Muhith confirms BB letter against Yunus


Tue, Mar 1st, 2011 4:37 pm BdST

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Dhaka, March 1 (bdnews24.com) — The finance minister has confirmed receiving a central bank letter terming illegal Muhammad Yunus' holding office as the Grameen Bank managing director.

Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Tuesday, however, declined to comment any further on the issue.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat, he said, "We've received the letter from Bangladesh Bank. However, it's a legal issue. There's nothing to be said about it now."

Reports published in various newspapers claimed that the letter cited Article 14(3) of the Grameen Bank Ordinance-1983 and stated that Nobel laureate Yunus should not stay on as the bank's managing director.

The article referred to in the letter specifies the retirement age and deems ineligible people above 60 years.

On Feb 15, the finance minister told BBC that Yunus should resign from his position at Grameen Bank. "He has even reached the (retirement) age limit for holding office of a private bank chief."

Muhith pointed out that 70-year-old Yunus had already exceeded the age limit, and said that it was time for the Nobel laureate to step down. "No one can stay in an organisation forever."

Grameen Bank's operations came under huge debate after a documentary, accusing the bank of transferring large amounts of funds to a partner organisation, Grameen Kalyan Fund, was aired on Norwegian television in December last year.

Following the recent developments, the government formed a review committee to look into the affairs of the bank.

bdnews24.com/rb/mi/rn/mr/nir/2330h

I cannot wait till the Awami League falls...this is pissing me off

^^
dont u think we need a revolution like its happening in the arab world?

^^ That's a little far-fetched!

^^
dont u think we need a revolution like its happening in the arab world?

No.

We have a democratic process in place, wherein elections are by and large free and fair. That is exactly what most Arabs are fighting for.

I think its reprehensible the way the AL is going after Yunus, but the solution is not political violence. Revolution is not an end unto itself.

No.

We have a democratic process in place, wherein elections are by and large free and fair. ....

While that has been the case for many of the previous general elections, I'm no longer sure about the last one. There's an ongoing allegation that the last election was engineered to make AL victorious.


I think its reprehensible the way the AL is going after Yunus, but the solution is not political violence. Revolution is not an end unto itself.

Agreed.

For a moment I was scared that he was physically assaulted or something... Anyways while the law should be equal for everybody but I am sure this is being done only to harass Dr Yunus. Even if he is lawfully required to give up his position as a MD, I still feel the right thing to do for the government would be to make an exception for Yunus, since Grameen bank is a pioneering bank and Dr Yunus is a nobel laureate and hence deserves more respect than most.

^^
dont u think we need a revolution like its happening in the arab world?

no, definitely not, it's just an opportunity for a Bangladeshi military general to take over

While that has been the case for many of the previous general elections, I'm no longer sure about the last one. There's an ongoing allegation that the last election was engineered to make AL victorious.



Yeah because they were the only one who agreed to the demands of the military. Why do you think General Moeen Ahmed is not even talked about by AL to be put on trial, but on the other side BNP leaders are constantly calling for his trial.

For a moment I was scared that he was physically assaulted or something... Anyways while the law should be equal for everybody but I am sure this is being done only to harass Dr Yunus. Even if he is lawfully required to give up his position as a MD, I still feel the right thing to do for the government would be to make an exception for Yunus, since Grameen bank is a pioneering bank and Dr Yunus is a nobel laureate and hence deserves more respect than most.

I'm of the opinion that if he is to preserve his dignity, he should rise above the fray and retire from Grameen Bank. It would make him no less important and world renowned. If the desire to to "do good" continue to burn within him, then he ought to start up yet another venture like Grameen, or something purely philanthropic (and an organization where the government plays no part), along the lines of Bill Clinton, or Bill Gates, foundations. Perhaps he could even join their organizations.

^^ I agree. After all, Grameen Bank's largest shareholder is the government, so they can ask him to leave. He is above the retirement age, and he should retire and hopefully, serve Grameen Bank as an advisor or something like that. It won't make him any less dignified.

There's an ongoing allegation that the last election was engineered to make AL victorious

Yes the military favored AL, but it didn't directly rig elections. BNP had fallen relatively low in popularity at the end of its last term. Polls suggested that the AL was set to return, which is why BNP tried to tip things in its favor by stuffing the election commission with its cronies...which then prompted the AL to hartal and the military to intervene. If there had been a fair election around the beginning of 2007, the AL would likely have won, and the military intervention did not change that outcome, despite its favoritism. Of course there have been irregularities in all four elections since 1991, but never enough to change the overall outcome.

^^ I agree. After all, Grameen Bank's largest shareholder is the government, so they can ask him to leave. He is above the retirement age, and he should retire and hopefully, serve Grameen Bank as an advisor or something like that. It won't make him any less dignified.

Yes, but do you think the AL government would have "gone by the book" and made age an issue, if it was a personality that they liked/favored (not jealous of)? This retirement age business is another nonsense. It is so utterly discriminatory. The finance minister is way past any retirement age in Bangladesh, but it doesn't apply because he is 1) a politician, and 2) minister in the government.

Why haven't they targeted the chairperson of BRAC? Because he didn't win any noble prize and stayed clear of politics (Dr Yunus's mistake was his attempt to form a political party and participate in elections).

Bangladesh Nobel winner Muhammad Yunus is sacked
Prof Yunus and the Awami League-led government have increasingly been at loggerheads
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
• Profile: 'World banker to the poor'
Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been fired from the Grameen microfinance bank he founded, bank officials have told the BBC.
"Bangladesh Bank has relieved Yunus of his duties as managing director of the Grameen Bank," Muzammel Huq, Grameen Bank chairman said.
Correspondents say that the removal of Prof Yunus is the culmination of a long-running feud with the government.
He fell out with PM Sheikh Hasina in 2007 when trying to set up a new party.
The government owns a 25% stake in Grameen, which pioneered the microfinance concept of lending small amounts of money to the poor which has been replicated worldwide.
Bangladesh Bank said that Prof Yunus has violated the country's retirement laws by staying on as Grameen's head long past the mandatory retirement age of 60. Prof Yunus is 70.
Mr Huq also said that Prof Yunus also did not get the required approval from Bangladesh Bank when he was appointed managing director in 1999.
"Grameen Bank by-laws clearly state that the managing director should be appointed by the board with the prior approval of the Bangladesh Bank,'" he said.
Mr Huq said a letter from the central bank ordering the removal of Prof Yunus has been sent to the Grameen Bank.
"The bank's senior most managing director will automatically becomes the [interim] managing director. I will convene a board meeting very soon and it will soon appoint a committee to find a [permanent] managing director."
'Unfairly vilified'
A spokeswoman for Prof Yunus - who also faces defamation proceedings - said they will issue a statement later on Wednesday.
Correspondents say that the sacking of Prof Yunus is not likely to be well-received internationally.
A group of charities led by former Irish President Mary Robinson last month came to his defence arguing that he had been unfairly vilified by the government.
The Grameen Bank has specialised in giving small loans to women
The Friends of Grameen group alleged that Prof Yunus had been subjected to "politically orchestrated" and "increasingly aggressive" attacks.
In December Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused Prof Yunus of treating Grameen Bank as his "personal property" and claimed that it was "sucking blood from the poor".
The Bangladeshi government set up a review committee the following month to look into the bank's affairs amid reports that it could take it over.
Around the same time as these developments, a TV documentary alleged that aid money was wrongly transferred from one part of the bank to another in the mid-1990s.
The bank denied all the charges and later the Norwegian government, one of its main donors, gave it the all-clear.
Mrs Robinson said in February that some highly visible private microcredit experiences had been set up around the world because of the pioneering work of Prof Yunus to provide loans to the poor.
But critics say that the microcredit concept worldwide has been discredited - in India it has been alleged that onerous conditions placed on borrowers has led to a spate of suicides.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12619580

Yes, but do you think the AL government would have "gone by the book" and made age an issue, if it was a personality that they liked/favored (not jealous of)? This retirement age business is another nonsense. It is so utterly discriminatory. The finance minister is way past any retirement age in Bangladesh, but it doesn't apply because he is 1) a politician, and 2) minister in the government.

Why haven't they targeted the chairperson of BRAC? Because he didn't win any noble prize and stayed clear of politics (Dr Yunus's mistake was his attempt to form a political party and participate in elections).

I agree, his age and past political ambitions are factors and so, he has been made to remove. And since the government is a part owner, they can do what they want.

They can't really target BRAC because BRAC, I think, is not partially owned by the government.

I agree, his age and past political ambitions are factors and so, he has been made to remove. And since the government is a part owner, they can do what they want.

They can't really target BRAC because BRAC, I think, is not partially owned by the government.

The founder(s) of BRAC was rather wise not to involve GoB in their endeavors.

সমকাল প্রতিবেদক
গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালকের পদ থেকে ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূসকে অব্যাহতি দেওয়ায় বহির্বিশ্বে দেশের ভাবমূর্তি ক্ষুণ্ন করতে পারে_ এ কথা স্বীকার করে অর্থমন্ত্রী আবুল মাল আবদুল মুহিত বলেছেন, এছাড়া সরকারের আর কোনো উপায় ছিল না। আমরা তাকে সম্মানের সঙ্গে সরে যেতে অনুরোধ করেছিলাম, কিন্তু সে অনুরোধ তিনি রাখেননি। ইউনূসকে অব্যাহতি দেওয়ার পেছনে সরকারের কোনো রাজনৈতিক অভিসন্ধি নেই বলেও দাবি করেন তিনি। গতকাল কূটনীতিক ও দাতা সংস্থার প্রতিনিধিদের কাছে নোবেল বিজয়ী ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূসকে অব্যাহতি দেওয়ার ব্যাপারে সরকারি পদক্ষেপের ব্যাখ্যা করেন অর্থমন্ত্রী। লিখিত একটি বক্তব্যও উপস্থাপন করেন তিনি।
গতকাল সচিবালয়ে অর্থ মন্ত্রণালয়ের সভাকক্ষে আন্তর্জাতিক দাতা সংস্থা ও বাংলাদেশে অবস্থানরত বিভিন্ন দূতাবাসের কূটনীতিকদের সঙ্গে বৈঠক শেষে সাংবাদিকদের এসব কথা বলেন অর্থমন্ত্রী। নোবেল বিজয়ী ড. ইউনূসকে অব্যাহতি দেওয়ার প্রেক্ষাপট ও সরকারের অবস্থান ব্যাখা করতে অর্থ মন্ত্রণালয়ের ব্যাংক ও আর্থিক বিভাগে এ সভার আয়োজন করা হয়। এর আগে বুধবার গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালকের পদ থেকে ইউনূসকে
অব্যাহতির আদেশ দেয় কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংক। ওই পদে তার নিয়োগ বৈধ নয়_ এ কারণ উল্লেখ করে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংক তার অব্যাহতি আদেশ জারি করে। এদিকে মুহাম্মদ ইউনূসের অব্যাহতি প্রক্রিয়া নিয়ে অসন্তোষ প্রকাশ করেছেন যুক্তরাষ্ট্রসহ দাতা গোষ্ঠীর প্রতিনিধিরা।
বৈঠকে বিশ্বব্যাংক, এডিবি, ডেনমার্ক, ফ্রান্স, সুইডেন, কানাডা, জার্মানি, নরওয়ে, অস্ট্রেলিয়া, ইউরোপীয় ইউনিয়ন, দক্ষিণ কোরিয়া, স্পেন, ভারত, মালয়েশিয়া প্রভৃতি দেশের প্রতিনিধি ও কূটনীতিকরা উপস্থিত ছিলেন। অর্থমন্ত্রীর সঙ্গে অর্থ উপদেষ্টা ড. মশিউর রহমান, পররাষ্ট্র উপদেষ্টা গহর রিজভী, ইআরডি সচিব মোশারফ হোসেন ভূঁইয়া ও ব্যাংক-আর্থিক বিভাগের সচিব শফিকুর রহমান পাটোয়ারী উপস্থিত ছিলেন। বৈঠকে অর্থমন্ত্রী দাতাদের উপস্থিতিতে লিখিত বক্তব্য দেন। এতে অব্যাহতির কারণ, গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ভূমিকা এবং সরকারের বর্তমান অবস্থান তুলে ধরা হয়।
অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, সমঝোতার অনেক সুযোগ দেওয়া হলেও এ বিষয়ে তিনি গুরুত্ব দেননি। এ নিয়ে ব্যক্তিগত ও আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবেও বেশ কয়েকবার আমার সঙ্গে তার আলোচনা হয়েছে। কিন্তু তিনি তাতে ইতিবাচক সাড়া দেননি। বৈঠকে এতদিন কেন ইউনূসের বিরুদ্ধে ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হয়নি_ এমন প্রশ্ন তোলেন দাতারা। জবাবে অর্থমন্ত্রী তাদের উদ্দেশে বলেন, ১৯৮৩ সালে একটি অধ্যাদেশের আওতায় গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক প্রতিষ্ঠা করা হয়েছিল। গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক একটি সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠান। এটি কোনো এনজিও নয়। অন্যান্য সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠানের মতো গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকও আইনের আওতায় পরিচালিত একটি সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠান। সরকার তার ব্যাপারে উদার দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি গ্রহণ করে।
অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, আমরা চেয়েছিলাম একটা সম্মানজনক সমাধান। কিন্তু ইউনূস আমাদের সহযোগিতা করেননি। ইউনূসের বিষয়ে কূটনৈতিক সম্পর্কের ক্ষেত্রে কোনো প্রভাব পড়বে কি-না জানতে চাইলে মুহিত বলেন, এটা কেন হবে? এ ঘটনার সঙ্গে কূটনৈতিক বিষয় জড়িত করা ঠিক না। অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, কূটনীতিকরা আমার কাছে জানতে চেয়েছেন, তদন্ত কমিটির অনুসন্ধান চলাকালে এ পদক্ষেপ নিলেন না কেন? আমি তাদের বলেছি, ১৯৯৯ সাল থেকেই মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক নেই। কারণ তখন তার বয়স ৬০ বছর হয়ে গেছে। স্বাভাবিক নিয়মানুযায়ী তখনই তার অবসর নেওয়ার কথা। কিন্তু গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক পরিচালনা পর্ষদ তখন তাকে আবারও নিয়োগ দেয়। বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক অনেকবার তাদের বলেছে কিন্তু গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক কোনো জবাব দেয়নি। গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের অসহযোগিতার কথা উল্লেখ করে মুহিত বলেন, আইন অনুযায়ী গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক নিয়োগ দেওয়ার ক্ষেত্রে বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের অনুমোদন লাগবে। কারণ এটি এনজিও নয়। এটি একটি সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠান। এটাও মানা হয়নি। গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক পরিবর্তন সম্মানজনকভাবে করতে চেয়েছিলাম মন্তব্য করে অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, তদন্ত যখন শুরু হয়, তখন আমি তাকে (ইউনূস) দায়িত্ব থেকে অব্যাহতি নিতে বলেছিলাম। তখন ইউনূস বললেন, গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক একটি অসাধারণ ব্যাংক। আমি এখন দায়িত্ব ছেড়ে দিলে সব কর্মকাণ্ড ভেঙে পড়বে। সরকার অতি উৎসাহী হয়ে ইউনূসকে অপসারণ করেছে কি-না_ এ প্রশ্নের জবাবে অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, মোটেই না। বরং মিডিয়া এ বিষয়ে এমনভাবে ফুলিয়ে-ফাঁপিয়ে তুলেছে যে, বিশ্ব মিডিয়া পর্যন্ত ছড়িয়ে পড়ল।
ড. ইউনূসকে তার ঘনিষ্ঠ বন্ধু হিসেবে উল্লেখ করে মুহিত বলেন, তার সম্মান যাতে বজায় থাকে সে জন্যই তাকে সমঝোতার প্রস্তাব দিয়েছিলাম। তার ও দেশের ভাবমূর্তি রক্ষার জন্য যথেষ্ট চেষ্টা করেছি। মুহিত আরও বলেন, গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক এখনও আমাদের গর্বের ধন। এটা যথেষ্ট স্বাধীন। আমরা মাইক্রোক্রেডিট নিয়ে গর্ব করি। এটা ধ্বংস করার প্রশ্নই ওঠে না।
অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, ড. ইউনূস গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের কোনো বৈধ ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক নন। ব্যাংক আইন ১৯৯০-এর ১৪ (১) ধারা অনুসারে কোনো ব্যাংকের এমডি নিয়োগের ক্ষেত্রে কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংকের পূর্ব অনুমতি নিতে হয়। কিন্তু গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের পর্ষদ এ সংক্রান্ত কোনো অনুমোদন তো নেয়ইনি, উপরন্তু কেন্দ্রীয় ব্যাংককেও বিষয়টি অবহিত করেনি। তিনি জানান, ১৯৯৯ সাল থেকেই গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের এমডির পদটি কার্যত শূন্য রয়েছে। এ প্রসঙ্গে তিনি বলেন, গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের বিষয়ে কেউ কোনোদিন হস্তক্ষেপ করেনি। তবে বিভিন্ন সময় বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের পরিদর্শন প্রতিবেদনে গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের কোনো এমডি নেই বলে উল্লেখ করা হয়েছে। গত দশ বছর ধরে এটা চলে আসছিল।
অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, নরওয়ে টিভি যখন তার বিষয়টি নিয়ে প্রশ্ন তোলে তখন আমি তাকে ব্যক্তিগতভাবে ওই পদ থেকে সরে দাঁড়ানোর পরামর্শ দিয়েছিলাম। কিন্তু আমার পরামর্শের জবাবে তিনি বলেন, এটা সম্ভব নয়। কারণ, ইউনূস ছাড়া গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক চলবে না। আমি তার বক্তব্যের সঙ্গে একমত নই। এ প্রসঙ্গে অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, একটা প্রতিষ্ঠানে কেউ সারাজীবন থাকবে না, এটা ইউনূসের ভাবা উচিত ছিল। তিনি বলেন, এত বড় একটি প্রতিষ্ঠান গড়ে উঠেছে, অথচ পরিচালনার ক্ষেত্রে বিকল্প কোনো নেতৃত্ব গড়ে ওঠেনি। এটা খুবই দুঃখজনক। নতুন এমডি নিয়োগ প্রসঙ্গে তিনি বলেন, এতে কিছু সময় লাগবে। এত বড় একটি প্রতিষ্ঠান চালানোর জন্য একজন যোগ্য লোক প্রয়োজন। এ পদের জন্য লোক খুঁজতে একটি কমিটি গঠন করা হবে। তার আগে ব্যাংকের ডিএমডি দায়িত্ব পালন করতে পারেন। ড. ইউনূসের রাজনৈতিক দল গঠন প্রসঙ্গে মুহিত বলেন, রাজনীতি অতটা সহজ নয়। তিনি তত্ত্বাবধায়ক সরকারের সময় একটি রাজনৈতিক দল গঠনের চেষ্টা করতে গিয়ে তা বুঝেছেন। পরে তিনি নিজে থেকেই সরে গেছেন।
অর্থমন্ত্রী বলেন, অধ্যাপক ইউনূসকে আমার বন্ধু ও সহযোগী হিসেবে মনে করি আমি। আমরা এমন একটি চেতনা নিয়ে দীর্ঘ চার দশক একসঙ্গে কাজ করেছি। আমি ১৯৮৩ সালে অর্থ ও পরিকল্পনামন্ত্রী হিসেবে গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের প্রতিষ্ঠার সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত ছিলাম। গত ডিসেম্বরে গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক নিয়ে সংকট দেখা দেয়। এ সংকটের একটি সন্তোষজনক সমাধান খুঁজে বের করার জন্য আমি ও আমার অনেক সহকর্মী ব্যক্তিগতভাবে উদ্যোগ নিয়েছি। অধ্যাপক ইউনূসের সঙ্গে ব্যক্তিগত যোগাযোগের সময় সাময়িকভাবে ডেপুটি ম্যানেজিং ডিরেক্টরের কাছে গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের দায়িত্ব হস্তান্তর এবং তার অবস্থানের আইনগত ত্রুটি সংশোধনে তাকে পরামর্শ দিয়েছি। আমরা মনে করেছি যে, তাতে তদন্ত সুষ্ঠু হবে এবং রিভিউ কমিটির সুপারিশ অনুযায়ী আমরা একটি চূড়ান্ত মীমাংসায় উপনীত হতে পারব। গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক এবং তার এমডির মর্যাদা যাতে ক্ষুণ্ন না হয় সেজন্য সরকার তদন্ত কমিটির পরিবর্তে 'রিভিউ কমিটি' গঠনের সিদ্ধান্ত গ্রহণ করে। আমি তখন বলেছিলাম, এ প্রক্রিয়া সম্পন্ন করতে ৬ মাস বা তার চেয়ে বেশি সময়ের প্রয়োজন। তার সঙ্গে আমার আলোচনার সময় অধ্যাপক ইউনূস তার পছন্দমতো ব্যাংকে একজন চেয়ারম্যান নিয়োগ দেওয়ার আগ্রহ প্রকাশ করেন।
অর্থমন্ত্রী আরও বলেন, দায়িত্ব হস্তান্তর এবং নেতৃত্বের পরিবর্তনে তার ভূমিকা নিয়ে গত বুধবার তার সঙ্গে আমার চূড়ান্ত আলোচনা হয়। তিনি স্বেচ্ছায় পদত্যাগ করার জন্য উপযুক্ত পরিবেশ সৃষ্টি করার একটি শর্ত উল্লেখ করেন। তিনি আশঙ্কা করেন, তা না হলে গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক ধ্বংস হয়ে যাবে। আমি মনে করি না যে, নেতৃত্বের পরিবর্তন হলে গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক ধ্বংস হয়ে যাবে। অতএব আইন তার নিজস্ব পথ বেছে নিয়েছে। বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক ১৯৯১ সালের ব্যাংকিং কোম্পানি আইনের ৪৫ ধারা অনুযায়ী তার ক্ষমতা প্রয়োগ করেছে।
অর্থমন্ত্রী এএমএ মুহিত দুঃখ করে বলেন, পত্র-পত্রিকার রিপোর্ট পড়ে আমি জানতে পেরেছি যে, অধ্যাপক ইউনুস অর্থ মন্ত্রণালয় অনুমোদিত বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের দিকনির্দেশনা অমান্য এবং আদালতে বিষয়টি নিষ্পত্তি করার সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছেন। গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের আইনের আওতায় তাকে নিয়োগ দেওয়া হয়েছিল। এ আইন তাকে এমডি হিসেবে নিয়োগদানে গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের বোর্ড অব ডিরেক্টরর্সকে ক্ষমতা দিয়েছিল। বোর্ড ১৪(১) ধারার আওতায় বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের পূর্ব অনুমতি সাপেক্ষে এমডি নিয়োগ করতে পারে। ব্যাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের অডিট রিপোর্টে তা উল্লেখ করা হলেও গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক কখনও অনুরূপ অনুমতি প্রার্থনা করেনি। সরকারের অনুরোধে বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের অডিট পরিচালনা করে। বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের অডিটে ধরা পড়ে, ১৯৯৯ সাল থেকে আইনসম্মত কোনো এমডি ছাড়াই গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক তার কর্মকাণ্ড পরিচালনা করছে। তাই আমরা মনে করেছি, আইন অনুযায়ী এমডির অবস্থান সংশোধন করা উচিত।
অর্থমন্ত্রী উল্লেখ করেন, ভুলে যাওয়া উচিত নয়, ১৯৯৭ সালে মাইক্রোক্রেডিট শীর্ষর্ সম্মেলনে কো-চেয়ারম্যানের দায়িত্ব গ্রহণে সম্মত হয়ে প্রধানমন্ত্রী শেখ হাসিনা গ্রামীণ ব্যাংককে এবং ক্ষুদ্র ঋণের আদর্শকে আরও সমুন্নত রাখতে অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করেছেন। ১৯৯৮ সালে মহাপ্লাবনের সময় গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ঋণ গ্রহীতারা তাদের বাড়িঘর ও সহায় সম্পত্তি হারিয়ে ফেললে সে সময় সরকার এ ব্যাংককে রক্ষায় এগিয়ে এসেছিল। এই ব্যাংকের প্রতি সরকারের কোনো বিদ্বেষ নেই।
অর্থমন্ত্রী জানান, গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিবর্তনের বিষয়টি তিনি ইউনূসকে ব্যক্তিগতভাবে জানিয়েছিলেন। তার সঙ্গে এ বিষয়ে আলাপ-আলোচনাও চলছিল কিন্তু গ্রামীণ ব্যাংক নিয়ে নরওয়ে রাষ্ট্রীয় টেলিভিশনে একটি বিতর্কিত প্রতিবেদন প্রকাশ করায় বিষয়টি আন্তর্জাতিক এবং বাংলাদেশের মিডিয়াতে আসে। বাংলাদেশ নরওয়ে কর্তৃপক্ষের কাছ থেকে এ সংক্রান্ত একটি প্রতিবেদন পায়। তখন আমরা গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের কাছে এ বিষয়ে ব্যাখ্যা দাবি করি। কিন্তু নরওয়ের টিভিতে তাকে ঘিরে সংবাদ প্রচার হওয়ার পর সব বদলে গেছে.

Dr Yunus has the last laugh. The government fires him, he flies off to meet the US Secretary of State (March 8). Can any other Bangladeshi, the PM included, dream of such privilege (immediate access to people like Hillary Clinton)? No wonder they hate him.

What lies behind the sudden spate of bad press for the Grameen Bank founder?


By David Bergman

The start of a very few bad months for Muhammad Yunus, the managing director of Grameen Bank, began in November, with the broadcast of a documentary on Norwegian Television. It was not so much the film’s criticism of micro-credit that was worrying for Grameen – microcredit has been under some sustained critical assessment for quite some time. Rather, the film made allegations directed at Yunus personally, as well as claims that the bank misused millions of dollars of donor money.
The programme claimed that 15 years ago, Grameen’s Noble Peace Prize-winning founder had ‘quietly tapped Grameen Bank’ for USD 48 million of aid money. This money, it alleged, had been transferred from Grameen Bank to a separate company, Grameen Kalyan, and some money was said to have been diverted to fund Grameen Telecom, a separate company.

Made for Norwegian TV, the programme might have aroused little international interest had it not been for the English-language online Bangladesh news portal, bdnews24.com. The Dhaka-based agency quickly took up the story, publishing a long report in English, using documents given to it by the Danish filmmaker. Its editors gave the story the headline, ‘Yunus “siphoned Tk 7bn aid for poor”’. The following day, the allegation was republished in most of Bangladesh’s newspapers, and soon it was an international story, with The Times in London suggesting that Yunus’s ‘reputation was under threat’.

Fourteen years ago, during the current prime minister’s first term in office, Sheikh Hasina was appointed co-chair of the Micro Credit Summit Council of Heads of State and Government, held in Washington, DC. At that time, she had nothing but praise for Mohammed Yunus. ‘We in Bangladesh are proud of the outstanding work done by Professor Mohammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank he founded,’ she said in her remarks. ‘He has demonstrated to the world that the poor have the capacity to productively use even a small credit and change their fate. The success of the Grameen Bank has created optimism about the viability of banks engaged in extending micro-credit to the poor.’

In the aftermath of the bdnews24.com story, however, Prime Minister Hasina’s attitude has been starkly different. ‘Bangladesh has set many examples,’ she told journalists in December. ‘Deceiving people by siphoning off their money is another such example. This is nothing but sucking out money from the people after giving them loans.’

Prime Minister Hasina was known to be resentful of Yunus when he received the Nobel Peace Prize, in October 2006 – Hasina is said to believe that the prize was rightfully hers. In her first term of government, between 1996 and 2001, following the signing of a peace treaty in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Hasina had sent emissaries around the world to lobby international statesmen, including Nelson Mandela, to nominate her for the prize. When, five years after she left power, it was Yunus who received the prize, she apparently did not take it well.

Five months later, an event took place for which Hasina evidently never forgave Yunus. In February 2007, a month after a military-backed ‘caretaker’ government took over power, he announced the formation of a new political party. At that time, the military-backed government was reported to be trying to remove her – along with Khaleda Zia, the leader of the other main political party – from active politics. Yunus said he wanted a ‘complete emasculation of the established political parties’ in order ‘to cleanse the polity of massive corruption’. This did not go down well with Hasina, who reportedly thought Yunus was behind the strategy of removing the two leaders of the established parties from power – even though, after making these comments, he abandoned his idea of becoming active in party politics.

Time for old scores
Less than a week after the film was broadcast, the Norwegian government – whose funds were the ones said to have been stolen and misused – issued a report on the allegations. Erik Solheim, the Norwegian minister of the environment and international development, stated that, according to the report, ‘there is no indication that Norwegian funds have been used for unintended purposes, or that Grameen Bank has engaged in corrupt practices or embezzled funds.’

Subsequent inquiries by a local newspaper, New Age, identified that the documentary had failed to recognise that the movement of money from Grameen Bank to Grameen Kalyan was a mere ‘paper exercise’, and did actually not leave Grameen’s account. There was therefore no question that the money has been misused. Further, the money used to buy shares in Grameen Telecom was not donor money, but came from a bank-created fund to support welfare activities of its members and staff.

One might have thought that at least the Norwegian government response would bring an end to the allegations. But not at all. Toufique Khalidi, the chief editor of bdnews24.com, was having none of it. The official report ‘neither contradicts the Norwegian TV documentary, nor does it refute anything in our report. It rather corroborates what we have reported,’ he said. (Khalidi appears to have been going by the old anti-journalistic adage, ‘Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.’) He refused to respond to the New Age article.

More importantly, Prime Minister Hasina appears to have read the situation as an opportunity for the government to make a sustained attack on Yunus. In the weeks after the documentary was broadcast, a slew of allegations against Yunus have been leaked to Bangladeshi newspapers. These included claims that Grameen Bank has created companies unlawfully, was acting outside the law by serving as managing director (as he was past the mandatory retirement age of 60 years), and that the bank was in fact ‘an organ of the state’. The bank has denied all illegality, including noting that the law does not apply to age limits for non-commercial banks such as Grameen.

Throughout all this, bdnews24.com has acted as a cheerleader. Intriguingly, the site’s executive editor, Khalidi, has another full-time job – as chief editor of Independent Television, a company owned by Prime Minister Hasina’s private-sector investment adviser, Beximco’s Salman Rahman. Rahman is also rumoured to be on the verge of buying a large amount of shares in the online company.

At any rate, in early January, the site published another high-profile, and highly critical, story on Yunus. This claimed that a two-decade-old contract between Grameen Bank and Yunus’s family’s printing company gave the ‘poor borrowers’ a job having nothing to do with its core business.’ It further suggested that the family company had gained financially by the arrangement, alleging, for example, that the use of Grameen staff in the printing company was ‘to boost dividends for the family business’.

However, beyond the question that it was clearly unwise for Yunus to have entered into any contract with his family, bdnews24.com’s two central claims in the story were patently untrue. The printing work undertaken by the Yunus family’s company assists the running of the core business of Grameen Bank – its only function is to print material for the bank. In addition, the arrangement has not, in the last 20 years, resulted in any family member receiving dividends or profits.

Whatever the truth of the matter, such coverage has helped to create a climate that has ostensibly legitimised a government decision to establish a wide-ranging enquiry into Grameen Bank, beginning in mid-January. Committee Chair Monwar Uddin Ahmed said that his committee will now look into the ‘Overall functioning of Grameen Bank, and suggest how to improve functions of the bank in the future, and in that context look at all legal economic social dimensions of the bank. There is also provision for a special audit of Grameen Bank by the Bangladesh Bank.’ Ahmed also noted that the committee would be looking at all Grameen ‘sister organisations’ and reviewing all recent news ‘particularly about the Norwegian programme’.

Yunus has also become subject to legal harassment over three criminal cases. In January 2007, a member of the Jatiya Somajtantrik Dal (JSD), a small left-wing party, filed a criminal defamation case against Yunus for alleging, in an interview, that Bangladeshi politics was simply about ‘the power to make money’. The JSD politician alleged that he had been defamed by this remark. For the past three years, the case had sat with a magistrate who had apparently taken no action, presumably because he realised there was no case to answer. But shortly after the new bdnews24.com report appeared, the magistrate issued a summons for Yunus to appear in court.

Some of the legal harassment seems to be clutching at straws. The other was a new case filed by a food inspector accusing Yunus of food adulteration, through a joint venture between four Grameen companies and the French food giant Danone. A food inspector is alleging that yogurt manufactured by the company was adulterated and is prosecuting a number of people, including Yunus as chairman of Grameen Danone. The legal basis for prosecution against a board member for such a matter is dubious.

Banking on…?
How this battle between Yunus and Hasina will end is far from certain. Despite commitments that the government inquiry will be objective and fair, it is clear that the intentions of the government towards Yunus are far from neutral. Prime Minister Hasina is reported to have told one visiting foreign dignitary that Yunus would not be allowed to remain as head of Grameen Bank, and that ‘he should leave now.’ Friends of Yunus are convinced that the prime minister intends to do whatever it takes to destroy his good name, and to remove him from the institution he founded. There seem to be indications that the government wants to take over Grameen Bank, though Grameen has stated that the government only owns 3.4 percent of the institution.

Prime Minister Hasina might be betting that both Yunus and Grameen Bank are vulnerable due to the former’s weak links with Bangladesh’s civil society. Yunus does not come from Bangladesh’s elite, and has never ingratiated himself to it; further, many question whether he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet against this, Yunus remains an international statesman, and has support not only at the highest reaches of the US government, for one, but also among civil-society elites throughout much of the world.

‘You have to realise that, on a scale of one to ten, if Yunus is close to ten in the eyes of international statesmen, the prime minister of Bangladesh is about one and a half,’ says one former Bangladesh diplomat on condition of anonymity. ‘Yunus can get meetings with anyone; the prime minister can’t.’ This both helps to explain Hasina’s continuing resentment of Yunus, but also the difficulty the prime minister faces in her battle with the ‘banker to the poor’. It remains unclear whether Hasina is really willing to risk the inevitable international backlash that would occur if her government ends up taking anything that is perceived as spiteful action against Yunus.

-- David Bergman is Editor, Special Reports of the daily newspaper, New Age, published from Dhaka.

http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/4295.html

You want the truth about Dr.Muhammad Yunus. Watch these videos "completely", with completely, I mean completely! There isn't fraud with Grameen Bank or Microlending at all! Just watch this. Please we have to save him! Don't ignore these videos try to highlight everyone about this. Many people are misunderstanding this.

Response to false allegations in "Caught in Micro Debt" -- Jobra
http://www.youtube.com/user/microfinanceresponse#p/u/4/1JGBQnrC-cw

Interview with Erik Solheim microfinanceresponse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR05d9j5W6U&feature=channel_video_title

Hilary Village - Kartik Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI544LiUgTg&feature=channel_video_title

Hilary Village - Jude Fernando Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI544LiUgTg&feature=channel_video_title

Response to false interest rate allegations in "Caught in Micro Debt" -- Alex Counts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2ndLC4EDQ4&feature=channel_video_title

Response to false interest rate allegations in "Caught in Micro Debt" -- David Roodman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mdPS4rLb4M&feature=channel_video_title

Building Social Business: Muhammad Yunus mcgilluniversity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dq4vj9arXk
Watch it from 1:07:33 – 1:09:25 , you'll understand the misunderstanding!

You want the truth about Dr.Muhammad Yunus. Watch this videos "completely", with completely, I mean completely! There isn't fraud with Grameen Bank or with Microlending at all! Just watch this. Please we have to save him! Don't ignore this message or these videos many people ar misunderstanding microfinance. Please try to highlight everyone about this!

Response to false allegations in "Caught in Micro Debt" -- Jobra
http://www.youtube.com/user/microfinanceresponse#p/u/4/1JGBQnrC-cw

Interview with Erik Solheim microfinanceresponse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR05d9j5W6U&feature=channel_video_title

Hilary Village - Kartik Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI544LiUgTg&feature=channel_video_title

Hilary Village - Jude Fernando Interview
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI544LiUgTg&feature=channel_video_title

Response to false interest rate allegations in "Caught in Micro Debt" -- Alex Counts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2ndLC4EDQ4&feature=channel_video_title

Response to false interest rate allegations in "Caught in Micro Debt" -- David Roodman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mdPS4rLb4M&feature=channel_video_title

Building Social Business: Muhammad Yunus mcgilluniversity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dq4vj9arXk
Watch it from 1:07:33 – 1:09:25, you will understand the misunderstanding!

If you want the truth about Dr.Yunus read this!
Please we’ve to save what good is left on this world. Read and watch the videos, which I’ve attached below. Highlight your friends/family and everyone else about this. Some people say that Dr.Muhammad Yunus is the thief of the poor? Let me explain this matter. The implementation and the idea of microfinance has been abused. Microfinance ment to get the poor out of poverty, not to make profit out of them. Giving them “high interest” rates isn’t something we can call microfinance. Some microfinance companies in India are trying to make profit out of the poor, but they can’t call themselfs a microfinance-institution anymore.
The goal of microfinance is to improve the lifes of the poor, not to make personal benefit out of it.

Watch the video:
Dr. Yunus on Interest Rates and Microfinance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CCOopl3aKk

Some have abused the system. If you go in the bad direction, you may not call yourself microfinance anymore. This is completely different. Some people are pointing the finger towards Dr.Yunus, but they didn’t understand the matter. Why does the blame have to go toward him? You should point out the finger towards people, who are abusing the system of microfinance.

In some of the cases people are having a harder life then they ment to be, because of the abuse of microfinance. They are misunderstanding the whole concept of the microcredit-system and it’s principles. They’re implementing it in the wrong way.
*An example, if a micro-lender cannot repay his lending, Dr. Yunus said, “he” wont ever punish them for not paying back, instead he’ll be in a helping mood, and so he’ll be asking how he could help this person. In some cases other people are handling it in the opposite direction. The blame goes to Dr. Yunus, this isn’t right is it?

Watch the video from 3:00 – onwards:
Dr. Muhammad Yunus- Questions, part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gInVyAhsfWE

There were speculations about some fraud charges between Grameen Bank and a Norway company. The case has been re-investigated and they concluded that it was 100% clear of the fraud-charges.

Watch the video:
Interview with Erik Solheim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR05d9j5W6U

In 2007 Dr. Yunus along with some others tried to form a political party in Bangladesh.
To address the problems relating poverty and corruption. PM Sheikh Hasina and some government officals didn’t like this. Since then Dr. Yunus has been the target.

Dr. Yunus has now been confronted because he has gone above his retirement age. They want him to step down as the MD of Grameen Bank. However finance minister Muhith is 7 years older then Dr. Yunus. Managing Director Fazle.H.Abed is above the retirement age.
It doesn’t make sense to me. To me this is pure politics. PM Sheikh Hasina should confront people who who are harming the country by corruption, not those persons who want to help change this country& the world. How come Grameen America and other such branches are succesfull? They are implementing the microfinancesystem in the right way.
These attack on Dr. Yunus is giving the country a bad reputation. Why does whole Bangladesh has to suffer of this?
Please Bangladesh, you’ve got to change, it's never to late to change!

not a big fan of yunus but you have to watch this video here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xLJ7hDuqgRQ

Yeah because they were the only one who agreed to the demands of the military. Why do you think General Moeen Ahmed is not even talked about by AL to be put on trial, but on the other side BNP leaders are constantly calling for his trial.
they play pitty politics with everything

al and bnp blame each other for their missdeeds do you see them dragging each other to jail?

not a big fan of yunus but you have to watch this video

I don't think anybody is a big fan of anybody else, really, but by "not a" you seem to say you have have some issue with him, about him. Could we hear what they might be? The professor isn't a saint, nor the Pope, but he, nevertheless, is personally untainted unlike most of our politicians and businessmen.

BTW, where have you been? Had seen you in the neighborhood for a while.

not a big fan of yunus but you have to watch this video here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xLJ7hDuqgRQ

Sycophancy has no limits. People have to be intellectually deficient to compare the work done by Prof Yunus for poverty alleviation, and Sheikh Hasina for CHT peace accord.

I don't think anybody is a big fan of anybody else, really, but by "not a" you seem to say you have have some issue with him, about him. Could we hear what they might be? The professor isn't a saint, nor the Pope, but he, nevertheless, is personally untainted unlike most of our politicians and businessmen.

BTW, where have you been? Had seen you in the neighborhood for a while.
by not a fan i mean not a blind supporter...

so it is said... we are human beings after all not angels... i have no issue against him nor do i have a full hearted support for him..

i had been preoccupied with some work :P


how are things with you bhai?

Sycophancy has no limits. People have to be intellectually deficient to compare the work done by Prof Yunus for poverty alleviation, and Sheikh Hasina for CHT peace accord.
seeing this makes me hate my countrymen even more... when younus won the nobel prize everyone poured in on him and now today he his being victimized not a single michil in his favor!

i wonder where the "protibaadi chatros" of dhaka university are now, the other day they vandalized 100s of cars because of a students death, during the days of the ctg they went to the streets in the name of gonotontro today a man who has brought the country international fame is there alone, not a single of this chatros are there protesting for him!

le sigh!

Does anybody else think the Nobel Peace prize has become a big joke these days. Kissinger, Mother Teresa, Obama?

Does anybody else think the Nobel Peace prize has become a big joke these days. Kissinger, Mother Teresa, Obama?

The day I learned that Henry Kissinger won the Noble (Peace) prize, it lost its appeal to me. This prize has more to do with global politics than actual philanthropic work done by individuals for world peace.

Having said that, I find it a behavior totally unbecoming of a government, what the AL government has been meting out to Prof. Yunus. An absolute shameful attitude and behavior.

Does anybody else think the Nobel Peace prize has become a big joke these days. Kissinger, Mother Teresa, Obama?

Mother Teresa?? Really? Seems like you are a fan of Hitchins.

Mother Teresa?? Really? Seems like you are a fan of Hitchins.

Yes I am but then again I dont agree with many of his viewpoints specially in the last 10 years.

Having said that, I find it a behavior totally unbecoming of a government, what the AL government has been meting out to Prof. Yunus. An absolute shameful attitude and behavior.

There is no doubt about that. Hasina has a history of acting with such vengeance.

My point was so many ppl put Dr. Yunus on a pedestal because "he won such a high honour for us". Turns out this high honour is not such an high honour afterall.

At the end of the day his institution and ideas remain controversial

Originally Posted by tislam84:
Mother Teresa?? Really? Seems like you are a fan of Hitchins.

Yes I am but then again I dont agree with many of his viewpoints specially in the last 10 years.

I don't get Hitchins. A blinder support of George W Bush's Iraq invasion. An avowed atheist, yet a staunch support of Israel.

Staff Correspondent

Two renowned Bangladeshis have been included in a list of 'Top 100 Individuals' who have committed themselves to improve the lives of girls and women around the world.

Founder of Grameen Bank and Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus and Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of Brac, were included in the list prepared by US-based global advocacy organisation Women Deliver, said a press release.

The list of hundred individuals, the 'intrepid and results driven people', was released to mark the 100th International Women's Day, it said.

The honorees are derived from the fields of health, human rights, politics, economics, education, journalism, and philanthropy, and represent a great diversity of geographic and cultural backgrounds.

The list includes, among others from six continents, Nobel laureate Economist Prof Amartya Sen (India), Co-chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Melinda Gates (USA), US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (USA), UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon (South Korea), Queen Rania Al-Abdullah (Jordan), Nobel Laureate Human Rights activist Shirin Ebadi (Iran) and journalist Christian Amanpour (UK), the release added.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=177246

There is no doubt about that. Hasina has a history of acting with such vengeance.

Leaders, most of all national leaders, are supposed to be dispassionate about people (individuals) but passionate about causes.


My point was so many ppl put Dr. Yunus on a pedestal because "he won such a high honour for us".

Holding people in high esteem is not the same thing as putting them up on pedestals. That bit is being done by the followers of AL and BNP to their dear glorious leaders, twenty four by seven. I doubt people are "awed" by Prof. Yunus. I think most people just feel proud about his achievement.

Turns out this high honour is not such an high honour afterall.

Why not? Perhaps winning the Noble Prize is meaningless to intellectuals like you, but to mere mortals, such things do not happen to anybody and everybody, and neither is it an everyday occurrence.


At the end of the day his institution and ideas remain controversial

I would like to posit that both him and his institution has been made controversial by people with hidden agenda without justifiable reasons and any actual malfeasance on the part of the organization or its management. There is yet to be any proof positive that GB and/or Dr. Yunus has done anything that amounts to a controversy. Present any evidence to the contrary and I will stand corrected.

It is rather sad that the powers that be, in Bangladesh, is out to disgrace him, instead of trying to leverage his global stature to the country's advantage in the world arena.

I don't get Hitchins. A blinder support of George W Bush's Iraq invasion. An avowed atheist, yet a staunch support of Israel.

Actually he is not a staunch supporter of Israel. He said that Israel is not a normal state and will never be one but now that it exists he supports its right to exist. He hates the PLO and Hamas but has always suppoted independence for Palestine.

Leaders, mI would like to posit that both him and his institution has been made controversial by people with hidden agenda without justifiable reasons and any actual malfeasance on the part of the organization or its management. There is yet to be any proof positive that GB and/or Dr. Yunus has done anything that amounts to a controversy. Present any evidence to the contrary and I will stand corrected.

It is rather sad that the powers that be, in Bangladesh, is out to disgrace him, instead of trying to leverage his global stature to the country's advantage in the world arena.

Agreed. BD would be a better place if there were a few more Yunuses and a few less Hasinas.

On another note I wonder if the title of this thread could be modified. It gives people the impression that there was a physical attack.

....
On another note I wonder if the title of this thread could be modified. It gives people the impression that there was a physical attack.

Good point. What title would you prefer? I'm soliciting ideas (from all).

Actually he is not a staunch supporter of Israel. He said that Israel is not a normal state and will never be one but now that it exists he supports its right to exist. He hates the PLO and Hamas but has always suppoted independence for Palestine.

I have not read any of his books or other (major) works, but all the published articles/columns, and his interviews clearly demonstrate his advocacy for Israel. Hitchens isn't the only one who hates groups/organizations like Hamas and the PLO, but they exist because of Israel.

Hitchens' labeling Israel as "not a normal state" is something akin to lipstick on a pig euphemism. Fact remains it is a pig, the lipstick notwithstanding.

There are only two types of people who supported the creation of Israel, and continue to support its existence: 1) Deeply religious Jewish people who believe that God had gifted that land to them and so it is rightfully theirs; 2) politicians who are beholden to the Jewish (AIPAC) lobby.

I don't believe Christopher Hitchens is a politican, and if he has no religious conviction, I fail to see any rationality for his support for the Jewish state.

Now contrast that with Gandhi had to say about Israel:

http://www.twf.org/News/Y2001/0815-GandhiZionism.html

I would like to posit that both him and his institution has been made controversial by people with hidden agenda without justifiable reasons and any actual malfeasance on the part of the organization or its management. There is yet to be any proof positive that GB and/or Dr. Yunus has done anything that amounts to a controversy. Present any evidence to the contrary and I will stand corrected.


Not really. Thats like the AL logic of if you say anything against Bangabandhu u are a rajakar. There are many who are opposed to micro-credit and Grameen (like me) who dont have any agenda. Micro-credit and Grameen doesnt work and doesnt alleviate poverty in Bangladesh. I dont see poverty in Bangladesh going down. Yunus at the end of the day is a very succesful businessman. I suggest you read these books:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BFt8XULt1w0/SEyp_sNKDSI/AAAAAAAAAA8/oZm5Z74zGAE/s1600-h/b_book.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3EefoAuV3Ow/SEV8i9WefWI/AAAAAAAAAEg/BvBBJ0rfI9c/s1600-h/C_2.jpg

Heres shorter academic journal article to start off with:

http://juniv.academia.edu/AnuMuhammad/Papers/131710/Grameen_and_Microcredit_A_Tale_of_Corporate_Success

I have not read any of his books or other (major) works, but all the published articles/columns, and his interviews clearly demonstrate his advocacy for Israel. Hitchens isn't the only one who hates groups/organizations like Hamas and the PLO, but they exist because of Israel.

Hitchens' labeling Israel as "not a normal state" is something akin to lipstick on a pig euphemism. Fact remains it is a pig, the lipstick notwithstanding.

There are only two sets of type who supported the creation of Israel, and continue to support its existence: 1) Deeply religious Jewish people who believe that God had gifted that land to them and so it is rightfully theirs; 2) politicians who are beholden to the Jewish (AIPAC) lobby.

I don't believe Christopher Hitchens is a politican, and if he has no religious conviction, I fail to see any rationality for his support for the Jewish state.

Now contrast that with Gandhi had to say about Israel:

http://www.twf.org/News/Y2001/0815-GandhiZionism.html

Hitchens never supported the creation of Israel. I am with Hitchens on Israel. Israel has existed for 50 years and it will continue to exist. 3 generations have now lived there. Let it be. I do support Palestinian independence though.

Hopefully this video will allow u to stand corrected on Hitch's position to Israel.

VQxhyy9Wpb4

There are many who are opposed to micro-credit and Grameen (like me) who dont have any agenda. Micro-credit and Grameen doesnt work and doesnt alleviate poverty in Bangladesh. I dont see poverty in Bangladesh going down. Yunus at the end of the day is a very succesful businessman. I suggest you read these books:


http://juniv.academia.edu/AnuMuhammad/Papers/131710/Grameen_and_Microcredit_A_Tale_of_Corporate_Success

Microcredit is not a panacea to alleviate poverty. It does a good job to remove extreme poverty, but not poverty per se (only the extremely poor get better off, and once they reach a certain threshold, they cannot get loans anymore, so they cannot get better off). Besides, MFIs should not act as a government. The work of a government is to provide the rule of law, better insfrastructure and support to the poor so that they can get better-off. Expecting a private/semi-public company to carry out that job is kind of ludicrous.

And about Hitchins, I used to like him before when he wrote the "Trial of Henry Kissinger", where he basically highlighted how Mr. Kissinger let the Bengalis get slaughtered in 1971. But when he started criticising Mother Teresa, that's when I thought this guy might be a little over the edge.

And about Hitchins, I used to like him before when he wrote the "Trial of Henry Kissinger", where he basically highlighted how Mr. Kissinger let the Bengalis get slaughtered in 1971. But when he started criticising Mother Teresa, that's when I thought this guy might be a little over the edge.

Well you should check out his documnetary "Hell's Angel". He shows exactly why he criticises Teresa. Its on youtube.

..... I thought this guy might be a little over the edge.

Don't you get it? Our very own Mr King Nothing is also a guy quite near the edge. :lol: When it gets to be Mr Hitchens age, he will be over it (the edge)! :hilarious

Sorry King Nothing, I had a little fun at your expense. Please don't take it seriously because it is all in jest. :)

Not really. Thats like the AL logic of if you say anything against Bangabandhu u are a rajakar. There are many who are opposed to micro-credit and Grameen (like me) who dont have any agenda. Micro-credit and Grameen doesnt work and doesnt alleviate poverty in Bangladesh. I dont see poverty in Bangladesh going down. Yunus at the end of the day is a very succesful businessman. I suggest you read these books:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BFt8XULt1w0/SEyp_sNKDSI/AAAAAAAAAA8/oZm5Z74zGAE/s1600-h/b_book.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3EefoAuV3Ow/SEV8i9WefWI/AAAAAAAAAEg/BvBBJ0rfI9c/s1600-h/C_2.jpg

Heres shorter academic journal article to start off with:

http://juniv.academia.edu/AnuMuhammad/Papers/131710/Grameen_and_Microcredit_A_Tale_of_Corporate_Success
micro credit helps people at the very bottom of the table, it helps them move a little up the scale and then they are no longer eligible for loan because then the sum required by isnt in the companies range, so you are saying the treatment yunus is receiving is fair and just?

i have one question if they think a 70 year old man cant be competent enough to run a bank because of being over aged, i wonder how they describe the president of bangladesh!

^^ Good one Dope!!

Don't you get it? Our very own Mr King Nothing is also a guy quite near the edge. :lol: When it gets to be Mr Hitchens age, he will be over it (the edge)! :hilarious

Sorry King Nothing, I had a little fun at your expense. Please don't take it seriously because it is all in jest. :)

:lol:

so you are saying the treatment yunus is receiving is fair and just?


I never said that. Dont put words in my mouth.

micro credit helps people at the very bottom of the table, it helps them move a little up the scale

I wonder how these people at the very bottom of the table can cope with such a high interest rate. Watch this:

pMrIZJSuHF4

^^ Well imagine this. Without microcredit facilities, the extreme poor have no access to loans at all. No bank is going to loan them $300. So, they have to rely on moneylenders, who charge a very high interest rate. The thing is that, the moneylenders are not the blood-sucking monsters that everyone likes to potray them as. They have to charge a high interest because the extreme poor are very risky borrowers and many default on their loans; charging high interests is one way to break even and earn some profit.

Most MFIs are very decentralized organizations, they require a lot of money to set up branches all across the country and employ professionals who run the loan business. Loan decisions are not taken in the HQ, but on the field level. Cost of running each banking branch is pretty high, and the only way the MFIs can break even and earn some profit is by charging a higher-than-banking-sector-average interest rate. Hence, the interest rate ranges between 20-30%, which is still much lower than what is charged by moneylenders or mohajons.

Sure, the interest rate charged to Selim of village X is much higher than that charged to the industrialist Mr. Rahman in Dhaka, but MFIs are providing some much-needed capital to the poor, which, sadly, no one else wants to provide (basically teach a man to teach philosophy).

I never said that. Dont put words in my mouth.



I wonder how these people at the very bottom of the table can cope with such a high interest rate. Watch this:

pMrIZJSuHF4
the endorsers of mircrocredit are stupid fools?

^^
The ongoing debate about whether microcredit works i.e. whether it does good or more harm, will never be conclusively settled. Such debate also has no bearing with the topic at hand, which is persecution of Prof Yunus by GoB.

......
i have one question if they think a 70 year old man cant be competent enough to run a bank because of being over aged, i wonder how they describe the president of bangladesh!

^^ Good one Dope!!

This age discrimination needs to be made a thing of the past. Age ought not to be a factor in judging a person's ability to function in any professional capacity unless such is clearly the case, or in certain professions that carry high risks like airline pilots, police, military, etc.

There is no reason whatsoever why a person in his/her 70s can be a politician and/or government minister, while a banker cannot.

the endorsers of mircrocredit are stupid fools?

Who endorsed them? Ask them to come to our country and look at the results.

Who endorsed them? Ask them to come to our country and look at the results.
i am sure they did or else they wouldnt be donating money just like that and nobel prizes arent given out to every tom dick and harry!

Who endorsed them? Ask them to come to our country and look at the results.

Watch/listen to the clip in its entirety.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIVW-BsU7xY

http://carbondalepca.com/tentmakerNew/who.php?id=6

"The UN Millennium Project identifies micro-credit as “one of the development strategies … that should be implemented and supported to attain the bold ambition of reducing world poverty by half.” A powerful endorsement of the importance of the micro-finance has come from the United Nations with the designation of 2005 as the International Year of Micro-credit".

http://wavw.sesrtcic.org/imgs/news/Image/Micro-Credit_Workshop.doc

http://arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/view/1727/microcredit-for-underprivileged-women-farmers-and-small-entrepreneurs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12292108

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/blogs/summerinternships/2010/08/06/does-microcredit-work-for-the-poor/

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/business/worldbusiness/26iht-loan.html

Watch/listen to the clip in its entirety.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIVW-BsU7xY

http://carbondalepca.com/tentmakerNew/who.php?id=6

"The UN Millennium Project identifies micro-credit as “one of the development strategies … that should be implemented and supported to attain the bold ambition of reducing world poverty by half.” A powerful endorsement of the importance of the micro-finance has come from the United Nations with the designation of 2005 as the International Year of Micro-credit".

http://wavw.sesrtcic.org/imgs/news/Image/Micro-Credit_Workshop.doc

http://arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/view/1727/microcredit-for-underprivileged-women-farmers-and-small-entrepreneurs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12292108

http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/blogs/summerinternships/2010/08/06/does-microcredit-work-for-the-poor/

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/business/worldbusiness/26iht-loan.html
the rulling party of the country doesnt endorse it so its bullocks!

i am sure they did or else they wouldnt be donating money just like that and nobel prizes arent given out to every tom dick and harry!

Oh they indeed are. Kissinger, Teresa and Obama - all winners. One among them is a war criminal. Lets see if u know which one. :lol:

"The UN Millennium Project identifies micro-credit as “one of the development strategies … that should be implemented and supported to attain the bold ambition of reducing world poverty by half.” A powerful endorsement of the importance of the micro-finance has come from the United Nations with the designation of 2005 as the International Year of Micro-credit".


The UN eh? :nuts:

Well the truth is micro-credit isnt reducing poverty at all. You can see the results in the land of birth of micro-credit itself. Poverty is going up here and not going down.

the endorsers of mircrocredit are stupid fools?

The criticisers of micro-credit are stupid fools? They include world-reknowned scholars.

The UN eh? :nuts:

Well the truth is micro-credit isnt reducing poverty at all. You can see the results in the land of birth of micro-credit itself. Poverty is going up here and not going down.

Like I said before, microcredit is not meant to reduce poverty, but extreme poverty. So, the poverty rate stays the same.

And actually, poverty in Bangladesh is decreasing, not increasing.

The criticisers of micro-credit are stupid fools? They include world-reknowned scholars.

Sure they are stupid fools, if it includes people like the current PM of Bangladesh. As for "world-renowned" bit, since you appear to question most titles/awards conferred by people/organizations/countries, then it should cut both ways, I would ask, world-renowned by whose definition (standards)? I don't consider them credible, because they appear as if they have some axe to grind.

Oh they indeed are. Kissinger, Teresa and Obama - all winners. One among them is a war criminal. Lets see if u know which one. :lol:
wait what you are saying is that the nobel prize comity are bunch of dimwits who has no clue whatsoever on the recipients?

The criticisers of micro-credit are stupid fools? They include world-reknowned scholars.
i dont think sh and her son are world renowned scholars, i dont see any international figure coming up and backing them up!

wait what you are saying is that the nobel prize comity are bunch of dimwits who has no clue whatsoever on the recipients?

What would you say to Kissinger, Teresa and Obama getting the nobel peace prize? Tell me. Answer me if you can.

It should be called "no-bell" peace prize from now on.

Nobel prize এর বেল নাই

What would you say to Kissinger, Teresa and Obama getting the nobel peace prize? Tell me. Answer me if you can.

It should be called "no-bell" peace prize from now on.

Nobel prize এর বেল নাই
do you deny kissingers role in ending the vietnam war? Teresa worked all her life to help poor people in india, obama was given the peace prize so that he doesnt push for any more war

go figure more like you have no bell, honestly nobody gives a fcuk about your 2 cents!

Like I said before, microcredit is not meant to reduce poverty, but extreme poverty. So, the poverty rate stays the same.

And actually, poverty in Bangladesh is decreasing, not increasing.

Its decreasing where man? Show me some evidence. What do you mean by reducing extreme poverty. Moving from side of street beggar poor to rickshawala poor? I dont see extreme poverty around me decreasing either. You can see extreme poverty if u go to the slums of Dhaka. Its not at all decreasing.


Heres are some excerpts from a Daily Star Article:

What do these papers find?
It turns out, neither finds any conclusive, statistically significant evidence that microcredit reduces poverty. They find no significant effect on average household consumption, at least in the near term (within 18 months of the experiment). The Manila experiment tries to measure, again without success, whether microcredit lowers the probability of being under the poverty line and raises the quality of food eaten rises.

Limited effect on aggregate economic growth: In Bangladesh, the birthplace of the modern version of microcredit, the phenomenon has flourished and expanded rapidly for nearly three decades. But there is still little discernible effect at a macro-economic scale -- there is little statistical evidence of its impact on per capita income, which has remained one of the lowest in the world.

Activities made possible by microcredit, such as poultry raising and household manufacturing of handicrafts, have limited growth potential. Most micro-borrowers do not have the capacity of expanding operations and absorbing more than a small amount of loan. Often, the immediate welfare effect of microcredit loans is not sustained for long due to mitigating factors such as rapid growth in the family size, poor harvests, and natural disasters. Further, microcredit loans are mostly catered towards self-employment, which does not create jobs for others, thereby further limiting the economic effect at a broad level.

Read the whole article here:

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/index.php

do you deny kissingers role in ending the vietnam war? Teresa worked all her life to help poor people in india, obama was given the peace prize so that he doesnt push for any more war

go figure more like you have no bell, honestly nobody gives a fcuk about your 2 cents!

Kissinger is a war criminal. I dunno how he can get the nobel peace prize for ending the vietnam war. He was responsible for the secret bombing in Cambodia in the same fuckin war for chrissakes!

Teresa was a fraud, a fanatic and a fundamentalist. She was known for her home for the dying in the calcutta. This was just a place for victims to suffer and die by the rules of the Catholic Church. Its one of the most grimest places imaginable. It doesnt provide for proper beds just tiny little hammocks. They are not allowed visits from friends and relatives. They have to lie in the bed consistently. It was her obsession with suffering and her obsession that people need to suffer to come close to Jesus that led her to run her institution like this. She wasnt the least bit interested in alleviating poverty. Its a certainty tht millions of ppl died because of her work and millions. She didnt have any money problem. She collected millions of dollars from world leaders and businessmen. She spent it on nunneries and gave a huge chunk to the catholic church. At the end of the day she was just a marketing tool for her church.

And Obama...hahahahahahaha. So you agree Obama was given a prize not for smthg he did (which is why you are given prizes) but inorder to "not do something".

go figure more like you have no bell, honestly nobody gives a fcuk about your 2 cents!

AH! Personal attacks and ad hominen! Something that you come up with when cant come up with proper points in an argument :lol:

Sure they are stupid fools, if it includes people like the current PM of Bangladesh. As for "world-renowned" bit, since you appear to question most titles/awards conferred by people/organizations/countries, then it should cut both ways, I would ask, world-renowned by whose definition (standards)? I don't consider them credible, because they appear as if they have some axe to grind.

No I dont question most titles/awards but one single particular award which you yourself said had lost its appeal on you after it was given to a certain someone. And you yourself said has more to do with global politics than anything else. (Then again you said "but to mere mortals, such things do not happen to anybody and everybody, and neither is it an everyday occurrence" and so at the end of the day its a very high honour - I dont get your logic here)

I have provided several links criticising microcredit which you have conveniently ignored. The last one was short video by world re-knowned Cambrdige academic Dr. Ha-Joon Chang. I also provided a link to a journal article by an acadameic from our country. As well as links to other books. You can scroll back and take a look at them.

Or if not you can continue to ignore them and believe conspiracy theories such as all of them having an agenda against Dr. Yunus (maybe our PM asked them to after him :lol:)

Its decreasing where man? Show me some evidence. What do you mean by reducing extreme poverty. Moving from side of street beggar poor to rickshawala poor? I dont see extreme poverty around me decreasing either. You can see extreme poverty if u go to the slums of Dhaka. Its not at all decreasing.


Heres are some excerpts from a Daily Star Article:



This article says the improvements that Bangladesh made in poverty reduction.

http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/EXTSAREGTOPPOVRED/0,,contentMDK:20574062~menuPK:493447~pagePK:34004173~piPK:34003707~theSitePK:493441,00.html

From the ivory tower, it seems that poverty is increasing in Bangladesh, but when you go to the villages (and even in slums) you can see that there are a lot of people who can afford some luxuries that they couldn't even 10-15 years ago (like TV, cellphones, soap, etc). And, for the most part, people can afford at least one square meal a day. There hasn't been a major famine (save for monga) in the past 36 years.

By extreme poverty, I mean chronic poverty. It is a poverty where a person is deprived in multiple dimensions, such as income, health, asset accumulation, education, hygiene etc. Bangladesh does have a huge amount of people in extreme poverty. To us, a landless farmer and a farmer with half an acre of land may seem the same, but to a poor, the farmer with half an acre of land is pretty wealthy by village standards.

Of course, chicken/goat rearing and small business generated my microloans will not industrialize the nation, nor make the borrowers richer. But it does encourage the borrowers earn some more money, send their children to school, practice better hygiene and sometimes, afford certain luxuries that we may take as given. It can also increase education and awareness that helps to reduce mortality. Such things, sadly, are not captured when the success of microfinance is assessed.

A simple example showing the benefits of microcredit. An extremely poor person may earn 20 taka a day working as a domestic help in someone's house. If, after taking microloans, her income rises to 60 taka a day, that's a huge improvement for her (200% increase in wage). In all definition, she is still poor, and the macroeconomic effect or increasing her income from 20 to 60 taka is almost zero. But to her livelihood, it brings a huge improvement.

Besides, its not the job of a microcredit institution to improve the macroeconomic conditions (or per capita income) of a country. That's the job of a government.

Kissinger is a war criminal. I dunno how he can get the nobel peace prize for ending the vietnam war. He was responsible for the secret bombing in Cambodia in the same fuckin war for chrissakes!

Teresa was a fraud, a fanatic and a fundamentalist. She was known for her home for the dying in the calcutta. This was just a place for victims to suffer and die by the rules of the Catholic Church. Its one of the most grimest places imaginable. It doesnt provide for proper beds just tiny little hammocks. They are not allowed visits from friends and relatives. They have to lie in the bed consistently. It was her obsession with suffering and her obsession that people need to suffer to come close to Jesus that led her to run her institution like this. She wasnt the least bit interested in alleviating poverty. Its a certainty tht millions of ppl died because of her work and millions. She didnt have any money problem. She collected millions of dollars from world leaders and businessmen. She spent it on nunneries and gave a huge chunk to the catholic church. At the end of the day she was just a marketing tool for her church.

And Obama...hahahahahahaha. So you agree Obama was given a prize not for smthg he did (which is why you are given prizes) but inorder to "not do something".
for an alleged war criminal to rectify his deeds and change the course of a war into peace thats a lot of effort, you seem to be clouded in vendetta against the mentioned people!

i guess you will not have a deeper look, just rest at what you see in the first glance!

Kissinger is a war criminal. I dunno how he can get the nobel peace prize for ending the vietnam war. He was responsible for the secret bombing in Cambodia in the same fuckin war for chrissakes!

Teresa was a fraud, a fanatic and a fundamentalist. She was known for her home for the dying in the calcutta. This was just a place for victims to suffer and die by the rules of the Catholic Church. Its one of the most grimest places imaginable. It doesnt provide for proper beds just tiny little hammocks. They are not allowed visits from friends and relatives. They have to lie in the bed consistently. It was her obsession with suffering and her obsession that people need to suffer to come close to Jesus that led her to run her institution like this. She wasnt the least bit interested in alleviating poverty. Its a certainty tht millions of ppl died because of her work and millions. She didnt have any money problem. She collected millions of dollars from world leaders and businessmen. She spent it on nunneries and gave a huge chunk to the catholic church. At the end of the day she was just a marketing tool for her church.

And Obama...hahahahahahaha. So you agree Obama was given a prize not for smthg he did (which is why you are given prizes) but inorder to "not do something".
for an alleged war criminal to rectify his deeds and change the course of a war into peace thats a lot of effort, you seem to be clouded in vendetta against the mentioned people!

i guess you will not have a deeper look, just rest at what you see in the first glance!

AH! Personal attacks and ad hominen! Something that you come up with when cant come up with proper points in an argument :lol:
coming from the guy who had that much to say about teressa and co and calling the doc yunus bail less!

like wow!

The rate of poverty in Bangladesh is declining....for more than 2 decades!!


REPORT 1

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/mirzazeehan/A%20New%20Dhaka/POVERTYRATE.jpg

Poverty headcount rates, based on both the upper and lower poverty lines, show that poverty in Bangladesh is declining. In 1991-92, 56.6 percent of the population was poor (as measured by the upper poverty line) as compared to 50.1 percent in 1995-96. In 2000, 48.9 percent of the population was below the upper poverty line, and 40 percent were in 2000. Poverty dropped 8.8 percent between 2000 and 2005, whereas it dropped 16.6 percent between 1991 and 2005. For 20005, HCR estimates put 25.1 percent below the poverty line, a 9.2 percent reduction since 2000 [1]. Although the incidence of poverty is very high, the rate of poverty reduction, at about 1.8 percent per year, is encouraging
Source:http://foodsecurityatlas.org/bgd/country/access/poverty


REPORT 2

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j98/mirzazeehan/A%20New%20Dhaka/Povertyrate2.jpg

In the 1990s alone, poverty in Bangladesh shrank by 9 percent, stemming in large part from strong, sustained economic growth, with an average annual GDP increase of almost 5 percent and a rise in real per capita GDP of 36 percent, or twice the average rate of other low- and middle-income countries.
During the same decade, the population growth rate was brought down to an annual average of 1.5 percent—a major social achievement and an essential requirement for poverty reduction.


Source:http://www.worldbank.org.bd/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/BANGLADESHEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20175689~pagePK:141137~piPK:217854~theSitePK:295760,00.html


REPORT 3

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) progress report said the country's poverty rate has declined to only 38.7 per cent in 2009 from 40 per cent in 2005.

Source:http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=111950&date=2010-09-16

coming from the guy who had that much to say about teressa and co and calling the doc yunus bail less!

like wow!

Firstly you are putting words in my mouth again. I didnt call Dr. Yunus bell less. You are putting words into my mouth yet agai. Its getting really annoying. I said Nobel prize এর বেল নাই. I said It should be called "no-bell peace prize" and to provide justification for that I provided details on what Kissinger, Teresa and Obama had done. It was all part of the topic.

It was YOU who decided to go and make personal attacks on me. And then you seem to imply that Im not putting my money where my mouth is because I attacked Kissinger, Teresa and Obama (which I did because duh they were part of the topic that was being discussed.

Do you even know how to come up with a rational argument?

for an alleged war criminal to rectify his deeds and change the course of a war into peace thats a lot of effort

And he deserves highest of prizes the Nobel peace prize for that?? Wow! Just wow!!

Firstly you are putting words in my mouth again. I didnt call Dr. Yunus bell less. You are putting words into my mouth yet agai. Its getting really annoying. I said Nobel prize এর বেল নাই. I said It should be called "no-bell peace prize" and to provide justification for that I provided details on what Kissinger, Teresa and Obama had done. It was all part of the topic.

It was YOU who decided to go and make personal attacks on me. And then you seem to imply that Im not putting my money where my mouth is because I attacked Kissinger, Teresa and Obama (which I did because duh they were part of the topic that was being discussed.

Do you even know how to come up with a rational argument?
how can you be rational with someone who thinks the nobel institute is bell less! surely all the international accolades it has must hold no meaning to you hence i cannot come up with any logic to satisfy your qualms

And he deserves highest of prizes the Nobel peace prize for that?? Wow! Just wow!!
stop a war that caused a lot collateral damage and cost so many lives has no value to you?

how can you be rational with someone who thinks the nobel institute is bell less! surely all the international accolades it has must hold no meaning to you hence i cannot come up with any logic to satisfy your qualms

So you admit that you're not being rational tsk tsk. Btw Im not the only one. Even Towhid bhai admitted that the prize lost its appeal to him. When I posted that the Nobel peace prize had become a joke these days as my fbook status a bunch of my friends liked it. It was another person who commented that Nobel prize should be referred to as "No-bell" prize and a dozen people liked that comment.

So you admit that you're not being rational tsk tsk. Btw Im not the only one. Even Towhid bhai admitted that the prize lost its appeal to him. When I posted that the Nobel peace prize had become a joke these days as my fbook status a bunch of my friends liked it. It was another person who commented that Nobel prize should be referred to as "No-bell" prize and a dozen people liked that comment.
let them win it first and then comment on it, you know the old bengali saying "chaal nai kuttar Mir Bhaga nam"

^^ The way they are giving them out maybe me and my friends can win one one of these days :lol:.

do tell me when you or anyone around you wins one!

^^ The way they are giving them out maybe me and my friends can win one one of these days :lol:.

Why hope for just one tiny winy Nobel Prize,you might go on to win an Oscar and Bir Sreshto Padak as well!:lol: