Muhith cites 'Amartya' quotes Says govt's gains not projected due to Yunus

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Friday, November 9, 2012Front Page

Muhith cites 'Amartya' quotes
Says govt's gains not projected globally due to Yunus


Muhith cites 'Amartya' quotes

Staff Correspondent
Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday claimed that Nobel laureate Amartya Sen sees Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus as the single major reason behind Bangladesh's failure to project its positive image on the world stage.

“Prof Sen told me that so many good things are happening in this country but they are not highlighted anywhere in the world only because of Prof Yunus,” Muhith said referring to a meeting with the highly-acclaimed Indian economist.

When reporters asked Muhith how an individual like Yunus could cause such damage to a nation, the minister replied: "He has wonderful publicity machinery."

Neither Sen nor Yunus was available for comments.

The minister also questioned the honesty of Yunus, whose microcredit model won him and the microfinance bank Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

“What he says is not entirely honest,” said the minister.

Muhith said Grameen Bank is Prof Yunus' organisation. "He does not want to leave it. That is the problem," he told reporters after a review meeting on the sixth five-year plan in the National Economic Council auditorium at the planning ministry in the capital.

Yunus has already stepped down as Grameen Bank managing director and currently, he has no liaison with the bank.

Muhith pointed to various issues, including corruption, for the less-than-expected flow of foreign direct investment to the country.

"Foreign investors have to go through many hassles if they want to invest in the country. Some other things, including petty bribery, also create problems. Doing business in Bangladesh is still difficult."

The minister said sluggish flow of foreign direct investment is the biggest weakness in implementing the sixth five-year plan.

"Our biggest weakness lies in FDI. We are struggling for lack of investment. Our resources are limited. We need foreign investment."

According to World Investment Report, Bangladesh received $1.13 billion of FDI in 2011-12 fiscal year, 24.42 percent more than the previous year. Even with the higher flow of foreign investment, it is still less than 1 percent of the overall gross domestic product.

Muhith said the positive report published recently in The Economist, a London-based influential magazine, has brought a big change in the scenario and could help Bangladesh get more FDI.

"In the last four years, their [The Economist] objective was to trash this government, but they could not trash the country," said Muhith.

 

[sexy gun]

oh GOD !! Is there atleast one thing in BD which happens the right way ??

 

[idune]

West bengal dadas do more harm to Bangladesh than any other indians and Muhit quoting Amartya Sen is just says it all. These people are enemy of Bangladesh.

 

[CaPtAiN_pLaNeT]

Saturday, November 10, 2012Front Page

Amartya refutes Muhith
Urges him to withdraw wrong attribution made to him

Amartya refutes Muhith

Staff Correspondent
Nobel laureate Prof Amartya Sen has expressed surprise at Finance Minister AMA Muhith's comments that he made on Thursday attributing to him about Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.

In a written reply to a query from The Daily Star, Sen hoped that Muhith would withdraw his wrong attribution to him about Yunus.

Quoting Sen Muhith on Thursday told reporter in Dhaka, "Professor Sen told me that so many good things are happening in this country but they are not highlighted anywhere in the world only because of Professor Yunus."

But Sen yesterday said: “I am particularly surprised -- indeed astonished -- to see his attributing to me a view that is not mine. Indeed, the alleged utterance is not close to anything I told Muhith when we met briefly at the VIP lounge in the Bangkok Airport last month.”

The India-born Bangalee economist added that he was not at all accusing Yunus of preventing the recognition and praise that Bangladesh deserves.

“Rather, I was pointing to the fact that the treatment of Yunus -- and its interpretation in the outside world -- have been strongly inhibiting factors working against the justified acclaim that Bangladesh's stellar achievements could otherwise be expected to get in the world,” Sen said in his emailed statement.

Prof Yunus, who is now in Austria for a global social business summit, when approached by The Daily Star, said he would not comment on the issue.

SEN'S FULL STATEMENT
I have known Mr Muhith for a long time and like him a lot (and I also think he is an excellent finance minister), and in view of all this, I am particularly surprised -- indeed astonished -- to see his attributing to me a view that is not mine. Indeed, the alleged utterance is not close to anything I told Muhith when we met briefly at the VIP lounge in the Bangkok Airport last month.

What I told him included the following:

1) Bangladesh has made extraordinary progress on economic and social matters at a very rapid pace in recent years -- a subject on which I have written in American and Indian newspapers and periodicals (I have also commented on the fact that Bangladesh has overtaken India in most of the standard indicators of living standards);

2) Prime Minister Hasina, whom I much admire, can certainly claim great credit for her leadership in the transformation of Bangladesh into a powerfully progressive modern society, and this does deserve hugely more global recognition;

3) The constructive roles of Bangladeshi NGOs, including the positive parts played by BRAC and Grameen Bank in the progress of Bangladesh, deserve emphatic recognition;

4) I am saddened by the fact that Bangladesh's achievements get far less acknowledgement and praise in the world media than they should get;

5) Among the principal factors behind this widespread global reluctance to say good things about Bangladesh's progress is a shared resentment by a large section of influential intellectuals across the world of the harsh official treatment of Dr Yunus in Bangladesh.

I was not at all accusing Yunus of preventing the recognition and praise that Bangladesh deserves (as Mr Muhith seems to be saying). Rather, I was pointing to the fact that the treatment of Yunus -- and its interpretation in the outside world -- have been strongly inhibiting factors working against the justified acclaim that Bangladesh's stellar achievements could otherwise be expected to get in the world.

I hope Mr Muhith will withdraw his wrong attribution to me, in the light of my reminding him of exactly what I told him.

WHAT MUHITH SAID ON THURSDAY
The finance minister claimed Amartya Sen viewed Prof Yunus as the single major reason behind Bangladesh's failure to project its positive image on the world stage.

Asked how an individual like Yunus could do so, Muhith told reporters in the capital: "He has wonderful publicity machinery."

The minister also questioned the honesty of Prof Yunus, whose microcredit model won him and Grameen Bank Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

 

[eastwatch]

Amartya refutes Muhith

Saturday, November 10, 2012
Front PageAmartya refutes Muhith
Urges him to withdraw wrong attribution made to him
Staff Correspondent

Nobel laureate Prof Amartya Sen has expressed surprise at Finance Minister AMA Muhith's comments that he made on Thursday attributing to him about Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus.

In a written reply to a query from The Daily Star, Sen hoped that Muhith would withdraw his wrong attribution to him about Yunus.

Quoting Sen Muhith on Thursday told reporter in Dhaka, "Professor Sen told me that so many good things are happening in this country but they are not highlighted anywhere in the world only because of Professor Yunus."

But Sen yesterday said: “I am particularly surprised -- indeed astonished -- to see his attributing to me a view that is not mine. Indeed, the alleged utterance is not close to anything I told Muhith when we met briefly at the VIP lounge in the Bangkok Airport last month.”

The India-born Bangalee economist added that he was not at all accusing Yunus of preventing the recognition and praise that Bangladesh deserves.

“Rather, I was pointing to the fact that the treatment of Yunus -- and its interpretation in the outside world -- have been strongly inhibiting factors working against the justified acclaim that Bangladesh's stellar achievements could otherwise be expected to get in the world,” Sen said in his emailed statement.

Prof Yunus, who is now in Austria for a global social business summit, when approached by The Daily Star, said he would not comment on the issue.

SEN'S FULL STATEMENT
I have known Mr Muhith for a long time and like him a lot (and I also think he is an excellent finance minister), and in view of all this, I am particularly surprised -- indeed astonished -- to see his attributing to me a view that is not mine. Indeed, the alleged utterance is not close to anything I told Muhith when we met briefly at the VIP lounge in the Bangkok Airport last month.

What I told him included the following:

1) Bangladesh has made extraordinary progress on economic and social matters at a very rapid pace in recent years -- a subject on which I have written in American and Indian newspapers and periodicals (I have also commented on the fact that Bangladesh has overtaken India in most of the standard indicators of living standards);

2) Prime Minister Hasina, whom I much admire, can certainly claim great credit for her leadership in the transformation of Bangladesh into a powerfully progressive modern society, and this does deserve hugely more global recognition;

3) The constructive roles of Bangladeshi NGOs, including the positive parts played by BRAC and Grameen Bank in the progress of Bangladesh, deserve emphatic recognition;

4) I am saddened by the fact that Bangladesh's achievements get far less acknowledgement and praise in the world media than they should get;

5) Among the principal factors behind this widespread global reluctance to say good things about Bangladesh's progress is a shared resentment by a large section of influential intellectuals across the world of the harsh official treatment of Dr Yunus in Bangladesh.

I was not at all accusing Yunus of preventing the recognition and praise that Bangladesh deserves (as Mr Muhith seems to be saying). Rather, I was pointing to the fact that the treatment of Yunus -- and its interpretation in the outside world -- have been strongly inhibiting factors working against the justified acclaim that Bangladesh's stellar achievements could otherwise be expected to get in the world.

I hope Mr Muhith will withdraw his wrong attribution to me, in the light of my reminding him of exactly what I told him.

WHAT MUHITH SAID ON THURSDAY
The finance minister claimed Amartya Sen viewed Prof Yunus as the single major reason behind Bangladesh's failure to project its positive image on the world stage.

Asked how an individual like Yunus could do so, Muhith told reporters in the capital: "He has wonderful publicity machinery."

The minister also questioned the honesty of Prof Yunus, whose microcredit model won him and Grameen Bank Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

 

[eastwatch]

West bengal dadas do more harm to Bangladesh than any other indians and Muhit quoting Amartya Sen is just says it all. These people are enemy of Bangladesh.

You and your kind of extrmist mullahs are no less enemy of a pluralistic Bangladesh. Why do you blame others?

 

[eastwatch]

Amartya refutes Muhith

Saturday, November 10, 2012
Amartya refutes Muhith
Urges him to withdraw wrong attribution made to him
Staff Correspondent

The INDIA-BORN Bangalee economist added that he was not at all accusing Yunus of preventing the recognition and praise that Bangladesh deserves.

This is a wrong reporting about his birth. His family is from Uwari in Dhaka and he spent much of his time in today's Bangladesh. His father was an educated person and he moved to many places of then India and Burma on job. So, when he was in Shanti Niketon, Amartya was born. But, we cannot say he was India-born.

Amartya Sen is a perfect Bangladeshi. After he received his Nobel Prize he donated about half the Prize money in Bangladesh. He has more love for Bangladesh although he has taken the citizenship of some other country. Open the link below to read his autobiography:

Amartya Sen - Autobiography

 

[idune]

You and your kind of extrmist mullahs are no less enemy of a pluralistic Bangladesh. Why do you blame others?

Did i touch your ghoti raw nerve? Well, go harp with Daily Star and Muhit. Regardless, west bengal dadas action against Bangladesh and Bangladeshis are legendary. There is good number NewYork/US based anti Bangladeshi forum setup by these dadas.

 

[fallstuff]

What Dr. Sen is saying is no different than everybody else is saying. Fat Hasina shot herself in the foot but too dumb to understand that !!

Now she can't even get credit when perhaps credit is due.

 

[DarkPrince]

Did i touch your ghoti raw nerve? Well, go harp with Daily Star and Muhit. Regardless, west bengal dadas action against Bangladesh and Bangladeshis are legendary. There is good number NewYork/US based anti Bangladeshi forum setup by these dadas.

pro dada hoyeo lav nei pro pak howar o proyojon nei amader nijeder proyojone ai duto desher sathe neutral thakte hobe

tobei amra agote parbo...

 

[eastwatch]

Did i touch your ghoti raw nerve? Well, go harp with Daily Star and Muhit. Regardless, west bengal dadas action against Bangladesh and Bangladeshis are legendary. There is good number NewYork/US based anti Bangladeshi forum setup by these dadas.

It is very discouraging to see that whoever dislikes Fatwabaz Mullahs is denoted by you as anti-Bangladeshi. Anti-Fatwa and anti-Bangladesh are two different things. Most of the Mullahs are anti-Bangladesh, so, they should be tried in Court for treason against the country.

 

[eastwatch]

What Dr. Sen is saying is no different than everybody else is saying. Fat Hasina shot herself in the foot but too dumb to understand that !!

Now she can't even get credit when perhaps credit is due.

SHW and AL will understand the effects of Yunus-bashing only after the election defeat. However, I wonder why Muhit should suddenly refer to Dr. Amartya Sen to badmouth Dr. Yunus? No one really knows what Amartya had said in the Bangkok airport lobby, but, it was a private conversation. Stupid Muhit acted like a school child when he referred to that conversation. He made himself a real fool.

 

[sexy gun]

This is a wrong reporting about his birth. His family is from Uwari in Dhaka and he spent much of his time in today's Bangladesh. His father was an educated person and he moved to many places of then India and Burma on job. So, when he was in Shanti Niketon, Amartya was born. But, we cannot say he was India-born.

Amartya Sen is a perfect Bangladeshi. After he received his Nobel Prize he donated about half the Prize money in Bangladesh. He has more love for Bangladesh although he has taken the citizenship of some other country. Open the link below to read his autobiography:

Amartya Sen - Autobiography

almost all west bengal people can trace their forefathers in erstwhile east pakistan. Doesn't make them a bangladeshi. More so since your muslim brothers hate anything realted to BD which is not muslim.

We know how you guys speak in demeaning terms of Rabindranath Tagore. ( His entire zamindaari was in BD ). No body cared for amartya sen in BD.. but suddenly when he is Nobel laureate, people begins chanting Oh! he has more love for BD !!

The question is, does BD have love for him ??? From most of the posts it doesn't seem so

 

[animelive]

almost all west bengal people can trace their forefathers in erstwhile east pakistan. Doesn't make them a bangladeshi. More so since your muslim brothers hate anything realted to BD which is not muslim.

We know how you guys speak in demeaning terms of Rabindranath Tagore. ( His entire zamindaari was in BD ). No body cared for amartya sen in BD.. but suddenly when he is Nobel laureate, people begins chanting Oh! he has more love for BD !!

The question is, does BD have love for him ??? From most of the posts it doesn't seem so

Sad shameful truth

 

[saleen_s7]

Anyone who read the book "Banker to the Poor" written by Yunus knows very well that Muhith and Yunus are old school buddies. Yunus had credited Muhith a lot in the book. But I guess Muhith didn't return back the favour. I guess power changes people.