US puts on hold Bangladesh ties over Yunus harassment
February 28th, 2011 - 2:04 pm ICT by IANS
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.
- Dhaka court hears petition challenging Yunus' ouster - Mar 06, 2011
- 'Charges against Muhammad Yunus politically motivated' - Feb 18, 2011
- Bangladesh's microcredit pioneer Yunus always spoke for poor (With Yunus loses appeal against ouster from Grameen Bank) - Mar 08, 2011
- Bangladesh forms panel on Grameen Bank - May 16, 2012
- Bangladesh to probe Grameen 'irregularities' - Dec 23, 2010
- Grameen Bank challenges government ownership claim - Feb 02, 2011
- Yunus's Grameen ouster verdict by Dhaka court Tuesday - Mar 07, 2011
- 'Friends of Grameen Bank' defend Nobel laureate Yunus from aggressive govt attacks - Feb 17, 2011
- Mixed reactions to Yunus sacking - Mar 03, 2011
- Bangladesh to probe charges against Grameen Bank founder - Dec 06, 2010
- France takes up Yunus case with Bangladesh - Apr 25, 2011
- Bangladesh apex court confirms Yunus removal from Grameen Bank (Second Lead) - Apr 05, 2011
- French president supports Grameen's Yunus - Apr 06, 2011
- Grameen stakeholders should protest, says Yunus - May 18, 2011
- Bangladesh Govt. asks Muhammad Yunus to give up Grameen Bank post - Feb 16, 2011
Tags: abul kalam azad, aid money, bangladesh government, bank founder, barack obama, blood sucker, eminent personalities, food adulteration, grameen bank, hillary clinton, impending visit, india visit, islamic forum, micro credit, muhammad yunus, nobel peace prize, norwegian government, rural women, s media, western diplomat