Horst L. Stormer, 1998

Daniel C. Tsui, 1998

Carl E. Wieman, 2001

David J. Wineland, 2012

Elected Officials & Business and Civil Society Leaders

Abdulaziz Altwaijri, Director-General of ISESCO 1999-2019

Enzo Amendola, Member of Parliament, Italy and Former Minister of European Affairs

Ban Ki-moon, 8^th Secretary General of the UN

Laura Boldrini, Former President of the Parliament, Italy

Kjell Magne Bondevik, Prime Minister of Norway 1997-2000, 2001-2005, Deputy Prime Minister 1985-1986, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1989-1990

Bono, Musician and Activist

Dumitru Bragish, Prime Minister of Moldova 1999-2001

Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group

Jesper Brodin, CEO, Ingka Group (IKEA)

Sharan Burrow, Former General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation

Kathy Calvin, Former President and CEO, UN Foundation

Carla Castro, Member of Parliament, Portugal

Hikmet Cetin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey 1991-1994, 20th Speaker of the Grand National Assembly 1997-1999, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey 1995

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of State

Emil Constantinescu, President of Romania 1996-2000

Mirko Cvetkovic, Prime Minister of Serbia 2008-2012

Sam Daley-Harris, Founder, RESULTS and Civic Courage

Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Roméo Dallaire, Founder, Dallaire Institute for Children. Peace and Security

Bill Drayton, Founder, Ashoka

Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President Emerita, Children’s Defense Fund

Maria Fernanda Espinosa, President of the UN 73rd General Assembly

Ameenah Gurib Fakim, President of Mauritius 2015-2018

Christiana Figueres, Former UN Climate Change Executive Secretary

Walter Fust, Director-General Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation 1993-2008

Peter Gabriel, Musician

Ron Garan, Former NASA Astronaut

Kul Gautam, Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary General of the UN

Pamela Gillies, Former Vice Chancellor and Professor Emerita, Glasgow Caledonian University

Peter C. Goldmark, Jr., Former CEO, Rockefeller Foundation and International Herald Tribune

Justice Richard Goldstone, South African Former Judge and Former Chief Prosecutor of the UN International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia and Rwanda

Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder, the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace

Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA

John Hewko, CEO, Rotary International

Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris

André Hoffmann, Vice Chairman, Roche Holding AG

Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO, Thrive Global

Mo Ibrahim, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

Mladen Ivanic, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014-2018

Baroness Helena Kennedy, KC Member of the House of Lords UK

Kerry Kennedy, President, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

Vinod Khosla, Venture Capitalist

Zlatko Lagumdzija, Former Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Annie Lennox, Singer, Songwriter, and Activist

Yves Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium 2008, 2009-2011

Dame Sara Llewellin, Chief Executive, Barrow Cadbury Trust

Igor Luksic, Prime Minister of Montenegro 2010-2012

Giorgi Margvelashvili, President of Georgia 2013-2018

Rexhep Meidani, President of Albania 1997-2002

Hiro Mizuno, UN Special Envoy on Innovative Finance and Sustainable Investments

Dr Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the Arab League 2001-2011, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt 1991-2001

Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys

Susan Ness, Board Member, Vital Voices Global Partnership

Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder and CEO, Acumen

Francis Martin O’Donnell, Ambassador of SMOM to Slovakia 2009-2013, Resident Coordinator UN/UNDP Ukraine 2004-2009, Serbia and Montenegro 2000-2004

Jean Oelwang, Founding CEO and President, Virgin United

Dr. Michael Otto, Chairman of the Supervisory Board Otto Group

Borut Pahor, President of Slovenia 2012-2022

George Papandreou, Prime Minister of Greece 2009-2011

Rosen Plevneliev, President of Bulgaria 2012-2017

Paul Polman, Business leader

Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC, Former UK Defense Secretary and Foreign Secretary

Lord George Robertson, Former Secretary General, NATO 

Mary Robinson, Former Prime Minister of Ireland

Ismail Serageldin, Co-chair Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Vice President of the World Bank 1992-2000, Emeritus Librarian of Alexandria

Rosalia Arteago Serrano, President of Ecuador 1997, Vice-President of Ecuador 1997-1998

Michael Sheen, Actor

Wayne Silby, Founding Chair, Calvert Funds

Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Brazil

Yeardley Smith, Actress

Sharon Stone, Mother

Petar Stoyanov, President of Bulgaria 1997-2002

Laimdota Straujuma, Prime Minister of Latvia 2014-2016

Dr. David Suzuki, Prof. Emeritus, University of British Columbia

Boris Tadic, Former President of Serbia                                                                         

Eka Tkeshelashvili, Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia 2010-2012, Minister of Foreign Affairs 2008

Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Chobani

Raimonds Vejonis, President of Latvia 2015-2019

Melanne S. Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security at Georgetown University

Vaira Vike-Freiberga, President of Latvia 1999-2007, Co-chair Nizami Ganjavi International Center 

Filip Vujanovic, President of Montenegro 2003-2018

Kateryna Yushchenko, First Lady of Ukraine 2005-2010

Viktor Yushchenko, President of Ukraine 2005-2010

Nicola Zingaretti, Member of Parliament, Italy

Concerned Citizens

Susan Davis (New York, USA)

Roshaneh Zafar (Lahore, Pakisan)

Dr. Eldrid Herrington (London, UK)

Jo Ousterhout (Lisbon, Portugal)

Beth Malcolm (Toronto, Canada)

Prof. Dr. Morshed Nasir (Bangladesh)

Laura Mosedale (London, United Kingdom)

Dr. Sabrina Scherzer (Trondheim, Norway)

Rebecca Eastmond (London, UK)

Juliet Valdinger (London, UK)

Marina Nogueira Martins e Silva Monterosso (São Paulo, Brazil)

Mohammad Imran Hossain (Ansary)

Heidrun Aufles (Hamnvik, Norway)

Vishakha N Desai, President Emerita, Asia Society (New York, USA)

Nina Nayar (Cochin, India)

Delwar Hossain (Toronto, Canada)

Manouchehr Shamsrizi, M.P.P. FRSA (Hamburg/Berlin, Germany)

Professor Muhammad Ali Akond, Department of Botany, Jahangirnagar University (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Reyad Hossain

Chris Temple (California, United States)

Abul Azad (Montreal, Canada)

Richards St-Pierre (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada)

Diana Carolina Quintero Giraldo (Peru)

Razib Mohammad (Canberra, Australia)

Dr Daphne Hering (Berlin, Germany)

James Happell (Melbourne, Australia)

Masaharu Okada (Fukuoka City, Japan)

Oliur Sun, Writer and Activist (Bangladesh)

Altaf Zaman (ACT, Australia)

Ashir Ahmed (Fukuoka, Japan)

Michael Wirtz (Cologne, Germany)

Toni Heigl (Munich, Germany)

Sadia Hossain (Bangladesh)

Christina Papadam (Utrecht, Netherlands)  

Samantha Caccamo (Lugano, Switzerland) 

Suresh Krishna (Bangalore, India)

Khorshed Khan (Niles, Illinois, USA)

Kate Robertson (London, UK)

David Jones (London, UK)

Rafaela Sperandio Chammé Caterina (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Adnan Zaman (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Vinatha M Reddy (Bangalore India)

Samit Ghosh (Bangalore, India)

Håkon da Silva Hyldmo (Trondheim, Norway)

Yuka (Tanaka) Takahashi (Fukuoka, Japan)

Laure Nitschmann (Paris, France)

M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, PhD (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Jean BERNOU

Denis SABARDINE (Paris, France)

Mohammad Saiful Islam (Malaysia)

Catherine Ann Matt (Fairfield, Iowa, United States of America)

Jo Kelly (Auckland,New Zealand)

Carla Corazzol (Ann Arbor, USA)

Lorri Stein (Long Beach, California)

Davia B. Temin (New York, USA)

Peter Bladin (Seattle, USA)

Alex Counts (Hyattsville, USA)

Noor Shams (New York, USA)

Nuren Abedin (Fukuoka, Japan)

Md. Ilias Miah (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Wahid Mashfy (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Brice de Gromard (Montmorency, France)

Liza Patris (Paris, France)

Carlos Lopez-Gutierrez (Santander, Spain)

Mohammad Shamsul Alam (Bangladesh)

Mrs. Heike Eggers (Hamburg, Germany)

Jérôme Dodji Fiayiwo (Togo)

Md. Saidur Rahman (Chittagong, Bangladesh)

Kabir Hosen (Munich, Germany)

Claudia Slacik (New York, USA)

Ida Hariati Hashim (Malaysia)

Vijay Mahajan (New Delhi, India)

David Weir (Santa Fe, USA)

Sunil Rao (Madison, Wisconsin, USA)

Clarke Áine (Brussels, Belgium)

Md. Hasibul Hasan (Bangladesh)

Algis Krupavicius (Kaunas, Lithuania)

Kate Bulger (Berkeley, USA)

M Zakir Hossain Khan (Bangladesh)

Afnan Hasan Imran (Bangaldesh)

Muhammad Shoheb Manik (Bangladesh)

Alan Webber, Mayor (Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA)

Gareth Morrell (Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA)

Kayoko Tsuchiya (Tokyo, Japan)

Haruki Kamiya (Aichi, Japan)

Ito Tomoaki (Osaka, Japan) 

Ms. Atsuko Nakasone (Okinawa Japan)

Kaishu Nakasone (Tokyo Japan)

Prof. Hiromi Inayoshi (Tokyo Japan)

Joshua Rudolph (Hamburg, Germany)

Olivier Vandecasteele, Humanitarian (Brussels, Belgium)  

Katharina Schroeder-Boersch (Wiesbaden, Germany)

Prof. Dr. Henrik Schroeder-Boersch (Wiesbaden, Germany)

Ticiana Holanda Rolim Queiroz (fortaleza- CE – Brazil)

Jeff Snell, PhD (Madison, Wisconsin, USA)

Qamar-ul Huda (Annapolis, MD, USA)

Joanne Carter (Washington, DC)

Shahriar Shuvo (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

Scott Leckman (Salt Lake City, USA)

Charan Prasai (Lalitpur metropolis, Lalitpur, Nepal)

Olena GUBKINA (Marseille, France)

Gordon Edward Knowles (Brisbane, Australia)

Marta Ribeiro (Braga, Portugal)

Maria del Sel (Buenos Aires, Argentina) 

Kazumi Morishita (Japan)

Saskia Bruysten (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Katrien Buys (Rio de Mouro, Portugal) 

Silke Cramer (Berlin, Germany)

Pascale Simon (Brussels, Belgium)

Christoph Auerbach (Munich, Germany)

Marilou van Golstein Brouwers (Blaricum, The Netherlands)

Bastian Mueller (Berlin, Germany)

Larissa Berbare (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Tulio Marra Guimaraes Notini (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Elaine Campos Martins (São Paulo, Brazil) 

Fernanda Baroncini (São Paulo, Brazil)

Filipe Charters de Azevedo (Lisboa, Portugal)

Camila Fava Pestana (São Paulo, Brazil)

Lucas Ramalho Maciel (Brazil)

Archana Nambiar (Bangalore, India)

Dr. Hellen Fitsch (Frankfurt, Germany)

Daniel Hires (Barcelona, Spain)

Katrina Dunn (Perth, Australia)

Prof. Elisabetta Righini (Urbino Italy)

Wasim Mushtaq (London, UK)

Jasmin Mir (Berlin,Germany)

Tatjana Sait-Mauthofer (Frankfurt, Germany)

Md. Rafsun Sheikh (Bangladesh)

Jayna Sheats (Aptos, CA, USA)

Fiamma Degl’Innocenti (Florence, Italy) 

Mohammed Mominul Haque and the Peace And Justice Alliance (Canada)

Daniel Ayebare (Uganda)

Flavio Vaz Saldanha (Brazil)

Elsa Warde (Paris, France)

Elliot Hirshon (Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, USA)

Rima Karim (Toronto, Canada)

Stephen Hirshon (Pennsylvania, USA)

Frank Bömers (Winden, Germany)

Danielle Keiser (Berlin, Germany)

Tony Lent (Westport Point, MA USA)

Anne Pratt (Boston, USA)

Manish Rajoria (Bhopal, India)

Barbara Kleinjohann (Berlin, Germany)

Allida Black, Ph.D. (Arlington, Virginia, USA) 

Srinivas Bonam (India)

Kasozi Noah (Uganda)

Alex Pappas (Port Charlotte, FL, USA)

John Miracle M. (Owerri, Nigeria)

Muhammad Kasim Dakogi (Mokwa, Nigeria)

Manon Caillon (Nantes, France)

Julia Wilson (Del Mar, California, USA)

Peter Holbrook CBE (London, UK)

Alison Grun (France)

Unni Beate Sekkesæter (Tana, Finnmark, Norway)

Lucy Findlay MBE (U.K.) 

Paula Gamester (U.K.)

Sarah Anderson (Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom) 

Charles Anderson (Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom) 

Oscar Anderson MBE (Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom)

Max Anderson (Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom)

Francesca Anderson (Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom)

Charles Anderson (Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom) 

Mark O Kelly (London, UK)

Marilu Germscheid (Lugano, Switzerland)

Jennifer Beason (Denver, CO, USA)

Samuel Suter (Sens, Switzerland)

Claire Fobe (Brussels, Belgium)

Per Bach (Denmark) 

Thomas Stelzer (Vienna, Austria)

Muhammad Jamaluddin (Bangladesh)

Amy Denro (Brighton, UK)

Emily Mudge (Eaglehawk, Australia)

Lucretia de Jong (Melbourne , Australia) 

Chris Martin (Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.)

Jo Pritchard (West Byfleet, UK)

Scott Irwin (Glasgow, Scotland, UK)

Mansur Ahmed (Woodbury, Minnesota)

Craig Span (Maple Glen, Pennsylvania, USA) 

Daniel Nowack (Geneva, Switzerland)

Md Abdul Jalil (Rajshahi, Bangladesh) 

Sona Mahtani (Saint Martin Seper, France)

Laura Rana (London, UK)

Umar Abdullah (Tampa, USA)

Jenny Medhurst (Stockton-on-Tees, UK)

Cato Gehrels (Utrecht, The Netherlands)

Marc Tolo (Lawrenceville, NJ)

Caterina Occhio (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Francesca D’Onofrio (Naples Italy)

Anna Colombini (Reggio Emilia, Italy)

Aitor Ojanguren (Bilbao, Spain)

Davide Patruno (Bari, Italy)

Adeline Comperev (Matera, Italy)

Elisabet Nyquist (Milan, Italy)

Irene Aprile (Baronissi, Italy)

Viola Capotosti (San Gemini, Italy)

José E. Alejandro Sánchez Ibarra (Milan, Italy)

Giusi Biaggi (Italy)

Federica Franze (Milan, Italy)

Carolina Nunez Soriano (Tegucigalpa, Honduras)

Cristina Toscano (Milan, Italy)

Elisabet Nyquist (Milan, Italy)

Gaynor Coley (Wadebridge, Cornwall UK) 

Viviana Bassan (Milan, Italy)

Eugenia Chiara (Milan, Italy)

Nicola Coxon (London, England)

Nica Chan (Aprilia, Italy)

Sandra Dauber (Box Elder, South Dakota, USA)

Alison Grun (Lyon, France)

Tatiana Glad (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Prof. Joachim von Braun (Bonn, Germany)

Aron Benjamin Handreke (Munich, Germany)

Kaki Hopkins (Dallas, Texas, USA)

Christina Dendys (Ottawa, Canada)

Yoan Noguier (Avignon, France)

Sandrine Dixson-Decleve (Brussels, Belgium)

Lily Cole (London, United Kingdom)

Mushtaque Chowdhury (South Bend, Indiana, USA)

Cecilia Chapiro (New York City, USA)

Joanna Klimczak (Montreal, Canada)

Cam Donaldson (Glasgow, UK)

Josie Barnett (New York, USA)

Rasa Valinskienė (Skuodas City, Lithuania)

Florence Gaudry-Perkins (Paris, France)

Sibanji Cholwe (Lusaka, Zambia)

Barbara Kleinjohann (Berlin, Germany)

Arvinder Singh Walia (London, United Kingdom)

Paul Picknett (Tadworth, United Kingdom)

Aminu Musa Gusau (Zamfara State, Nigeria)

Livia Malcangio (Rome, Italy) 

Loïc Badin (Paris, France) 

Karen Lowthrop MBE (Beverley, Yorkshire, United Kingdom) 

Lucy Ferguson (London, UK)

Karen Badenoch (Colchester, UK)

Gordon Starr (San Francisco, USA)

Emma Cornubert (Berlin, Germany)

Philippe Guichandut (Paris, France)

Md. Sohag Ali (Rajshahi, Bangladesh)

Martin C. Lukas (Trondheim, Norway)

Nanang Indra Kurniawan (Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

Malcolm Hayday, CBE, founding chief executive Charity Bank (Almeria, Spain)

Cheryl McDaniel (Spokane, Washington, USA)

Azizur Rahman, Ph.D. (Toronto, Canada)

Titles are for identification purposes only.

For more information and how you can help, visit: https://protectyunus.wpcomstaging.com/

If you are reading this, it is probably because you care about the work, life, and safety of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. If so, those of us involved in helping keep him safe welcome you into the “Protect Yunus” campaign. 

We have identified several action steps that any citizen can take to help our cause.  They are:

1. Take a photo of yourself with a sign or piece of paper that has the words #IStandWithYunus and post it on social media. Think creatively about where you could take it. For example, in front of a Bangladesh embassy or consulate, if one is near you. Or simply in your home or neighborhood. Here is an example on Twitter of what you can do.
2. Circulate the January 2024 open letter to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister by 243 Global Leaders including 125 Nobel laureates, and also an early August 2023 letter, to your friends, colleagues, and associates, and urge others to take action in support of it.
3. You can also circulate the Protect Yunus Campaign’s statement about the unjust verdict against Professor Yunus on January 1, 2024 that carries a prison sentence of six months.
4. Add your name as a concerned citizen wishing to endorse and sign the August 2023 open letter by sending your name, country, and city to this email address: protectmdyunus@gmail.com. Those writing from Bangladesh may not want to include the name of their city in order to protect their identity. We will list individuals in the order in which they send us their requests to join as co-signers along with the more than 160 original signers, including more than 100 Nobel laureates. Unless you indicate otherwise in your message, we will add you to our mailing list so you can receive future updates and calls to action.
5. Write to your elected representatives at the federal level (such as your Congressperson and Senators if you live in the United States) and urge them to take action in support of Professor Yunus and human rights in Bangladesh.
6. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the Bangladesh government’s treatment of Professor Yunus and the human rights situation there generally (you can read about the human rights issues in Bangladesh here).
7. Follow the PY Yunus Campaign on Twitter to stay informed, and retweet our postings.
8. Get involved with some of the great organizations Professor Yunus has started in the United States, such as Grameen Foundation and Grameen America, and ones advocating for and advancing social business and sustainable change globally. For those under 35 years of age, form or join a “Three Zero Club”.
9. Make a financial contribution to the Protect Yunus Campaign to help us sustain our efforts (which is tax deductible, to the maximum extent allowable by law, for U.S. taxpayers).

We welcome your suggestions about how we can best work together to protect Professor Yunus.  You can email us anytime at protectmdyunus@gmail.com.

Among the growing list of public figures and concerned citizens expressing solidarity with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus during the senseless persecution he has suffered from his own government is Barack Obama, the 44^th president of the United States and a Peace Prize laureate himself.

President Obama recently wrote to Professor Yunus. The text of the letter appears below:

August 17, 2023

Dear Professor Yunus,

I have long been inspired by your efforts to empower people by offering them the means to lift their families and communities out of poverty. As I said when having the opportunity to meet you in the White House in 2009, your work has inspired millions to imagine their own potential.

During this period, I hope it gives you strength to know that many whose potential you invested in, and those of us who care about a more equitable economic future for all, are thinking of you, and I hope that you continue to have the freedom to do your important work.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Expect more expressions of solidarity from leaders and the public in the days ahead, as we near the resumption of Professor Yunus’ trial on meritless charges on August 31.

There has been growing global attention being paid to the persecution of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, especially since his farcical trial began on August 22. Now the Economist, long known for its trenchant and in-depth of Bangladesh, has weighed in—following up an important article in late 2022.

These two articles, plus a recent one in the Financial Times, clearly contradict the false narrative that human rights abuses and the treatment of Professor Yunus in Bangladesh are not newsworthy. To the extent these important developments have not been covered by some international media, it mainly due to the difficulty they have had securing visas to visit and report on Bangladesh.

The new Economist article, titled “Bangladesh is lurching towards repressive one-party rule,” is scathing yet truthful. It begins: “To foreign donors, development wonks and some of the world’s poorest people, Muhammad Yunus is a hero. The Bangladeshi economist, social entrepreneur and founder of Grameen Bank pioneered the use of microloans and other services for those too marginalised to access conventional banking systems. In 2006 Mr Yunus won the Nobel peace prize for his work in grassroots development—empowering the most impecunious. The model he helped pioneer did much to improve economic, social and health conditions in Bangladesh. It has since spread across continents. Yet to Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the prime minister who has ruled Bangladesh since 2009 (and once before), Mr Yunus is diabolical. With a general election due in January, she salts campaign speeches with attacks on him.”

It continues, “Sheikh Hasina appears to find it unbearable that anyone might oppose or outshine her. The 75-year-old leader, whose father was Bangladesh’s first president, talks as if she will be in charge for ever. The coming election may seal Bangladesh’s descent into a one-party state.

“Sheikh Hasina’s sense of entitlement to Bangladesh is rooted in tragic loss… Yet the personality cult she has built for her assassinated father—and by extension herself—is pernicious. Those who join this cult are assisting a regime thick with cronyism and corruption. In return for backing the government, favoured tycoons win banking licences and other plums. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s years of strong economic performance look imperilled. Its economic growth is far too reliant on one sector, clothing, as well as on remittances from Bangladeshis toiling overseas.

“This amounts to a dreadful threat to Bangladesh’s progress.”

Expect more commentary about this crisis in the days ahead.

A labor law case against Professor Yunus that dates back to 2021 was coming to a head in late August 2023, and could result in his imprisonment for up to six months on meritless charges. The first day of the trial was August 22, 2023. An international law firm has undertaken a high-level review of the case. On the basis of that review, it is the conclusion of the Protect Yunus Campaign that Professor Yunus is facing six months in prison for a crime that he not only did not commit, but that legally does not exist.

By way of background, Bangladesh is considered by Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index to rank 147 out of 180 in terms of how corrupt it is perceived to be (i.e., very corrupt), on a par with Iran and Guinea. Dissent and political opposition is not tolerated, with reports of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and the intimidation, harassment and arrest of journalists. It is widely alleged that Sheikh Hasina’s 2018 election to office was the product of election rigging. Events are moving quickly in Bangladesh, driven by a forthcoming election and a presumed desire to imprison Professor Yunus prior to that election.

Professor Yunus is the Chairman of Grameen Telecom. Four innocent board members of Grameen Telecom, including Professor Yunus, are now facing six months’ imprisonment in the immediate future, having been pursued by the Bangladeshi state in relation to various allegations regarding breaches of the Bangladesh Labor Act of 2006. The allegations relate to (a) employees not being converted to full-time status after an apprenticeship, (b) employees not being paid in lieu of annual leave, and (c) employees not being paid regarding the Workers Profit Participation Fund. The allegations are factually incorrect, and overlook the not-for-profit nature of Grameen Telecom. The employees of Grameen Telecom are receiving benefits as if they were regular employees, but Grameen Telecom has no provision for any permanent job structure precisely because it is a not-for-profit company, and employees are therefore appointed on a contractual basis.

Not only are the allegations entirely without merit, but the legal process being followed is wrong in law. Professor Yunus is being pursued criminally alongside his fellow defendants, when the Act only creates civil liability for the alleged breaches of it. The route the case has taken to date, from the initial investigation to its subsequent passage through various layers of the Bangladeshi court system, has been inappropriate, and is clear evidence of the Bangladeshi authorities’ and judiciary’s sanctioning of the persecution of Professor Yunus. Supporters of Professor Yunus have seen judges who have initially challenged the prosecution fall in line with the state’s narrative. A miscarriage of justice is happening and the Bangladeshi state must not be allowed to carry it to its conclusion.

Expect some strong statements of support for Professor Yunus in the days ahead.

International condemnation of the Bangladesh government’s abuses of human rights continues to pour in. For example, Human Rights Watch recently published a press release and analysis titled, “Bangladesh: Excessive Force Against Political Protesters.”

It began with some startling facts: “Bangladesh police indiscriminately fired rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons, and beat opposition party supporters with batons during protests in late July 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. In the days leading up to a major demonstration on July 29, the authorities arrested over 800 leaders and activists of the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), in what appears to be a systematic effort to target and detain political opponents.

“The election-related abuses occurred during a visit by the European Union’s special representative for human rights, Eamon Gilmore, and at the end of the EU’s exploratory mission to assess the conditions for full monitoring during the January 2024 national elections.”

It continued with this revelation: “The mass arrests appear to reflect leaked minutes from a police meeting that outlined orders to systematically arrest and convict opposition members so that they would be disqualified from participating in the national election.”

It added an observation that underscored the importance of the growing international attention being given to democratic backsliding in Bangladesh: “In the leaked minutes, a senior police officer admitted that ‘[there] is a lot of pressure on the government from outside regarding the elections.’” 

In addition, there was a recent letter from 14 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations that followed up an earlier letter from six of them to President Biden. It included some stark language: “We write to you today to express our concern with Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh, and her government’s reported terrorizing, torturing, and even murdering of Bangladeshi citizens. A large number of human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, and Reporters Without Borders, have documented human rights abuses by Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh, including intimidation, assault, false imprisonment, torture, disappearances, and even extra-judicial killings.” The letter received significant coverage in the Bangladeshi media.

Finally, respected journalist Patrick Pexton, formerly the ombudsman at the Washington Post, wrote an article for The Hill titled “Authoritarianism Threatens a Nobel Laureate” about the continuing persecution of Professor Yunus (one of many human rights abuses in the county). He writes that Yunus, despite the long list of his accomplishments for Bangladesh, “…has gotten himself crossways with an increasingly authoritarian and corrupt government.”

He continues, “Hasina, the daughter of the country’s revered founder, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has been backsliding badly on democracy in recent years. She increasingly suppresses opposition parties, stifles dissent, imposes restrictions on the media and disappears political opponents. International organizations have also expressed doubts about the fairness of the last two elections in Bangladesh.

“Like all authoritarians, Hasina cannot stand sharing the limelight with anyone. And in recent years she has cast her shade on Yunus, whom she wrongly views as a potential electoral rival. In speeches over the years, she has called him a ‘usurer,’ a ‘cheat’ and worse.”

These criticisms from abroad have helped galvanize Bangladesh’s previously moribund opposition to bring the country to a standstill at times while demanding a free and fair national election under a neutral caretaker administration, as was done successfully in the country in 1991 and 1996.

It is more important than ever that continued attention be paid by members of the media, the diplomatic corps, foreign ministries, and concerned citizens to the crisis in Bangladesh and the steps being taken to resolve it in a just manner.

New commentary about Professor Yunus and Grameen Telecom in “Bangladesh Pratidin,” a Bengali language daily newspaper, prompted a rare public response from Grameen Telecom. An English translation of the response appears below, and it may be published elsewhere in the days ahead. The rejoinder has already been covered in the Bangladesh media, such as here. The Bengali language version of the rejoinder can be found here. As of July 5, the Bangladesh Pratidin has yet to issue a response or retraction.

Rejoinder to a News Item on Grameen Telecom Published in the Dhaka Daily “The Bangladesh Pratidin”

A news report under the caption “Allegations of Punishable Offences against Dr. Yunus” that was published on June 25, 2023 on the front page of the daily “The Bangladesh Pratidin” has come to our notice. We strongly object to this news report as it is completely false and baseless, and it creates confusion in the minds of the public. We state the facts below:

Grameen Telecom is a company registered under Section 28 of the Companies Act, 1994 of Bangladesh. Under the law, a Section 28 company cannot distribute dividends. This is a non-profit, non-dividend company limited by guarantee. This is the reason why Grameen Telecom did not distribute any dividends. The question of Grameen Telecom losing its license for not distributing dividends therefore does not arise.

The news that Grameen Telecom has furnished false information in its annual returns to the RJSC is absolutely baseless. All accounts and transactions of Grameen Kalyan and Grameen Telecom, two non-profit organizations of the Grameen family, are audited by reputed and certified by external auditors every year.

Grameen Telecom signed an Agreement with Grameen Kalyan to borrow money from Grameen Kalyan for equity investment in Grameen Phone. As per the terms of the Agreement, the dividends that Grameen Telecom will receive from Grameen Phone is to be proportionately shared with Grameen Kalyan. It is properly documented in the annual returns submitted to RJSC every year, and no false returns have ever been submitted. The question of being punished for making false statements under Section 397 of the Companies Act does not arise at all.

The allegation of bribery by Grameen Telecom for trying to get a judgement in its favour from the court, in a case that is still pending (sub judice) with the court, is utterly baseless and unfounded. Such an allegation amounts to contempt of the Honourable Court.

The report accuses Dr. Yunus of oppressive labour practices that contravene labour rights and human rights. It should be noted that Grameen companies operate their activities strictly according to the laws of the land and rules and policies framed by companies based on those laws. These policies, as per the labour laws of the country, have been submitted to the concerned government authorities for their approval. Every company in the Grameen group has its own Service Rules, and each company is governed by its Service Rules. Salary and other benefits to the workers are regularly paid as per these Service Rules. These Service Rules provide more financial benefits to the workers than the benefits prescribed by the labour laws. There are no repressive or oppressive actions against labour within the Grameen companies. It may be recalled that none of these companies are operated to make personal profit for any individual/s. As a result there is no reason to cut labour costs to make more personal profits for anyone.

All the companies established by Dr. Yunus regularly pay income tax and VAT to the government. Ten leading companies, excluding Grameen Phone, established by Dr. Yunus have so far paid more than Tk. 5,000 crore [equivalent to US$ 461 million] as income tax and VAT.

Dr. Yunus does not receive any salary or remuneration or fee or any kind of financial benefit from any institution. Since he has no ownership in any company, he does not receive any dividends from them. Dr Yunus has said on many occasions that he does not wish to own anything. He wishes to live a life free from ownership of any kind. He does not own any house, car, land or shares within the country or overseas. The report states that he has laundered thousands of crores of taka abroad and is running lucrative businesses in different countries, including buying properties in his own name. If the reporter had specified even one or two such businesses or properties at home or abroad, Dr. Yunus’s claim of being an ownership-free person would have fallen apart. The reporter missed such a great opportunity on this occasion.

The report states that a portion of it (the “thousands of crores of taka laundered by him”) was used to hire lobbyists abroad to work against the national interest of Bangladesh. Leaving aside the amount of money paid to the lobbyists, if the reporter had taken the initiative to mention the names of at least one or two such lobbyists, every reader would have been impressed and appreciated that the reporter had made some serious effort in the task of gathering news.

Many organizations have been established in different countries of the world using the name of Dr. Yunus in their official identity. These organizations center around promoting and implementing his ideas and theories in practice. It is an on- going process; more organizations and companies continue to be created around the world. He does not have any ownership in any of these institutions. He does not take any salary or remuneration from them for his time given to these institutions for his guidance and consultation. These institutions send a nominal fee to Yunus Centre every year for using his name.

The report says that Dr. Yunus has laundered thousands of crores of taka. If he is laundering money, whose money is he laundering?

Not only has Dr. Yunus never laundered any money out of Bangladesh, rather he continues to bring money, lawfully earned abroad, into the country through proper banking channels.

The Government has all this information. It makes no sense why anyone would bring his money into the country only to launder it back out again.

Did he launder thousands of crores of Grameen Bank’s money abroad? If he did, it would be very easy to find out. The Grameen Bank is now under the direct control of the government, so it would be easy to obtain all the information from the bank. But even after more than a decade of Dr Yunus’s departure from Grameen Bank, Grameen Bank has not disclosed any such information to the public so far. If Grameen Bank had ever laundered any money it would have been made known already with great publicity. If the money from Dr Yunus’s other companies had been laundered, that money would have disappeared from their accounts. The actual information could have been obtained by checking the annual accounts. All those distinguished auditors would have a field day uncovering such big holes in the accounts of these companies.

There has never been any case filed against the Chairman of Grameen Telecom or any responsible person of this organization for any offence under Section 397 of the Companies Act as claimed in this report.

All the companies in the Grameen group are run according to the existing laws of the country. There has been no violation of the law. The reporter has tried to mislead the public by creating a fabricated report. The reporter has gone so far as to suggest in detail how many years Dr. Yunus would be sentenced for breaking various laws. He is in no mood to wait for the court to hear the case and give its judgement. We are very sorry to see that such a report would be published in the newspaper with total disregard for facts on such important issues. Anyone reading this report would be shocked and horrified by the sad state of journalism in this country.

Building on a strong letter to President Biden from six conservative Republican Congressmen in the United States about the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh, six influential Democrats have written their own letter on the subject to the U.S. Secretary of State.  (Congressman Bill Keating also tweeted about the letter and included a copy of it in the tweet.)

They note the findings of the Bangladeshi human rights organization Odhikar that in 2022 there were “31 extrajudicial killings, 21 enforced disappearances, 68 deaths in jail, and 183 attacks on journalists” in the country while also noting that the Bangladeshi government denied that there was a problem.

These Members of Congress commended the recent visa restrictions imposed by the State Department but called for more action and for the department to answer six questions, including this one: “What measures is the State Department implementing to protect civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and victims of human rights abuses from governmental reprisals since the imposition of the December 2021 sanctions?”

Increasingly, international diplomats, parliamentarians, journalists, public figures, and citizens at large are focusing on human rights abuses in Bangladesh and calling on global leaders to protest.  With Professor Yunus’ own situation increasingly perilous due to the recent inexplicable actions by the Anti-Corruption Commission, the larger crisis in the country is finally attracting the attention it deserves.

The text of the latest letter appears below. (For information about a similar letter that was sent by six members of the European Parliament, click here.)

===

June 8, 2023

The Honorable Antony J. Blinken Secretary of State

U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Secretary Blinken,

We write to express our concern about the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in Bangladesh as elections approach in January 2024. We urge the State Department and other U.S. agencies to continue to call for accountability for serious violations committed by law enforcement agencies, including the recently sanctioned Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a paramilitary unit of the Bangladesh Police created in 2004. Clear and repeated statements and actions by U.S. officials can help ensure that the Bangladeshi government complies with its human rights obligations. This is especially important in preparation for the upcoming elections, as there have already been mass arrests and violence against opposition parties which could tarnish the results and deepen social conflict.

We welcomed the December 2021 U.S. sanctions designations and visa restrictions implemented against the RAB and seven of its current and former high-level officers as a necessary and proportional response to well- documented reports of serious human rights abuses by that entity. Unfortunately, despite these actions, repression in Bangladesh has not ceased. In its Annual Human Rights Report 2022, respected Bangladeshi human rights organization Odhikar documented 31 extrajudicial killings, 21 enforced disappearances, 68 deaths in jail, and 183 attacks on journalists committed by various law enforcement agencies including the RAB, Detective Branch, and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence. Despite these documented incidents, Bangladeshi government officials have continued to deny the occurrence of human rights violations, minimizing such findings as “negative [campaigns] against [the] country” and even awarding and promoting officials accused of committing grave human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

Further, the December 2021 U.S. sanctions designations empowered many in Bangladeshi society to speak out about the human rights violations they have witnessed, documented, or experienced at the hands of various law enforcement agencies. In response, the Bangladeshi government has intensified reprisals against civil society organizations, human rights defenders, victims of human rights violations, and their families. For example, the families of victims of enforced disappearances have faced harassment and have been coerced into signing blank papers or pre-written statements to the effect that their relative had simply gone missing and was not forcibly disappeared. In addition, the previously mentioned human rights organization Odhikar was deregistered by Bangladesh’s Non-Governmental Organization Affairs Bureau in June 2022 for “seriously [tarnishing] the image of the state to the world” with its human rights documentation and reporting. Odhikar’s leaders, members, and their family members have faced increased surveillance, harassment, and questioning by law enforcement officials. Despite these actions, civil society organizations, human rights defenders, victims, and their families continue to call for additional sanctions against more members of the RAB and other law enforcement agencies to hold the government of Bangladesh accountable and send a clear message that impunity will not be tolerated.

We understand that Bangladesh is an important U.S. partner and appreciate its willingness to host around 1 million Rohingya refugees. At the same time, the decision not to invite Bangladesh to the 2023 Summit of Democracy was a clear signal that the State Department recognizes the country’s democratic and human rights challenges ahead of scheduled 2024 elections. We thus respectfully request that you provide responses to the following questions at your earliest convenience:

• How does the State Department track reports of human rights violations committed by law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh, including the Rapid Action Battalion, the Detective Branch, and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence?

• What indicators is the State Department using to evaluate progress or lack thereof in Bangladesh in reducing impunity for serious human rights abuses committed by these entities? Are these the same indicators taken into account in deciding to impose or lift sanctions?

• What measures is the State Department implementing to protect civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and victims of human rights abuses from governmental reprisals since the imposition of the December 2021 sanctions?

• What efforts is the State Department making to encourage U.S. allies to coordinate on the imposition of sanctions and visa restrictions against the Rapid Action Battalion and its current and former officials?

• What steps, in addition to the new policy to restrict visas for any Bangladeshi individual believed to be involved in undermining the democratic election process, is the U.S. government taking to help ensure that the scheduled January 2024 elections will be free and fair?

• What indicators is the State Department using to evaluate whether conditions for a free and fair election are present, including freedom of expression, association, and assembly?

Thank you in advance for your attention to these requests.

Sincerely,

William R. Keating, Member of Congress

James McGovern, Member of Congress

Barbara Lee, Member of Congress

Jim Costa, Member of Congress

Dina Titus, Member of Congress

Jamie Raskin, Member of Congress

Both internationally and within Bangladesh—to the extent the current state of repression allows—increased outrage is being expressed about the states of human rights, minority rights, free expression, and political violence in the country.  The continued persecution of Professor Yunus remains a rallying cry for many friends of democracy in Bangladesh. 

Yesterday at the White House, a journalist asked the following question during a press conference with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby (read the entire transcript here):

“In a letter to the President, six congressmen requested urgent action to stop human rights abuse by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.  Also urged President Biden for measures, including stricter individual sanction, and to give the people of Bangladesh the best possible chance for a free and fair parliamentary election.  What is your response about these lawmakers’ recent letter to the President?” 

Mr. Kirby responded: “Look, we’ve been consistent, and I’m aware of the communication.  We’ve been consistent on the need for Bangladesh to hold free and fair elections.  And to demonstrate that commitment, the State Department, as you know, recently announced a 3C visa policy that would restrict visa issuances to individuals who undermine Bangladesh’s elections.” 

It should not be surprising that questions like these are being asked at higher and higher levels of international politics, business, and diplomacy considering the recent indictment of Professor Yunus and 12 colleagues from Grameen Telecom on meritless and easily disproven charges of embezzlement, and a separate tax judgement of more than $1 million against Professor Yunus for tax evasion that is equally spurious. 

Expect hard-hitting analysis about how grossly unjust these charges are in the days to come, and also additional condemnation from politicians, diplomats, and public figures around the world about Professor Yunus’ treatment and about the larger context of human rights abuses and democratic backsliding in Bangladesh.    

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has done a remarkable job souring relations with the United States this year.  Her anti-democratic impulses, abuses of human rights, and gratuitous attacks on the U.S. are starting to have a significant impact on bilateral relations.  These tragedies are the larger context in which the persecution of Professor Muhammad Yunus is taking place. 

The most significant development was the announcement on May 24 by Secretary of State Blinken that the U.S. will “restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.“ It continues, “This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services.”  The entire announcement can be found here.

Already, there are reports that elites in the country are stepping back from following orders that might get them or their family members banned from visiting the United States. 

Secretary Blinken mentioned in his statement that the Bangladeshi government was informed of this decision on May 3, weeks prior to the public announcement, as a courtesy.  This may go a long way to explaining some of the unhinged commentary by the PM about the U.S. since then. 

More recently, criticism of Bangladesh’s PM and ruling party took a bipartisan turn when six conservative Republican Congressman wrote to President Biden urging that democracy, human rights, and minority rights be defended in Bangladesh given that all have been under attack recently.  It was noteworthy that the letter, which is reproduced in full below, ended with these explosive words: “We request appropriate measures to give Bangladesh their best chance for free elections, including stricter individual sanctions, banning Bangladesh law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions.”

Bangladesh has been sending a large number of peacekeepers abroad for many years, and these assignments bring considerable financial resources and prestige to the country.  Bangladeshis have served with honor in many difficult environments.  To have this opportunity to serve the global community taken away would be a significant blow to the country. 

The letter was authenticated when a member of the Protect Yunus Campaign called one of the Congressman’s offices to confirm that it was not a fake.

In the meantime, the  Economist has again published commentary on the PM’s misrule in this article, whose subtitle says it all: The PM’s “tragic past threatens Bangladesh’s future.”  Despite the challenges foreign journalists face in getting into the country to report from there, it is good to see the Economist continuing to cover this story. 

* * *

Text of Republican Congressmen’s Letter (Update: since this post was originally published, the Congressmen have published a press release and the letter — now dated May 25 — online).

May 17, 2023

President Joseph Biden

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington DC 20500

Dear Mr. President,

We request urgent action to stop the human rights abuses by the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazad of Bangladesh, and to give the people of Bangladesh the best possible chance for free and fair parliamentary elections to be scheduled this fall.

Various NGOs have documented hundreds of instances of human rights abuses by the government of Sheikh Hasina since she assumed power in January 2009 — including reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, and even the United Nations – that show Hasina’s government has increasingly repudiated democratic systems, perpetrated widespread abuse against its citizens, conducted torture, committed extrajudicial killings, jailed joumalists, disappeared opponents, and assaulted or killed peaceful protesters. The well-documented abuses by the Hasina government are not confined to her political opponents; the government also has persecuted ethnic and religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Since Sheikh Hasina’s rise to power, the Hindu population has been halved. Looting and burning of households, destruction of temples and religious idols, murder, rape, and forced religious conversion are causing Hindus to flee Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina’s government also has persecuted Bangladesh’s minority Christian population — burning and looting places of worship, jailing pastors, and breaking up families when religious conversion occurs.

In recent months, tens of thousands’ of peaceful protesters have demonstrated for fair and free elections, which are the people’s only hope for a change in the Hasina government. In response, Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), the major perpetrator of torture, disappearances, and extra judicial killings in Bangladesh, have arrested, intimidated, and even killed peaceful demonstrators. The RAB has been characterized as a government “Death Squad” by numerous NGO’s including Human Rights Watch.

In a recent investigation by German state broadcaster DW and Sweden-based news agency Netra News, two whistleblowers and former members of the RAB, confessed that these incidents of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances could not be possible without the Home Minister and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s approval.

The U.S. government designated RAB a “serious human rights abuser” more than a year ago and sanctioned several law enforcement authorities responsible for many of the killings and other atrocities. Yet, the Hasina regime has only intensified its systemic repression of the people of Bangladesh since sanctions were imposed. The sanctions by the U.S. have not done enough to slow the flagrant human rights violations and democratic backsliding of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

In addition to crimes against their own people, Hasina’s misconduct encourages other bad actors in South Asia to make common alliance. and hurts America’s national security interests as they gang together and draw closer to China and Russia.

We request appropriate measures to give Bangladesh their best chance for free elections, including stricter individual sanctions, banning Bangladesh law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions.

Respectfully,

Scott Perry (PA-10)

Member of Congress

Bob Good (VA-05)

Member of Congress

Barry Moore (AL-02)

Member of Congress

Tim Burchett (TN-02)

Member of Congress

Warren Davidson (OH-08)

Member of Congress

Keith Self (TX-03)

Member of Congress

Note: There were footnotes in the original letter for some of the sources cited, but they do not appear in this online version thought they can be seen in the PDF version posted by Congressman Good.

The response to the Open Letter from 40 Global Leaders to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister about her government’s treatment of Professor Muhammad Yunus has been tremendous—both within Bangladesh and around the world.  The wide circulation of a related Call to Action has also been very encouraging.

Naturally, a few criticisms have been leveled against it.  One goes like this: Why did this need to appear as a paid advertisement in the Washington Post, as opposed to something that the Post would cover on its own as a news article by one of its journalists?  The implication is that the harassment of Professor Yunus, and human rights concerns in Bangladesh more widely, are not newsworthy or important.

This is patently absurd.

First of all, these issues have been covered by reputable international media outlets, including the Economist and the Financial Times. 

Secondly, they have not been more widely covered by the Post and other media companies because the Bangladesh government has been refusing almost all requests for visas by independent foreign journalists.  Reporting about Bangladesh without being able to visit Bangladesh is obviously challenging.  (The Financial Times Delhi bureau chief was somehow able to get a visa, though with the expectation that he write a “positive” story about “Made in Bangladesh” Week 2022, as an official in the Bangladesh embassy in India explicitly requested and which was reported as part of his article.) 

If Bangladesh can open itself up to foreign reporters, the number of articles will surely increase.  While they are at it, perhaps they can also stop intimidating local journalists—which might contribute to something better than being ranked 162 out of 180 countries in the Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. 

Sunshine is the best disinfectant, and Bangladesh needs a lot more of it right now.  Greater openness would lessen the need for the kind of open letter that the 40 global leaders wrote, signed, sent, and publicized.

If you are reading this, it is probably because you care about the work, life and safety of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.  If so, those of us involved in helping keep him safe welcome you into the “Protect Yunus” campaign. 

We have identified several action steps that any citizen can take to help our cause.  They are:

1. Circulate the open letter to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister and urge others to take action in support of it using this link: https://protectyunus.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/07/global-leaders-appeal-to-the-bangladeshi-prime-minister-regarding-the-treatment-of-professor-muhammad-yunus-in-an-open-letter/
2. Write to your elected representatives at the federal level (such as your Congressperson and Senators if you live in the United States) and urge them to take action in support of Professor Yunus and human rights in Bangladesh.
3. Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the Bangladesh government’s treatment of Professor Yunus and the human rights situation there generally (you can read about the human rights issues in Bangladesh here).
4. Follow the PY Yunus Campaign on Twitter and Facebook to stay informed.
5. Get involved with some of the great organizations Professor Yunus has started in the United States, such as Grameen Foundation and Grameen America, and ones advocating for sustainable change globally that he is involved with, such as RESULTS.
6. Make a financial contribution to the Protect Yunus Campaign to help us sustain our efforts.

We welcome your suggestions about how we can best work together to protect Professor Yunus.  You can email us anytime at protectmdyunus@gmail.com.

On March 7, 40 global leaders from the fields of politics, diplomacy, business, the arts, and academia sent the letter below to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh regarding her government’s treatment of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. This open letter was also published as a full-page ad in the Washington Post. Those wishing to work in solidarity with these leaders can consider the steps suggested in a call to action published elsewhere on this site that can be accessed here. A related press release can be found here.

March 7, 2023

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Prime Minister’s Office

Old Sangsad Bhaban

Tejgaon, Dhaka-1215

Bangladesh

Honorable Prime Minister Hasina,

We write to you as friends of Bangladesh who admire the courage and ingenuity of the people of your country. We are public servants and businesspeople, civil society leaders and philanthropists. We are among the tens of millions of global citizens who have been inspired by the innovations that have been developed in Bangladesh and adopted around the world. It is out of this deep respect for your country that we write to urge you to take positive steps to support and recognize the great contributions one of your most notable citizens, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus.

We have deep concerns for Professor Yunus’ well-being and his ability to contribute to humanitarian advancement in Bangladesh and around the world. As we are sure you are aware, Muhammad Yunus’ contributions to Bangladesh-especially to the very poor and the most vulnerable-as well as to the world, are recognized and honored around the globe. For example:

• Professor Yunus is one of seven people in history to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential medal of Freedom, and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, a group that includes Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, and Elie Wiesel.

• He founded Grameen Bank in 1976 and grew it to a world-renowned poverty-fighting institution of 9 million borrowers, 97 percent of them women, that has lifted millions out of poverty and been a model for other microcredit programs around the world.

• In the mid-1980s Grameen Bank began offering housing loans of $200-$500 that have led to the construction of sturdy rural homes for more than 750,000 families.

• Grameen Shakti, which Professor Yunus founded and chairs, has installed more than 1.8 million solar home systems and trained thousands of rural women to install and repair these systems.

• The farsighted investment of Grameen Telecom, a nonprofit organization that he founded, in GrameenPhone, has allowed for the proliferation of social innovation throughout Bangladesh such as the establishment of Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing, the country’s largest private nursing college, four eye care hospitals that cater to the country’s poor, 150 primary health care clinics, and more.

• He established Grameen America in 2008 to provide microcredit to low-income people in the United States, mostly in amounts under $2,500. It is about to cross the milestone of $3 billion lent, and it has a 99% repayment rate.

Muhammad Yunus has not benefited financially from his involvement in Grameen Telecom or GrameenPhone. Rather, he has devoted himself to the poverty-fighting missions of the many organizations he has established and lives modestly in Dhaka. It is therefore painful to see Prof. Yunus, a man of impeccable integrity, and his life’s work unfairly attacked and repeatedly harassed and investigated by your government.

We believe one of the most important roles of government is to create an environment where traditional and social entrepreneurs can flourish.

We hope that Bangladesh will return to its role as a model for other developing nations of how a vibrant civil society can be nurtured to ensure sustainable progress. A good first step would be to recognize Professor Yunus’ achievements and allow him to focus his energy on doing more good for your country and for the world, rather than on defending himself.

We, and tens of millions of people around the world, hope that you will embrace this vision.

Sincerely,

Bono, Musician and Activist

Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group

Lord Mark Malloch Brown, President, Open Society Foundations

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former U.S. Secretary of State

Sam Daley-Harris, Founder, RESULTS and Civic Courage

Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Romeo Dallaire, Founder, Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security

Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President Emerita, Children’s Defense Fund

Vicente Fox, Former President of Mexico

Peter Gabriel, Musician

Ron Garan, Former NASA Astronaut

Kul Gautam, Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Assistant Secretary General of the UN

Pamela Gillies, Former Vice Chancellor and Professor Emerita, Glasgow Caledonian University

Peter C. Goldmark, Jr., Former CEO, Rockefeller Foundation and International Herald Tribune

Jane Goodall, Primatologist and Activist

Al Gore, Former Vice President of the United States

John Hewko, CEO, Rotary International

Mo Ibrahim, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist

Baroness Helena Kennedy, KC Member of the House of Lords U.K.

Kerry Kennedy, President, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

Ted Kennedy Jr.

Vinod Khosla, Venture Capitalist

Ban Ki-moon, 8^th Secretary General of the UN

Annie Lennox, Singer, Songwriter, and Activist

Arthur Levitt, Former Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Gene Ludwig, Founder and CEO, Springharbor Holdings & Former U.S. Comptroller of the Currency

Paul Maritz, Former CEO of VMWare

Michael H. Moskow, Former President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Narayana Murthy, Founder, Infosys

Sir Robin Niblett, Former Chief Executive, Chatham House

Jan Piercy, Advisor, Southern Bancorporation, Former U.S. Board Director, World Bank

Robert Post, Sterling Professor of Law, Yale Law School

Senator Donald Riegle, Former U.S. Senator from Michigan, Former Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Development

Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland

Ellen Seidman

Yeardley Smith, Actress

Sharon Stone, Mother

Dr. David Suzuki, Prof. Emeritus, University of British Columbia

Peter Tufano, Former Dean, Saïd School of Business, Oxford University

Melanne Verveer, Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues

Jimmy Wales, Founder, Wikipedia

Visas given to foreign journalists for travel to Bangladesh and report on its various crises—mostly caused by government corruption, abuses, and incompetence—have been increasingly hard to come by in recent months.  But somehow, the Delhi bureau chief of the Financial Times was able to secure one to cover “Made in Bangladesh Week 2022” late last year. 

His just-published article — which is titled “In Dhaka, a Prime Minister’s ‘vendetta’ is shaping politics” — mainly covers the Prime Minister’s campaign against Professor Yunus, which the article argues represents a “troubling sign for the country’s near-term future.”  The author explores how her campaign against Professor Yunus and organizations he is connected to is alarming diplomats and discouraging potential foreign investors. 

One of the remarkable parts of the article is how fearful almost everyone in the country is of talking negatively about the PM and commenting on her conflict with Professor Yunus.  He writes, “Several Bangladeshis I spoke to called [the campaign against Yunus] a ‘vendetta,’ though most did not want to be quoted or even meet in person for fear of attracting the attention of Bangladesh’s security services or causing trouble for their co-workers.”

The article correctly states that despite the Prime Minister’s contention that Professor Yunus sabotaged World Bank financing for the Padma Bridge project, the evidence points in a different direction.  It reports, “When the Washington lender declined to loan the project money in 2012, it cited corruption concerns.”  It further notes that “her invective [against Yunus] has ramped up lately, and on at least one occasion [has] been laced with what sounded like a violent threat.”

A ruling party Member of Parliament, the only person connected with the government willing to speak to the reporter, said that “there is an unarticulated conspiracy theory that anyone who criticises the government is taking part in some kind of conspiracy to oust the government,” which the MP added was “hardly true.”

The article concludes with the observation that social innovation in Bangladesh has been at a world class level, and that people around the world have been eager to learn from the country’s dynamic civil society leaders, such as Professor Yunus.  But instead, they are scared away by the violence, abuses, and vendettas of the current government.  As a result, a major opportunity for Bangladesh is being lost. 

As further evidence that the international community is waking up to the persecution of Professor Muhammad Yunus and the wider human rights crisis in Bangladesh, Kenneth Roth, the former head of Human Rights Watch, retweeted the Economist article and added his own views. He wrote, “Bangladesh’s prime minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, is pursuing ‘a decade-long campaign’ against Muhammad Yunus, a perceived political rival. Ostensibly targeting corruption, the latest probe ‘is testament to rising authoritarianism in Bangladesh’.”

Nicholas Kristof weighed in again on Twitter while circulating the same Economist article and Roth’s take on it, and added his own commentary: “Muhammad Yunus has done so much for the world; it’s sad to see what Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina trying to crush him because he is more admired than she is around the world.”

Roth and Kristof combined have roughly 2.5 million followers on Twitter.

The international media is focusing more and more on the persecution of Professor Muhammad Yunus by the Bangladeshi government, as part of a wider critique of its human rights record. The most recent example is a hard-hitting article in the Economist.

It includes this observation: “The summons from the commission is the latest salvo in a decade-long campaign waged against Mr Yunus by Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Bangladesh’s prime minister. Her government claims that the aim is to root out corruption. But the probe into Mr Yunus is testament to rising authoritarianism in Bangladesh, which is increasingly circumscribing the space for the civil society the country once sought to nurture.”

And it concludes this with one: “The timing of the recent probes appears to be motivated by Sheikh Hasina’s worry about political competition ahead of an election next year. Since August the government has filed criminal charges against thousands of critics and members of the opposition, according to Human Rights Watch, a pressure group. Mr Yunus’s international standing makes him a potent threat to the prime minister’s power… Mr Yunus has shown no such inclination [to run for office] since his abortive foray into politics back in 2007. But Sheikh Hasina seems unwilling to take the risk.”

Last week, the so-called “Anti-Corruption Commission” of the Bangladesh government sent a letter to Grameen Telecom demanding mountains of information from the organization, its leaders, and 42 other Grameen and Yunus-affiliated entities.  All of it is due today, September 29. 

As has happened many times during the attacks on Professor Yunus and Grameen over the last 12 years – though never on this scale – hundreds of hours of time will need to be spent by professionals who were hired to fight poverty to do something very different: to supply a government (one that should be supporting and applauding them) with information that will then be examined for anything that might be in any way embarrassing for Professor Yunus and the people and organizations that have rallied to his vision of a world free from poverty. 

This harassment of one of the great moral leaders of our time must stop.  For it to stop, the international media and diplomats from G-20 countries need to start paying more attention to this unfolding farce and tragedy. British journalist David Bergman recently wrote about this latest development in the context of Bangladesh’s human rights record in recent years.

The English translation of the letter appears below:   

***
Anti-Corruption Commission

Head Office

1, Segunbagicha, Dhaka

[As per Anti-Corruption Commission Law, 2004 & Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007]

Ref. No. 00.01.0000.502.01.026.22.35313                                                    Date: 22/09/2022

To:

Chairman / Managing Director & CEO

Grameen Telecom

Grameen Bank Bhaban, Mirpur-2, Dhaka-1216

Subject: Supply of records / information for investigation of complaints.

Ref: Anti-Corruption Commission, Head Office, Dhaka file No –  00.01.0000.502.01.026.22.

In reference to the aforementioned subject and reference we would like to inform that a three members investigation committee has been formed comprising Md. Gulshan Anowar Pradhan, Deputy Director (Team Leader), Jesmin Akter, Assistant Director and Mohammad Nur Alam Siddiqui, Assistant Director to investigate into the following complaints and submit the report.

Brief description of complaints:

Misappropriation of 5% dividend by various irregularities by the board of directors of Grameen Telecom that was reserved for distribution among labourers / employees, unlawful deduction of 6% of money in the name of lawyer fees and other fees while paying employees’ dues of BDT 364,17,09,146/-, misappropriation by not distributing of allocated BDT 45,52,13,643/- including interest for their welfare fund, and  transfer of BDT 2,977 Crore (Two Thousand Nine Hundred and  Seventy-Seven Crore) to bank accounts of other sister concerns through money laundering.

For proper investigation of the aforementioned complaints collection and review of the following records are necessary.

Therefore, you are kindly requested to cooperate in the investigation work by instructing the concerned officer to send attested copies of the demanded information/records to the undersigned by 22/09/2022.

Description of demanded records:

1.     Names and copies of trade license/income tax/VAT/Directorate of Cooperatives permission/ Bangladesh Bank permission/copy of license as joint stock company of Grameen Kalyan or its associated 54 organizations from date of formation of these organizations in a format. Identity of MDs of these organizations, officer and staff list, salary statement of all staff including MD, where salary money come from-related bank statement, activities of the organizations, sources of their funds, statement of FDR money if any, where and how the interest money is spent – audit report with money trail.

2.     Copies of 24 deeds of purchase of all lands of Grameen Kalyan or its associated organizations.

3.     Registration No. of Grameen Telecom Trust, attested copy of approval letter from Bangladesh Bank.

4.     List of all 128 businesses of Dr. Muhammad Yunus in the name of social business owned by Grameen Kalyan or its associated organizations, amount of money invested in these businesses, from which institutions the money came from, where the money has gone to – records with money trail. If Grameen Kalyan or any of its associated organization under Dr. Muhammad Yunus has license for microcredit activities – specific information with attested copies.

5.     Where and how the interest money from Grameen Kalyan’s FDRs is invested – records with money trail.

6.     If Grameen Telecom or its associated organizations have received any donation / fund from any foreign organization – detailed information. If Grameen Kalyan received any foreign donation from ILO, Caledonian Nursing College – if received then in what process and amount of donation and where the money is invested – information based on records and money trail.

7.     Detailed information of who donated the “Haque Blue Hospital” in Patuakhali Sadar and to whom. If purchased then in whose name was it purchased and in what way the money was paid, which organization or person paid the money – records with money trail.

8.     Grameen Telecom shows a profit of BDT 237 crore from selling a piece of land, what was the purchase price of the land in the joint venture, photocopy of the deed, and what was the selling price – photocopy of the deed. Where and how the money from selling the land is kept.

9.     Audit reports of Grameen Kalyan Trust from the beginning until 2022. List of organizations from whom money has been received as donation, loan or in any other form and how much has been received. Information of how much money it has paid and to which organizations as donation, loan or in any other form. Information of investment in land or in any other form is to be given.

10.  Amount of total money spent in the construction of the Grameen Telecom Bhaban, who supplied the money or where the organization got the money from. How much space Grameen Telecom purchased in it and the amount of money paid – with money trail of repayment. Detailed explanation of why Grameen Telecom had to purchase the space since the building is owned by itself. Information of where and how the payment is invested in. Likewise, list of Grameen family companies who purchased spaces in Grameen Telecom Bhaban and how much each of them paid for it.

11.  Grameen Telecom is a non-profit organization, and hence if it can take loan from some other organization against interest or give loan to someone. Why the organization, since it has so much money of its own, had to take loan on interest from different bank – explanation along with amount of loans and interest paid to each of the banks in a format.

12.  Amount of income tax on source from dividend paid to Grameen Kalyan by Grameen Telecom from 2002 to 2015 in a format. Record of whether the tax is paid. Information of whether WPPF of Grameen Telecom workers have been paid as per Labour Laws from 2006 to 2013, how much money was due to the workers for it during the time – detailed accounts to be given in a format.

13.  Why Grameen Telecom’s shares with different organizations were given to Grameen Telecom Trust – report with explanation, BDT 14.42 Crore repaid to Grameen Telecom against purchase of shares with 4 organizations were donated to Grameen Telecom Trust a few days later – report with explanation of why.

14.  Operating expenses of Grameen Telecom from 2015 to June 2022 – worker salary statement (record-based), consultancy costs, telephone and travel expenses, Covid expenses are to be given in a format. (Record-based).

15.  Names of the 43 institutions in the attached list, their trade license / income tax certificate/ Directorate of Cooperatives / Bangladesh Bank permission / copy of license as joint stock company / date of formation of the organization are to be supplied in a format. Identity of MDs of these companies, officer and staff list, salary statement of all staff including MD, where salary money come from – relevant bank statement, activities of the organizations, sources of their funds, statement of FDR money if any, where and how the interest money is spent – audit report with money trail. If the company has purchased any land or has any other investment – the information is also to be furnished and description necessary records.

Signature:

Md. Gulshan Anowar Pradhan

Deputy Director

&

Leader of Investigation Team

Date: 22/09/2022

Ref No. 00.01.0000.502.01.026.22

Copy sent for kind information:

1.     Director General (Special Investigation), Anti-Corruption Commission, Head Office, Dhaka

2.     Director (Special Inquiry & Investigation 21) and supervising officer of investigation file, Anti-Corruption Commission, Head Office, Dhaka

3.     Office copy

Md. Gulshan Anowar Pradhan, Deputy Director

Perhaps after seeing that its baseless attacks against Professor Yunus about the withdrawal of World Bank funding for the Padma Bridge were going nowhere — it is common knowledge that the lost funding was in fact due to government corruption — the ruling party in Bangladesh took up another issue against him: one related to the work of Grameen Telecom, a nonprofit organization that he founded around 25 years ago.

With investigations and legal proceedings underway, the Yunus Centre has stayed publicly silent on this issue. But now, British journalist David Bergman has written a devastating critique of the government’s accusations and attacks related to Grameen Telecom, which Professor Yunus chairs (and for which he receives no financial benefits whatsoever). It is definitely worth checking out if you want to understand what’s going on here.

The article concludes with these words:

There are many people, particularly those linked to the country’s opposition parties, who are or have been held in the Bangladesh jails for no legitimate reason other than for the political convenience of the current government. Its control of the police and the courts provides the authorities with the ability to lock up those people it wishes.

The government cannot do this so easily in relation to Yunus as unlike others he is protected by his Nobel Peace Prize as well as his stellar international reputation. The government will only ever be able to get away with imprisoning Yunus if it had a very strong provable evidence-based rationale, which is absent despite their years of looking.

In the meantime, these current investigations serve to harass and intimidate Yunus, seeking to make him a controversial figure and, in the eyes of the prime minister, less of a threat to her, which is in effect the government’s ultimate objective.

They also possibly serve another purpose. The government (and the Awami League) would no doubt love to get its hand on the the Grameenphone dividends which are given to Grameen Telecom, and these investigations might be part of their attempt to wrest control of them away from the Nobel Peace Prize winner and the other directors of the not-for-profit company.

People are increasingly wondering why the government of Bangladesh is ramping up its persecution of Professor Muhammad Yunus, one of its most prominent and accomplished citizens.  One plausible answer is that the government is trying to distract voters and the international community from looking too closely at the state of the nation.

Take two aspects: the economy and human rights.  Don’t take our word for the fact that the country is in a sorry state. 

The Atlantic Council has just published an article titled “Bangladesh’s Economic Crisis: How Did We Get Here?”  It concludes with the following words: “Two consecutive fraudulent national elections, held in 2014 and 2018, have created a de facto one party system with no checks and balances. As international lenders such as the IMF negotiate more loans for the current government, donors should understand that throwing more money at Dhaka will not bring an end to the crisis. 

“A bailout will only act as a bandaid. It may stop the bleeding for the moment, but there is no guarantee that it will magically solve the crisis without reforming an economic system tied deeply to the regime’s self-interested political vision.”

Turning to the matter of human rights, a good resource is “Bangladesh: Events of 2021” by Human Rights Watch that is available in English and Bengali.  It begins, “The ruling Awami League government made clear in 2021 it has no intention of addressing a pattern of grave abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances by its security forces. Authorities cracked down on critics, journalists, and even children who criticized the government or dared to question its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Instead of looking for scapegoats and trying to distract, the government should focus on getting its own house in order.

The international media and public figures are starting to raise alarms about the treatment Professor Yunus is being subjected to by his own government in recent weeks.

Last week, the Deseret News published a powerful opinion article by one of its editorial writers titled “Life-Threatending Corruption Threatens Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammad Yunus.”

Award-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof and former U.S. presidential candidate Marianne Williamson endorsed this article on Twitter to their combined 4.6 million followers with supportive comments of their own.

The article has also been republished by several media platforms around the world including Other News and WorldAkklam.

Expect more in the days ahead.