US puts on hold Bangladesh ties over Yunus harassment

[fallstuff]

US puts on hold Bangladesh ties over Yunus harassment

Dhaka, Feb 28 (IANS)

The US officials have told Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that ''there will be no further high-level diplomatic interaction" until the ''harassment'' of Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus ends, a media report claimed Monday.


This could include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's impending visit to Dhaka after she completes her India visit in April, the New Age newspaper said, quoting a senior western diplomat with direct knowledge of these conversations.

Hasina was told that her government must not “force Yunus out” of the Grameen Bank and that he should be “allowed to leave the bank gracefully and be given reasonable time to find a successor”, the newspaper said.

Hasina, planning to visit Washington in April to take part in the World Islamic Forum, has also been informed that “she will not be given a meeting with the US president, Barack Obama, unless Yunus is personally agreeable to the terms of any compromise”, the newspaper said.

The prime minister's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said he could not comment since he was unaware that these conversations had taken place. He added that he did not know there was a possibility that Clinton might come to Bangladesh.

Yunus, awarded Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work in micro-credit for rural women, has been criticised by the Bangladesh government and sections of the country's media since the broadcast of a Norwegian documentary in December 2010 alleging that Yunus had "quietly tapped" the Grameen Bank for $48 million of Norwegian aid money.
Although the Norwegian government found this allegation was false, Hasina reportedly called Yunus a "blood sucker" and set up a wide-ranging inquiry into the bank.
Three criminal cases involving defamation, fraud and food adulteration have also been filed against him although the high court in the past week stayed the adulteration case for six months.

Several eminent personalities across the world have formed “Friends of Grameen” to express support for Yunus. Headed by former Irish prime minister and UN official Mary Robinson, it includes former chief justice of India J.S. Verma.

link:

US puts on hold Bangladesh ties over Yunus harassment

 

[fallstuff]

They can't build anything good, can't stand someone who can build something good. Dr. Yunus, awarded Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work in micro-credit for rural women. A concept previously unheard of. The model he designed made it possible for poor rural women to get a loan in a country like Bangladesh, where the traditional lenders and even the local loan sharks would simply laugh them off. Its not just a loan, it also empowers women in the rural areas.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Why is Dr. Yunus being targeted so much? He has not dabbled in any politics. If there are any financial issues to be resolved, that can be investigated. But prima-facie, he has done much to elevate Bangladesh's image in the international arena.

 

[idune]

They can't build anything good, can't stand someone who can build something good. Dr. Yunus, awarded Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work in micro-credit for rural women. A concept previously unheard of. The model he designed made it possible for poor rural women to get a loan in a country like Bangladesh, where the traditional lenders and even the local loan sharks would simply laugh them off. Its not just a loan, it also empowers women in the rural areas.

Reasons:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
One: Hasina can not and will not stand anyone taller than her father. Yunus being most respected Bangladeshi is going against Hasian and Awami "Bongobondhu" business.

Two: Since Awami regime suppressed opposition to a corner, in indo-Awami calculation Yunus is a potential political threat as he has most intl connection and network.

Three: Grameen had ownership dispute with Telenor over GP and Awami regime exploited that dispute to make smear campaign against Yunus.

Four: During 1/11 Yunus took some initiative to form a third party which Awami League sees as threat. During that time Salman F Rahman current owner of bdnews24 was in jail for corruption, and that’s why you have seen full fledge stupidity by bdnews24 on Yunus issue.

Five: There is also an indian angle – as india consider Bangladesh (AL in power) within its sphere of influence, thinking in south block is that no one within Bangladesh should be that prominent and connected to outside world and has ear of western powers. Hilary Clinton and Hasina telephone conversation transcript that leaked out validate that angle. While US put pressure, Hasina is still gung ho with full indian backing to remove Yunus. And if you seen the news from newagebd yesterday you would see there was a secret negotiation in india for graceful exit but it seems that did not pan out. But bigger question one should ask if india is not a party to this dispute why Finance minister and Rehman Sobhan a known indian agent in Bangladesh took the discussion to india?

Article from Newagebd:
http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/frontpage/9757.html

Six: Awami league also want to create new vote bank and to do so what could better than taking over the grameen bank forcefully and use its vast readily available network for political hijack. All under cover of social welfare and micro credit.

 

[fallstuff]

Reasons:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
One: Hasina can not and will not stand anyone taller than her father. Yunus being most respected Bangladeshi is going against Hasian and Awami "Bongobondhu" business.

Two: Since Awami regime suppressed opposition to a corner, in indo-Awami calculation Yunus is a potential political threat as he has most intl connection and network.

Three: Grameen had ownership dispute with Telenor over GP and Awami regime exploited that dispute to make smear campaign against Yunus.

Four: During 1/11 Yunus took some initiative to form a third party which Awami League sees as threat. During that time Salman F Rahman current owner of bdnews24 was in jail for corruption, and that’s why you have seen full fledge stupidity by bdnews24 on Yunus issue.

Five: There is also an indian angle – as india consider Bangladesh (AL in power) within its sphere of influence, thinking in south block is that no one within Bangladesh should be that prominent and connected to outside world and has ear of western powers. Hilary Clinton and Hasina telephone conversation transcript that leaked out validate that angle. While US put pressure, Hasina is still gung ho with full indian backing to remove Yunus. And if you seen the news from newagebd yesterday you would see there was a secret negotiation in india for graceful exit but it seems that did not pan out. But bigger question one should ask if india is not a party to this dispute why Finance minister and Rehman Sobhan a known indian agent in Bangladesh took the discussion to india?

Article from Newagebd:
New Age | Newspaper

Six: Awami league also want to create new vote bank and to do so what could better than taking over the grameen bank forcefully and use its vast readily available network for political hijack. All under cover of social welfare and micro credit.

She is acting like a pit-bull that bites and never let go. Well Dr. Yunus said the right thing, politicians are all scumbags. I think she believes if he ever turns to politics he can leverage the Grameen brand, hence the nefarious moves from her side to separate him from the brand. If US does lean on her with real tough talk, I think she will back off. I would say Dr. Yunus has more friends in high places then Hasina.

 

[fallstuff]

Why is Dr. Yunus being targeted so much? He has not dabbled in any politics. If there are any financial issues to be resolved, that can be investigated. But prima-facie, he has done much to elevate Bangladesh's image in the international arena.

Thats the thing. No good work goes unpunished.

 

[Md Akmal]

@ Why Sk Hasina is fingering Dr Younus ?????

@ Well as I know Dr Younus was initially at USA in some university as lecturer back in 1969. Once liberation war started he stayed at USA. After the liberation war he came back. He tried to get lecturership at Dacca University in 1972/73 but not given. Later he joined at Chittagong university. During the tenure of Ershad he got some help and started this Grameene Bank. Actually it was Ershad who sporsored him to come to this stage and he praised Ershad once he visited China after getting the "Novel Prize". Dr Younus is not aligned with AL politics that is his fault.

"Sk Hasina ki jai ho".

 

[LaBong]

The remark on Dr Yunus by the new chairman of Gramin is rather of ill taste.

 

[monitor]

Actually why Dr. Yunus facing this embarrassing situation for following reason

he tried to join politics
He has accused the politician do politics for money
Al and its associates think hassina is the only eligible person for Nobel peace price instead of any one else unless he or she is supportin AL at least

 

[Md Akmal]

Bangladesh turns up heat on Nobel winner Yunus

Bangladesh moved to force Nobel prize winner Muhammad Yunus out of his pioneering microfinance bank on Monday, with the central bank saying he had passed retirement age and had to go.Supporters of the 70-year-old Yunus, including former Irish president Mary Robinson, say there is a campaign of politically orchestrated attacks on the Nobel laureate after he fell out with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2007.

Bangladesh Bank sent a letter to the finance ministry saying that Yunus, who won the Nobel prize in 2006 for his work making small loans to poor entrepreneurs, should be removed from the Grameen Bank he founded."In the letter, the central bank has said professor Muhammad Yunus has been staying as the chief executive of the Grameen Bank for an indefinite period, which is illegal," Grameen chairman Muzammel Huq said.

"In the letter — a copy of which has been given to me — the central bank said he no longer can stay as the chief executive of the Grameen Bank because the retirement age of the bank is 60."

Hence, him being the bank chief executive is "illegal and not valid," Huq said, reading out the letter to AFP.A Bangladesh Bank official said the finance ministry can now remove Yunus because the government holds a 25 percent stake in the micro-lender."We told the finance ministry his overstaying as the chief executive clearly flouted section number 14(1) of the Grameen Bank laws," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The move comes as Yunus faces intense pressure from the government to quit his post. In early February, Finance Minister A.M.A Muhith asked the Nobel winner to go.

Following the release of a Norwegian documentary in December which accused Yunus and Grameen of malpractice, Yunus has been vilified in the Bangladeshi press and seen his bank become the target of a government investigation.In December, Hasina accused the Nobel laureate of treating Grameen Bank as his "personal property" and claimed the group was "sucking blood from the poor".

The prime minister and Yunus fell out when Yunus briefly proposed setting up a political party.Yunus has been summoned to appear in three separate court cases in Bangladesh over the last month, all nominally connected to Grameen

 

[desioptimist]

Yunus should voluntarily leave grameen after finding a successor. He should try to build other institution or mentor others globally. Now he is a big fish in small pond.

 

[Gonjo]

Appreciating US for this incident, Dr. Yunus is Bangladesh (As he upholds our positive image) as far is my view.

 

[integra]

@ Why Sk Hasina is fingering Dr Younus ?????

@ Well as I know Dr Younus was initially at USA in some university as lecturer back in 1969. Once liberation war started he stayed at USA. After the liberation war he came back. He tried to get lecturership at Dacca University in 1972/73 but not given. Later he joined at Chittagong university. During the tenure of Ershad he got some help and started this Grameene Bank. Actually it was Ershad who sporsored him to come to this stage and he praised Ershad once he visited China after getting the "Novel Prize". Dr Younus is not aligned with AL politics that is his fault.

"Sk Hasina ki jai ho".

 

[Spring Onion]

@ Why Sk Hasina is fingering Dr Younus ?????

@ Well as I know Dr Younus was initially at USA in some university as lecturer back in 1969. Once liberation war started he stayed at USA. After the liberation war he came back. He tried to get lecturership at Dacca University in 1972/73 but not given. Later he joined at Chittagong university. During the tenure of Ershad he got some help and started this Grameene Bank. Actually it was Ershad who sporsored him to come to this stage and he praised Ershad once he visited China after getting the "Novel Prize". Dr Younus is not aligned with AL politics that is his fault.

"Sk Hasina ki jai ho".

In other words he was not a traitor.

 

[LaBong]

In other words he was not a traitor.

Traitor to Bangladesh or traitor to Pakistan?