Tribute to Prof. Mohammad Yunus

I do not know a lot about Grameen Bank, bank of penniless poors. But I know our maid servant who used to live our home, spent half of life in slavery for rich. 

I know - now she has house to live. We did not build it for her. She made it for herself. She had nothing, only a job at our home, job of a maid servant. She got a loan and then built her home, raised some hens, ducks, cattle. I never saw her husband. I don't when he left her. He never showed up. She raised her son, repaid her debt and made her free from the chain of slavery.

During my life I got credit from different banks, Standard Chartered, HSBC, NCC, Commonwealth, NAB. I don't know whether these banks will ever consider her (our maid servant) for disbursing laons. But Grameen Bank did and it does. So, it is different. Grameen Bank is doing such thing what other banks are not doing. Can Bangladesh Bank, (State Bank of Bangladesh) force these banks to give credit to these wretched poors of Bangladeshi? But they are real Bangladeshi. Most of Bangladeshi are penniless. So they do not have access to banks. I do not know when the so-called Bangladesh Bank will be able to play a role for real Bangladeshi people. I do not know whether Bangladesh Bank should treat Grameen Bank as the same way it is treating other commercial banks.

In 1975, father of nation Bangabondhu Sheilkhu Mujibur Rahman was brutally killed. He is no more in the world. But we teach our children to respect him. We hang his picture on the wall. Dr. Yunus is the father of the Grameen Bank. In his life time he made this organization stronger. He brought fund from abroad with an objective. On the contrary, corrupted politicians and business man, bureaucrat laundering millions of dollors to other countries.

I do not have courage to live in Bangladesh. I am afraid of returing there. Dr. Yunus is one of the few Bangladeshis, who dared to live in Bangladesh and tries to make some positive changes. He always tries to do something great. His mind is still young and fresh but his age turns it difficult to start in other country leaving Bangladesh behind. I believe - he never wanted to do so.

I wish - We should have some consideration and respect for this great Bangali, Bangladeshi, Prof Mohammad Yunus.