Muhammad Yunus: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

Article Images

Line 1:

{{Short description|Bangladeshi economist and politician (born 1940)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = [[~~The Honourable~~Excellency#Bangladesh|~~The~~His ~~Honourable~~Excellency]]

| name = Muhammad Yunus

| honorific_suffix =

| native_name = {{nobold|মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস}}

| native_name_lang = bn

| image = ~~Professor~~ Muhammad Yunus, ~~portrait~~in the Press conference on Social entrepreneurship in Russia – the future of the country 2019 by Our Future (2).~~jpg~~png

| alt = Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus at the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony.

| caption = Yunus in ~~2013~~ 2019

| order = 5th

| office = Chief Adviser of Bangladesh

Line 37 ⟶ 38:

| [[Nobel Peace Prize]] (2006)

| [[File:Independence Day Award Ribbon (Bangladesh).svg|30px]] [[Independence Award]] (1987)

| ''[[List of awards and honours received by Muhammad Yunus|(Full list)]]''

}}

| website = {{URL|muhammadyunus.org/}}

Line 81 ⟶ 82:

}}

'''Muhammad Yunus'''{{efn|{{lang-bn|মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস}}, {{transl|bn|ISO|Muhāmmôd Iunūs}}, {{IPA|bn|ˈmuɦɐmːod ˈjunus|pron}}}} (born 28 June 1940) is a [[Bangladeshis|Bangladeshi]] economist, entreprenur, politician, and civil society leader, who has been serving as the 5th [[Chief Adviser (Bangladesh)|Chief Adviser]] of the [[~~Yunus interim~~Interim government of Muhammad Yunus|interim government of Bangladesh]] since 8 August 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=Muhammad Yunus takes oath as head of Bangladesh's interim government |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/8/muhammad-yunus-takes-oath-as-head-of-bangladeshs-interim-government |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=[[Al Jazeera]] |language=en}}</ref> Yunus was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]] in 2006 for founding the [[Grameen Bank]] and pioneering the concepts of [[microcredit]] and [[microfinance]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2006|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2006/yunus/biographical/|access-date=9 June 2020|website=NobelPrize.org|language=en-US|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726173150/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2006/yunus/biographical/|url-status=live}}</ref> Yunus has received several other national and international honors, including the United States [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 2009 and the [[Congressional Gold Medal]] in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 5, 2013 |title=House and Senate Leaders Announce Gold Medal Ceremony for Professor Muhammad Yunus |url=http://www.speaker.gov/press-release/house-senate-leaders-announce-gold-medal-ceremony-professor-muhammad-yunus |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829110121/https://www.speaker.gov/press-release/house-senate-leaders-announce-gold-medal-ceremony-professor-muhammad-yunus |archive-date=29 August 2018 |website=Press Release, US Congress}}</ref>

In 2012, Yunus became [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of [[Glasgow Caledonian University]] in Scotland, a position he held until 2018.<ref name="BBC-Glasgow">{{cite news |date=1 July 2012 |title=Muhammad Yunus accepts Glasgow Caledonian University post |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-18653792 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413174536/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-18653792 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |access-date=21 June 2018 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=16 July 2012 |title=Muhammad Yunus Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University |url=http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/417 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107172044/http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2012-13/417 |archive-date=7 November 2013 |access-date=18 August 2012 |work=[[UK Parliament]]}}</ref> Previously, he was a professor of economics at [[Chittagong University]] in Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor Muhammad Yunus|url=https://keough.nd.edu/muhammad-yunus/|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Keough School – University of Notre Dame|language=en-US|archive-date=10 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410103540/https://keough.nd.edu/muhammad-yunus/|url-status=live}}</ref> He published several books related to his finance work. He is a founding board member of Grameen America and [[Grameen Foundation]], which support microcredit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bangladesh dissolves Parliament; protesters call for Nobel laureate to lead |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/06/bangladesh-yunus-government-military-hasina/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Yunus also served on the board of directors of the [[United Nations Foundation]], a public charity to support [[United Nations|UN]] causes, from 1998 to 2021.<ref name="test">{{Cite web|url=https://unfoundation.org/|title=United Nations Foundation | Helping the UN build a better world.|website=unfoundation.org}}</ref> In 2022, he partnered with [[Global Esports Federation]] to build [[esports]] for the development movement.<ref name="gef">{{cite web |url=https://www.globalesports.org/post/gef-partners-yunus-sports-hub-e4dmovement |title=Global Esports Federation partners with Yunus Sports Hub to build Esports for Development movement |publisher=[[Global Esports Federation]] |date=2022-09-28 |access-date=2024-08-09 |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809111816/https://www.globalesports.org/post/gef-partners-yunus-sports-hub-e4dmovement |url-status=live }}</ref>

After dissolving the parliament on 6 August 2024, Bangladeshi president [[Mohammed Shahabuddin]] nominated Yunus to serve as the head of the [[Yunus interim government|interim government of Bangladesh]], acceding to [[Non-cooperation movement (2024)|student demands]] following the resignation of former Prime Minister [[Sheikh Hasina]].<ref name="Wapo20240806">{{cite news |last1=Majumder |first1=Azad |last2=Mehrotra |first2=Karishma |last3=Gupta |first3=Anant |last4=Ripon |first4=Tanbirul Miraj |last5=Seth |first5=Anika Arora |date=6 August 2024 |title=Bangladeshi officials meet student demand to name Nobel laureate as leader |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/08/06/bangladesh-yunus-government-military-hasina/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> The main pledge of his ministry is organize a constituent assembly to draft and adopt a new, democratic and inclusive constitution, ensuring the inviolability of human dignity.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Constituent assembly to be convened for charter reform: Nahid |url=https://www.jagonews24.com/en/national/news/76602 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240924185219/https://www.jagonews24.com/en/national/news/76602 |archive-date=September 24, 2024 |access-date=}}</ref> His acquittal on appeal the following day of charges of labour code violations, which were viewed as [[Politically motivated trials|politically motivated]], facilitated his return to the country and appointment.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |language=fr |title=Le Prix Nobel Muhammad Yunus arrive au Bangladesh pour former un gouvernement |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2024/08/08/le-prix-nobel-muhammad-yunus-atterrit-au-bangladesh-pour-former-un-gouvernement_6272846_3210.html |date=2024-08-08 }}</ref>

==Early life and education==

Line 97 ⟶ 98:

[[File:Muhammad Yunus at Chittagong Collegiate School.JPG|thumb|Yunus visiting [[Chittagong Collegiate School]], in 2003]]

After his graduation, Yunus joined the Bureau of Economics as a research assistant to the economics researches of [[Nurul Islam (economist)|Nurul Islam]] and [[Rehman Sobhan]].<ref name="Palo-interview"/> Later, he was appointed lecturer in economics in Chittagong College in 1961.<ref name="Palo-interview"/> During that time, he also set up a profitable [[packaging and labeling|packaging factory]] on the side.<ref name=Hero/> In 1965, he received a [[Fulbright scholarship]] to study in the United States. He obtained his PhD in economics from the [[Vanderbilt University]] Graduate Program in Economic Development (GPED) in 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gped/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121211155230/http://www.vanderbilt.edu/gped/|url-status=dead|title=The Graduate Program in Economic Development – Vanderbilt University ...|date=11 December 2012|archive-date=11 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="vanb">{{Cite web |last=Patterson |first=Jim |date=3 Dec 2007 |title=Yunus to receive Nichols-Chancellor's Medal |url=http://www.vanderbilt.edu/register/articles?id=32834 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618095738/http://www.vanderbilt.edu/register/articles?id=32834 |archive-date=18 June 2008 |website=Vanderbilt Register}}</ref> From 1969 to 1972, Yunus was the assistant professor of economics at [[Middle Tennessee State University]] in [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee|Murfreesboro]].<ref name="edd"/><ref name="edd2"/>

During the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in 1971, Yunus founded a citizen's committee and ran the Bangladesh Information Center, with other Bangladeshis in the United States, to raise support for liberation.<ref name="Palo-interview"/> He also published the ''Bangladesh Newsletter'' from his home in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]. After the War, he returned to Bangladesh and was appointed to the government's Planning Commission headed by Nurul Islam. However, he found the job boring and resigned to join [[Chittagong University]] as head of the Economics department.<ref name="B2P">{{cite book |last=Yunus |first=Muhammad |~~year~~url=~~2003~~https://archive.org/details/bankertopoormicr00yunu/page/20 |title=Banker to the Poor: micro-lending and the battle against world poverty |author2=Jolis, Alan |publisher=Public Affairs |~~location~~year=~~New York~~2003 |isbn=978-1-58648-198-8 |~~pages~~location=[~~https://archive.org/details/bankertopoormicr00yunu/page/20~~[New ~~20–29~~York (state)|New York]] |~~url~~pages=[https://archive.org/details/bankertopoormicr00yunu/page/20 20–29]}}</ref> After observing the [[Bangladesh famine of 1974|famine of 1974]], he became involved in [[poverty reduction]] and established a rural economic programme as a research project. In 1975, he developed a Nabajug (New Era) Tebhaga Khamar (three share farm) which the government adopted as the Packaged Input Programme.<ref name="Palo-interview"/> To make the project more effective, Yunus and his associates proposed the ''Gram Sarkar'' (the village government) programme.<ref name="Ramon">{{cite web |url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/awardee/profile/265 |title=Yunus, Muhammad |website=Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation |access-date=17 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014221226/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/awardee/profile/265 |archive-date=14 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Introduced by ~~president~~President [[Ziaur Rahman]] in the late 1970s, the government formed 40,392 village governments as a fourth layer of government in 2003. On 2 August 2005, in response to a petition by [[Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust]] (BLAST), the High Court declared village governments illegal and unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/432_1184159231_bangladesh-280607.doc |title=Bangladesh: Country of Origin Information Report |date=15 June 2007 |website=Country of Origin Information Service |location=UK |publisher=Border & Immigration Agency |format=DOC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927140733/http://www.ecoi.net/file_upload/432_1184159231_bangladesh-280607.doc |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=9 September 2007}}</ref>

His concept of [[microcredit]] for supporting innovators in multiple developing countries also inspired programmes such as the Info lady Social Entrepreneurship Programme.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hossain |first=Farid |date=1 November 2012 |title=Internet Rolls Into Bangladesh Villages on a Bike |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2012/11/01/internet-rolls-into-bangladesh-villages-on-a-bike |~~magazine=U.S. News & World Report |agency=Associated Press |access~~url-~~date~~status=~~21 February 2017 |archive-date=10 April 2022~~live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410103626/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2012/11/01/internet-rolls-into-bangladesh-villages-on-a-bike |~~url~~archive-~~status~~date=~~live~~10 April 2022 |access-date=21 February 2017 |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=8 November 2012 |title=Info Ladies – Riding Internet into Rural Bangladesh! |url=http://amaderkotha.com.bd/2012/11/08/info-ladies-riding-internet-into-rural-bangladesh ~~|title=Info Ladies – Riding Internet into Rural Bangladesh! |date=8 November 2012 |work=Amader Kotha~~ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317182454/http://amaderkotha.com.bd/2012/11/08/info-ladies-riding-internet-into-rural-bangladesh/ |archive-date=17 March 2014 |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=[[Amader Kotha]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bouissou |first=Julien |date=30 July 2013 |title='Info ladies' go biking to bring remote Bangladeshi villages online |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jul/30/bangladesh-bikes-skype-info-ladies |~~location=London |newspaper=The Guardian |access~~url-~~date~~status=~~21 February 2017 |archive-date=1 September 2022~~live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901054820/http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/jul/30/bangladesh-bikes-skype-info-ladies |~~url~~archive-~~status~~date=~~live~~1 September 2022 |access-date=21 February 2017 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=[[London]]}}</ref>

==Early career==

Line 108 ⟶ 109:

[[File:Grameen.JPG|thumb|right|Grameen Bank Head Office at Mirpur-2, [[Dhaka]]]]

In 1976, during visits to the poorest households in the village of Jobra near Chittagong University, Yunus discovered that very small loans could make a disproportionate difference to a poor person. Village women who made [[bamboo]] furniture had to take [[usury|usurious]] loans to buy bamboo, and repay their profits to the lenders. Traditional banks did not want to make tiny loans at reasonable interest to the poor due to high risk of default.<ref name="bbc2Mar2011">{{cite news |title=Profile: Muhammad Yunus, 'world's banker to the poor' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6047234.stm |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=16 October 2006 |archive-date=4 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204233305/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6047234.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> But Yunus believed that, given the chance, the poor will not need to pay high interest on the money, can keep any profits from their own ~~labor~~labour, and hence [[microcredit]] was a viable [[business model]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Yunus |first=Muhammad |year=2003 |title=Banker to the Poor: micro-lending and the battle against world poverty |author2=Jolis, Alan |publisher=PublicAffairs hc |location=New York |isbn=978-1-58648-198-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bankertopoormicr00yunu/page/46 46–49] |url=https://archive.org/details/bankertopoormicr00yunu/page/46 }}</ref> Yunus lent US$27 of his money to 42 women in the village, who made a profit of [[Bangladeshi taka|BDT]] 0.50 (US$0.02) each on the loan.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} Thus, Yunus is credited with the idea of microcredit.<ref>{{cite web |title=Muhammad Yunus Facts , The Nobel Peace Prize 2006 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2006/yunus/facts/ |website=NobelPrize.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809024731/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2006/yunus/facts/ |archive-date=9 August 2024 }}</ref>

In December 1976, Yunus finally secured a loan from the government [[Janata Bank]] to lend to the poor in Jobra. The institution continued to operate, securing loans from other banks for its projects. By 1982, it had 28,000 members. On 1 October 1983, the pilot project began operation as a full-fledged bank for poor Bangladeshis and was renamed [[Grameen Bank]] ("Village Bank"). By July 2007, Grameen had issued US$6.38 billion to 7.4 million borrowers.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Muhammad|last=Yunus|date=September 2005|url=https://www.grameen-info.org/?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=175|title=GB at a glance|access-date=11 August 2024|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107050654/http://www.grameen-info.org/grameen-bank-at-a-glance/|archive-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> To ensure repayment, the bank uses a system of "solidarity groups". These small informal groups apply together for loans and its members act as co-guarantors of repayment and support one another's efforts at economic self-advancement.<ref name="Ramon"/>

Line 156 ⟶ 157:

==Political career==

[[File:Muhammad Yunus atas ~~LSE~~the Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh 2024 -2 (cropped).jpg|right|thumb| Yunus ~~(right)~~as atthe achief ~~book~~adviser ~~signing at~~of the ~~[[London~~interim ~~School~~government, ofSeptember ~~Economics]]~~2024]]

In July 2007, in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa, [[Nelson Mandela]], [[Graça Machel]] and [[Desmond Tutu]] convened a group of world leaders "to contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity to tackle some of the world's toughest problems."<ref>{{cite news |title=Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu announce The Elders |url=http://www.theelders.org/article/nelson-mandela-and-desmond-tutu-announce-elders |publisher=TheElders.org |date=18 July 2007 |access-date=1 May 2013 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002064243/http://theelders.org/article/nelson-mandela-and-desmond-tutu-announce-elders |url-status=live }}</ref> Nelson Mandela announced the formation of this new group, [[The Elders (organization)|The Elders]], in a speech he delivered on the occasion of his 89th birthday.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 July 2007 |title=Mandela joins 'Elders' on turning 89 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19836050 |work=NBC News |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=24 August 2007 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029200526/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna19836050 |url-status=live }}</ref> Yunus attended the launch of the group and was one of its founding members. He stepped down as an Elder in September 2009, stating that he was unable to do justice to his membership due to the demands of his work.<ref>{{cite news |title= Muhammad Yunus steps down |url= http://www.theelders.org/article/muhammad-yunus-steps-down |publisher= TheElders.org |date= 21 September 2009 |access-date= 1 May 2013 |archive-date= 13 May 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130513012658/http://www.theelders.org/article/muhammad-yunus-steps-down |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Line 173 ⟶ 174:

===Chief Advisor of Bangladesh===

{{~~See~~Main|Yunus ~~also~~ministry|~~Premiership~~Interim government of Muhammad Yunus~~|Yunus interim government~~}}

[[File:U.S. Delegates Visiting Bangladesh (54001501665).jpg|thumb|Chief Adviser Yunus with the US Assistant Secretary [[Brent Neiman]] at the [[Jamuna State Guest House]]]]

Amid the [[Non-cooperation movement (2024)|non-cooperation movement]] protests in Bangladesh, Yunus expressed support for the students and his distaste of the current government, and in August 2024, after the resignation of [[Sheikh Hasina]] and her departure to India, it was announced that Yunus would be chief adviser of the [[2024 Bangladesh Interim Government|interim government]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nobel Laureate Tapped to Lead Interim Government in Bangladesh |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/world/asia/bangladesh-government.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=6 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806190556/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/06/world/asia/bangladesh-government.html |archive-date=6 August 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/amp/world/celebrations-all-over-bangladesh-nobel-laureate-muhammad-yunus-lauds-student-protests-says-anger-against-hasina-erupted-8991374.html |title=Celebrations All Over': Bangladesh Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus Lauds Student Protests, Says Anger Against Hasina Erupted |date=6 August 2024 |access-date=6 August 2024 |publisher=[[News18]] |archive-date=6 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806010809/https://www.news18.com/amp/world/celebrations-all-over-bangladesh-nobel-laureate-muhammad-yunus-lauds-student-protests-says-anger-against-hasina-erupted-8991374.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Muhammad Yunus was appointed as the transitional leader of the interim government on 7 August 2024 by president [[Mohammed Shahabuddin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus to lead Bangladesh interim government |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/6/nobel-laureate-yunus-to-lead-bangladesh-interim-govt-presidents-office |access-date=7 August 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en }}</ref> On 8 August 2024, he took the oath and has been serving as the [[Chief Adviser (Bangladesh)|Chief Advisor]] of the [[Mohammad Yunus cabinet|2024 Bangladesh interim government]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/yunus-led-interim-govt-sworn-3672581 |title=Yunus-led interim govt sworn in |date=8 August 2024 |access-date=8 August 2024 |archive-date=8 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240808232802/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/yunus-led-interim-govt-sworn-3672581 |url-status=live }}</ref> After the oath he visited injured peoples in [[Dhaka Medical College]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Dr Yunus visits injured victims of student movement at DMCH |url=https://www.bssnews.net/news/203050 |work=BSS |issue=9 August 2024 |access-date=11 August 2024 |archive-date=11 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811183308/https://www.bssnews.net/news/203050 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 10 August 2024, he visited the home and family members of [[Abu Sayed (student activist)|Abu Sayed]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Abu Sayeed is a son to all families, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist: Dr Yunus in Rangur |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/local-news/ouiybt11wi |work=[[Prothom Alo]] |date=10 August 2024 |language=en |access-date=11 August 2024 |archive-date=11 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240811183307/https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/local-news/ouiybt11wi |url-status=live }}</ref> He also visited injured student protesters in the [[Rangpur Medical College]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Yunus visits injured students at Rangpur hospital |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/yunus-visits-injured-students-rangpur-hospital-3674136 |work=The Daily Star |date=11 August 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

Following communal violence after Hasina's resignation, Yunus threatened to resign if the violence continued<ref name=threaten>{{Cite web |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/bangladesh-interim-leader-yunus-threatens-to-quit-over-violence-1815279 |title=Bangladesh Interim Leader Yunus Threatens to Quit Over Violence |date=9 August 2024 |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=Deccan Chroncide |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809234751/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/bangladesh-interim-leader-yunus-threatens-to-quit-over-violence-1815279 |url-status=live }}</ref> and vowed to crack down on conspirators of the attacks.<ref name=crackdown>{{Cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/bangladesh-unrest-muhammad-yunus-interim-government-sheikh-hasina-protests-hindus-attacked-2579505-2024-08-09 |title=Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus vows crackdown on 'conspirators' amid deadly unrest |date=9 August 2024 |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=India Today |archive-date=9 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809045145/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/bangladesh-unrest-muhammad-yunus-interim-government-sheikh-hasina-protests-hindus-attacked-2579505-2024-08-09 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Line 205 ⟶ 208:

=== Food adulteration case ===

On 27 January 2011, Yunus appeared in court in a [[Food adulteration|food-adulteration]] case filed by the [[Dhaka City Corporation]] (DCC) Food Safety Court, accusing him of producing an "adulterated" yogurt<ref>{{cite news |author=Farid Ahmed |date=28 January 2011 |title=Bangladeshi Nobel laureate faces fresh legal trouble at home |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/27/bangladesh.nobel.yogurt/ |work=CNN |access-date=12 March 2011 |archive-date=28 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628202857/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/01/27/bangladesh.nobel.yogurt/ |url-status=live }}</ref> whose fat content was below the legal minimum. This yogurt is produced by [[Grameen Danone]], a [[social business]] joint venture between Grameen Bank and [[Danone]] that aims to provide opportunities for street vendors who sell the yogurt and to improve child nutrition with the nutrient-fortified yogurt. According to Yunus's lawyer, the allegations are "false and baseless".<ref>{{cite news |date=28 January 2011 |title=Contaminated yoghurt lands Yunus in dock |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/international/contaminated-yoghurt-lands-yunus-dock-107 |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |agency=Agence France-Presse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213072239/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/international/contaminated-yoghurt-lands-yunus-dock-107 |archive-date=13 February 2011 |access-date=12 March 2011}}</ref>

==Trials==

Yunus faced 174 lawsuits in Bangladesh, 172 of which were civil cases. Allegations included labour law violations, corruption, and money laundering, which Yunus alleged were politically motivated.<ref name="New Age">{{cite news |date=8 September 2023 |title=Nobel laureate Yunus faces 174 cases in Bangladesh |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/211670/nobel-laureate-yunus-faces-174-cases-in-bangladesh |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109235625/https://www.newagebd.net/article/211670/nobel-laureate-yunus-faces-174-cases-in-bangladesh |archive-date=9 November 2023 |access-date=9 October 2023 |work=New Age}}</ref>

Hasina launched a series of trials against Yunus.<ref name="ti19Sep2013">{{cite news |date=19 September 2013 |title=The never-ending trial of Muhammad Yunus |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/contributors/contributions/rashidul-bari/The-never-ending-trial-of-Muhammad-Yunus/articleshow/22757491.cms?intenttarget=no |access-date=8 July 2015 |work=The Times of India |archive-date=4 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304120433/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/nri/contributors/contributions/rashidul-bari/The-never-ending-trial-of-Muhammad-Yunus/articleshow/22757491.cms?intenttarget=no |url-status=live }}</ref> The former put the latter on trial in 2010 and ultimately removed him from [[Grameen Bank]],<ref name="dawn">{{cite news |url=http://dawn.com/news/1054597/yunus-slams-destruction-of-grameen |title=Yunus slams 'destruction' of Grameen |work=Dawn |date=7 November 2013 |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417013937/https://www.dawn.com/news/1054597/yunus-slams-destruction-of-grameen |url-status=live }}</ref> citing his age.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/21/muhammad-yunus-microfinance-grameen-bank-bangladesh|title=Microfinance guru Muhammad Yunus faces removal from Grameen Bank|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 July 2015|archive-date=19 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220619141515/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/21/muhammad-yunus-microfinance-grameen-bank-bangladesh|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, he was tried a second time, because he had supposedly received earnings without the necessary government permission, including his Nobel Peace Prize earnings and royalties from his book sales.<ref name="huffingtonpost">{{cite news |title=Muhammad Yunus Accused of Tax Evasion, Bangladesh To Take Legal Action Against Nobel Laureate |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/muhammad-yunus-tax-evasion_n_3900633.html |newspaper=HuffPost |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914115624/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/10/muhammad-yunus-tax-evasion_n_3900633.html |archive-date=14 September 2013 |access-date=8 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The series of trials against Yunus<ref name="nytimes">{{cite web |url=http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/beyond-profit-a-talk-with-muhammad-yunus/ |title=Beyond Profit: A Talk With Muhammad Yunus |last=Bornstein |first=David |date=17 April 2013 |work=Opinionator |type=Opinion |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328161043/https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/beyond-profit-a-talk-with-muhammad-yunus/ |url-status=live }}</ref> puzzled figures worldwide, from the 8.3 million underprivileged women served by Grameen Bank to U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].<ref name="nytimes4">{{cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Somini |date=19 February 2007 |title=A Nobel Prizewinner's Hat Alters the Political Ring in Bangladesh |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/world/asia/19bangla.html |access-date=8 July 2015 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410103808/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/world/asia/19bangla.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cnn">{{cite news |author=Farid Ahmed |title=Bangladesh asked to find a compromise to end bank crisis |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/22/bangladesh.bank.crisis/ |access-date=8 July 2015 |work=CNN |archive-date=10 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410103808/http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/22/bangladesh.bank.crisis/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Vikas Bajaj wrote on 7 November 2013:

Line 219 ⟶ 222:

===Background===

For many years, Yunus remained a follower of Hasina's father, [[Sheikh Mujibur Rahman|Sheikh Mujib]], the country's founding father.<ref name="webs">{{cite web|url=http://bangabandhuporisad.webs.com/|title=Home – FATHER OF BENGALEE NATION|publisher=bangabandhuporisad.webs.com|access-date=8 July 2015|archive-date=9 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709011442/http://bangabandhuporisad.webs.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> While, teaching at [[Middle Tennessee State University]],<ref name="mtsu">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtsu.edu/yunus/|title=Middle Tennessee State University | Middle Tennessee State University|publisher=mtsu.edu|access-date=8 July 2015|archive-date=5 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305072948/https://www.mtsu.edu/yunus/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Yunus founded the Bangladesh ~~Citizen~~Citizens's Committee (BCC) as a response to West Pakistan's aggression against Bangladesh.<ref name="~~thefinancialexpress-bd2~~Stuth_transforming_cannons">{{cite ~~news~~ Q|url=http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/old/index.php?ref=MjBfMDJfMDlfMTNfMV85OV8xNTk1MjY= |title=The role of Muhammad Yunus in the Bangladesh Liberation War and thereafter |work=The Financial Express |location=Dhaka |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052520/http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/old/index.php?ref=MjBfMDJfMDlfMTNfMV85OV8xNTk1MjY= Q130343104|url-status=live }}</ref>{{rp|74}} After the outbreak of the [[Bangladesh Liberation War|war of liberation]], the BCC selected Yunus to become editor of its ''Bangladesh News Letter''.<ref name="bdnews24">{{cite news|url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/yunus-on-congressional-medal|title=Yunus on Congressional medal|work=bdnews24.com|date=18 April 2013|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> Inspired by the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, Yunus returned home in 1972. The relationship continued after Mujib's death. Yunus maintained a professional relationship with Hasina. Yunus appointed Hasina—along with U.S. First Lady [[Hillary Clinton]]—as co-chair of a microcredit summit held 2–4 February 1997. At this event, 50 heads of state and high-level officials from 137 nations gathered in Washington, DC, to discuss solutions to poverty. At this event, Hasina had nothing but praise for Yunus. In her statement she praised, "the outstanding work done by Professor Yunus and the Grameen Bank he founded. ... The success of the Grameen Bank has created optimism about the viability of banks engaged in extending micro-credit to the poor".<ref name="himalmag">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/4295-hasina-vs-yunus.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305085146/http://www.himalmag.com/component/content/article/4295-hasina-vs-yunus.html |archive-date=5 March 2011 |url-status=dead|title=Hasina vs Yunus |magazine=Himal |access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref> The inaugural ceremony of Grameen Phone, Bangladesh's largest telephone service, took place at Hasina's office on 26 March 1997. Using Grameen Phone, Hasina made the first call to [[Thorbjorn Jagland]], the then-Norwegian prime minister. When her conversation ended, she received another call, from Laily Begum, a Grameen Phone employee. However, this long relationship ended in 2007 after Yunus disclosed his intention to form a political party, [[Nagorik Shakti]].<ref name="bdnews24a">{{cite news|url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/yunus-names-his-political-party-nagorik-shakti|title=Yunus names his political party Nagorik Shakti|work=bdnews24.com|date=18 February 2007|access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref>

===From friend to foe===

Line 227 ⟶ 230:

===Historical description===

On 11 January 2007, Army General Moeen U Ahmed staged a military coup.<ref>{{cite news |title=1/11 changeover: How it happened and why |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/302518/1-11-changeover-how-it-happened-and-why |work=[[Dhaka Tribune]] |date=11 January 2023}}</ref> Meanwhile, Yunus turned down his request to become the nation's fourth Chief Advisor after [[Khaleda Zia]]'s term ended. Yunus, however, suggested the general pick [[Fakhruddin Ahmed]]<ref name="oneindia">{{cite web |url=http://news.oneindia.in/2007/01/12/dr-fakhruddin-caretaker-head-of-bangladesh-1168612741.html |title=Dr Fakhruddin caretaker head of Bangladesh |work=Oneindia |date=12 January 2007 |access-date=8 July 2015 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015626/http://news.oneindia.in/2007/01/12/dr-fakhruddin-caretaker-head-of-bangladesh-1168612741.html |url-status=live }}</ref> for the job. Fakhruddin took office on 11 January 2007 and made it clear on his first day that he intended not only to arrange a free and fair election but also to clean up corruption. While Khaleda and Hasina criticised Fakruddin and claimed that it was not his job to clean up corruption, Yunus expressed his satisfaction. In an interview with the AFP news agency, Yunus remarked "There is no ideology here."<ref name="bbc18Jan2011" /> Hasina had a harsh reaction to Yunus's comments, calling him a "usurer who has not only failed to eradicate poverty but has also nurtured poverty.<ref name="bdnews24b">{{cite news |title=Usurers up in arms to usurp politics, Hasina tells cultural activists |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/usurers-up-in-arms-to-usurp-politics-hasina-tells-cultural-activists |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=17 February 2007 |access-date=8 July 2015}}</ref>" This was Hasina's first public statement against Yunus. Later Yunus announced the name of this prospective political party, ''[[Nagorik Shakti]]'' (~~Citizen~~Citizens's Power), saying he had a mission to enter the political arena in his nation in hope of changing its identity from "bottomless basket" to "rising tiger". However, on 3 May, Yunus published a third open letter and put his political ambitions to rest.<ref name="nytimes"/>

===Proceedings===

Line 336 ⟶ 339:

[[Category:Chittagong Collegiate School and College alumni]]

[[Category:Development specialists]]

~~[[Category:Fulbright alumni]]~~

[[Category:HuffPost writers and columnists]]

[[Category:International Simón Bolívar Prize recipients]]