Heart Burning, Dr. Yunus and Legend Hunting
Abdul Quader Chowdhury
One of the street gossips around the world today is that the politicians are corrupts. It is obviously the case in Bangladesh also. Idealist honest qualified politicians are cornered or side-lined. Like many others, the only Nobel Laureate of Bangladesh professor Mohammed Yunus echoed the same fact about Bengali politicians on the other day. It might hurt a few who purposefully took it personally. Consequently, the A-L government- the very personally Sk Hasina, served removal notice to Yunus from his directorate post of Grameen Bank. Madame prime minister later also personally shockingly blasted to Professor Yunus in the parliament in an uncultured manner.
One does not have to be a rocket–scientist to grasp the total dynamics of this conundrum.
To see the picture of it more clear, here are a few components to follow, such as- Nobel prize, Yunus , world image, Bongobondhu, Hasina, 1997 Ctg hill tracks treaties, Clinton family, so-called minus-Two idea, global fame, ill motives, ego, personality clash etc.
The case is now under judicial process so making any insight comment on would be unwarranted. Whether the micro-credit practices by the Grameen are motivated by the 'blood sucking' formula would be pure topics of world capitalism and our national Constitution. But we could at least try understanding ruling party's moves from the view-points of Bangladeshology, political culture, decencies, patriotism, national image, or even of the so-called Deenbodol theory.
All human knowledge and behavior are developed in a dialectical but rationalize process in civilized society where arguments, opposition, debate are normal. Let's take a few examples from the neighbors whom we know well. RabindraNath Tthakur was honored with the Nobel Prize in 1913. The total money of it the poet invested in his agricultural micro-credit business for profit in his Zamindary (feudal estate) at Patyshar, Sirajgong with a fixed interest rate for borrowers. In this connection, his estate had eventually become involved in court cases against poor and suffering peasants; by the way, of whom mostly were Muslim. Left- communist, extreme-Showdeshy including other criticized Roby Tthakur saying he was pro-imperialists, loyalist etc. Then so what? He is still alive in the history book. Excessive was the case of scientist-professor Nobel Laurate Abdus Salam of Pakistan who was a Qadiany Muslim, and was mistreated by the military rulers represented the majority Sunnis. The reason was mainly religious fanaticism. Fallen dictator Hossni Muberak of Egypt also mistreated his native Nobel Laureate El-Barradei who went back home, apparently with political ambition; but later was forced back to exile. Reasons were the fear of his global- personality cult and political factors. A bit nice-looking case is the official treatment with dignity and respects of the Indian authorities to another Indian-Bengali Laureate Dr. Amertya Sen, a professor of left-socialist pro-China mind-set, and to whom our Hasina usually takes all possible chances to showcase herself as Dr. Sen's fan or friend. It's nice. But color changes when Yunus is there.
Its ugly sides appears when the PM vents her recent wrath against Dr. Yunus which is very personal, heinous, politically motivated, uncivilized. Plus, another police assault came down on the prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury who is now under conditional bail out of the court, in the connection Arial beel, Manikganj blockade by locals, remind us the days of Ayub Khan era. All these are shame to our nation, damaging to our national image, and unhealthy to our foreign relation and our society.
Naked surprise is that the prime minister forces our Nobel Laureate to go to the various courts with the case of socalled "irregularities" while she makes efforts to wash Ershad off his graft cases- one by one-; despite the objection of the recently lamed ACC.
Bengalis were hardly known to the world in pre-1970 eras. The 1970 Cyclone in the Bay- areas and the 1971 Liberation war flashed out the face of BD to the world. Floods and frequent military coups in the 80s opened up new dimension of our identity. The 90s BD made further inroad into the world with ideas/efforts of micro-credit, cult of feminism, garments exports, peace mission in war zones, and the democracy. But the 2006, long after the glorious 16th Dec1971, Bangladesh beamed electrifying itself out to the planet by winning the Nobel Prize. The man, the hero who made us all Bengalis cheers and tears together out of glory, pride and joy was that very Chattagaonian Yunus. Those once-in our life-time- feelings re-produced our scenes of patriotism, national unity, unity of Bangalee souls, re-discover of own self, strength and guide to move forward as a nation. The nation owes to this Man a lot, by far.
A prudent political leader thinks twice before take any expensive step. Our honorable prime minister of such merit, I am wondering, how come took such a Grameen-bashing step making so much mess. On this occasion, it has leaked out, thanks to internet services and specifically to the Wikileaks etc, many under-publicized stories about our current government in Dhaka.
Clinton-family's well-wishes on Dr. Yunus are an open-secret. In the late January 2011, USA secretary of State Hillary Clinton phoned Sk Hasina in Dhaka to know clearly about the Grameen-ordeal right from the mouth of the horse. At one point of that cool-conversation, our PM tried to make her respond little formal by saying that, "Grameen is our internal issue and it is under investigation and judicial process." Secretary H. Clinton, being covertly up-set, then politely but in her steady tone reminded Sk. Hasina that how she had helped with the "internal" affairs of Hasina by managing the former Fakhruddin government, on the request of India, to convince the previous CTG offer all possible cooperation to her party (A_L) in the 2008 election to win. Then Hasina's tone reportedly became down and softened, and that 12 – 13 minutes phone conversation ended at un-ease for both.
By the way, this is one of the main bad habits of our leaders. As a sovereign nation, we feel shame when such leaders beg for private or secret help from the western powers to capture the power at home. It is unethical, undemocratic, dishonesty; and thus a violation against the sovereign State if proved as true.
Her political servicemen- of the BCL- stunningly but stupidly demanded that the court should seize the Nobel Prize from Yunus and award it to Sk. Hasina. Such heart burning of a few persons on this item is how severe is manifested in many ways. Prime Minister Sk. Hasina had inked the Chittagong Hill tracts peace Accord in 1997. Referring to it, since then huge amount of dollars were reportedly wasted for unsuccessfully lobbying for the Nobel Prize for Hasina through her then bureaucrats and some pro-A-L NRBs living in the western cities. But, later the prize went to Yunus. Bangalish personal ego and jealousy might perhaps silently ignite then and there, in certain tiny quarter.
Strongly believable that PM has enough merit of judgment to identify "bad advices" of her colleagues, and has own power to drive in balance her government forward. She better be more cautious of ex-proMoscow leftist coteries in the A-L and selfish advisers. They might fill lots of vogue speculations in her ears to make her take step in wrong direction regarding Yunus. Hasina should not be scared of her father-Bongobondhu's future status in the history when the Nobel Laurate Yunus's personality has been thriving in the world stage. One's personal status is not going to coincide or over-shadow the same of others- as they both belong to different fields and the eras. Mujib is our great hero while Yunus is our unique legendary. Further, Hasina was perhaps made up to believe that Yunus was the mastermind behind the process of negating top two leaders of two major parties taken by then Fakhruddin government. If Yunus is found that he was substantially responsible for such an initiative, in a democratic ethics, he was wrong and it was his foul. But as a citizen, he had right to float a party, though he gave up later to do so.
The biggest factor is that the Grameen system today, without elaborating in detail, is configured within the world capitalist system where the riches and the poor can have better communication for mutual co-existence in a society. Putting hands of BD government into the Grameen Head quarter to control without having thorough prior understanding is a sort of danger. Hasina should be cautious of whether she is going to lose the game or may have any counter-result.
Lobbying for an appointment of Hasina's 20-25 minutes unofficial meeting intended in this May with president Obama, like she got one at the last minute with UK prime minister in last February with the sole help of a private Bangali lobby living in London, is apparently withheld, and most probably cancelled. At the end, losses may incur greater than gains in Hasina's account- if or should she fails to find a nice solution peacefully. Though, the enormous dents to national image in the world are done already.
If there should not be any dignified compromise between both parties, the west may ultimately make up the case like what had been for Nobel Laureate Une Suu Kye of Burma, or the Nobel Laureate Andre Schakharov in the former Soviet Union of late the 80s much depending on the result of the soon up-coming meeting between Yunus and Western lobbyists specifically Hillary Clinton, and the situation in Bangladesh at time.
Obviously, it is an orchestrated assault on Yunus in a common scene. When rivers, hills, beaches, canals, roads, urban mansions, state-assets, fly over-bridges-airport contracts are being swallowed by party cronies, and digested by misusing/abusing the state apparatuses such as the Courts, other administrations, the police, the parliament which make everyday headlines, there are no actions against such crimes, but to go warring against Grameen in a flimsy manner is ridiculous. I afraid, if Hasina does not back off tactically, like she did in Arial-beel case, the Grameen issue is about to become a hot-button issue in national arena and foreign relation of the A-L government.
The contributor is a free-lance columnist based in Montreal, Canada. sulaqc55@aol.com
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