Nava Thakuria

NarinjaraNews, September 2, 2023

Observing that for the last 13 years, the Bangladesh government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has beenpersecuting Nobel peace laureateProfessor Muhammad Yunus, 177 global leaders including 106 Nobel laureates, elected officials,business & civil society leaders, etcurged the  government  in Dhaka to stop harassing the brilliant economist turned revolutionary bankerto social thinker.

Highlighting on a current judicial proceeding againstProf  Yunus, they termed itas a broader assault on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in Bangladesh. Expressing  solidarity with34 courageous Bangladeshi leaders,who issued a letter of support to thecreator of Grameen movement, they also appealed to the citizens around the world to support the campaign. Theglobal personalities  issued the open letter on 28 August 2023.

Admiring the laudable progress made by Bangladesh since its independence in 1971, they howeverexpressed deep concern over the threatsto democracy and human rights in Bangladesh. One of the threats to human rights, that concerns the global leaders, was around Prof Yunus, who has been targeted bythe government with judicial harassments.They also mentioned about an earlier appeal by 40 global personalities expressing concern about his safety and freedom.

“We respectfully ask that you immediately suspend the current judicial proceedings against Prof Yunus,followed by a review of the charges by apanel of impartial judges drawn from within your nation with some role for internationally recognizedlegal experts. We are confident thatany thorough review of the anti-corruption and labor law cases against him will result in hisacquittal,” said the open letter.

Appreciating Prof Yunus’ work as inspirational to all ofthem which focuses on how socialbusiness can be a force for internationalprogress resulting in zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions, the letter added that Prof Yunus is a leading example of how Bangladesh andBangladeshi nationals have contributed toglobal progress in recent decades.

“We sincerely wish that he (Prof Yunus) be able to continuehis path-breaking work free ofpersecution or harassment,” stated the letteradding that they expect PM Hasina to ensure the resolution of these legal issues in an expedient,impartial, and just manner.

The influentialglobal citizens asserted that they would join with millions of concerned citizens around the world in closelytracking how these matters areresolved in the coming days.

The signatories include Nobel laureates namely Barack H.Obama, José Ramos-Horta, MaireadCorrigan-Maguire, Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Roberta Gbowee, Albert Arnold Gore Jr., Tawakkol Karman, Denis Mukwege,Nadia Murad, Maria Ressa, Oscar Arias Sanchez, Juan ManuelSantos, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Jody Williams,Peter Agre, Thomas R. Cech, Martin Chalfie, Emmanuelle Charpentier,  Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, WalterGilbert, Alan Heeger, RichardHenderson, Edmund Phelps, Vernon L. Smith, Joseph E. Stiglitz, J. M. Coetzee, Herta Muller, Orhan Pamuk, etc.

They did not forget to ask PM Hasina for ensuring a free,fair, and participatory nationalelection in the coming months (probably January 2024). Stating that the previous two national elections in Bangladesh lacked legitimacy, the international citizens expressed hopethat the administration of theelection (for its 350-member Jatiya Sansad) be acceptable to all major parties in the south Asian country.

The letter was also signed by Ban Ki-moon (former UNSecretary General), Hillary RodhamClinton (former U.S. Secretary of State),Narayana Murthy (founder, Infosys), Ron Garan (formerNASA astronaut), DumitruBragish (former Moldova  Premier), Emil Constantinescu (former Romania President), Mirko Cvetkovic (former  Serbia  Premier),Ameenah Gurib Fakim (formerMauritius  President), Yves Leterme (former Belgium Premier), Giorgi Margvelashvili (former Georgia President), Mary Robinson (formerIreland Premier), Viktor Yushchenko (formerUkraine President), etc.