“Prof Yunus’ ideas changed the world and helped earn him a Nobel Peace Prize, the senator says
UNB
27 September, 2024, 09:25 pm
Last modified: 27 September, 2024, 10:22 pm
US Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Democrat, representing Illinois) has met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in New York today (27 September).
Durbin has been a steadfast supporter of the work of Yunus for almost two decades and greeted his appointment as leader of Bangladesh’s interim government with a speech on the floor of the Senate.
Durbin first met Prof Yunus more than 20 years ago during a trip to Bangladesh.
“Prof Yunus’ ideas changed the world and helped earn him a Nobel Peace Prize. Tragically, his ideas also earned him the wrath of then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, whose government harassed Prof Yunus for years with questionable legal charges and threatened jail time,” said Durbin.
“Thanks to the Bangladeshi people who believed in a better future, they demanded Prof Yunus lead their interim government. Today, I once again offered my unweaving support for Prof Yunus and urged President Biden to support him as well. I know he has the best interests of the Bangladeshi people at heart and will do his utmost in this challenging time.”
In July, Durbin led three colleagues in releasing a statement denouncing the harassment against Prof Yunus, calling on the Bangladeshi government to end the mistreatment of Prof Yunus and pull down the dubious charges he is facing.
The statement followed a letter sent by Durbin and his colleagues calling on then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to end the harassment against Prof Yunus.
During his senate speech earlier this month, Durbin had hoped Yunus could make it to Washington during his trip to New York for the UNGA. In the end, he made the trip the opposite way to have a meeting with his old friend.
The harassment campaign against Yunus was denounced by more than 100 Nobel Prize winners, including former President Obama.
Durbin led the effort in the United States Congress to award Prof Yunus the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010, recognising his pioneering contributions in the fight against global poverty.
The medal was later presented to Yunus in 2013.
Durbin also visited Bangladesh in 2017, during which he visited with Rohingya refugees who had fled violence in neighbouring Myanmar.
