Prof Comments on Latest Developments - II

The Supreme Court of Bangladesh reached a verdict regarding Yunus’ matter a couple of days ago. The verdict is not in favor of Yunus. While the verdict sounds very surprising to most of Yunus’ supporters, for many the verdict was expected due to serious problems in independent functioning of government institutions in Bangladesh. It is hard see the horizon yet regarding what will happen now. I contacted a Professor from Dhaka University for his opinion. Looks like the sky will be overcast for some time. Here is Prof. Kazi Maruful Islam’s take on the recent developments before and in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s verdict.

Prof. Kazi Maruful Islam, Department of Development Studies, Dhaka University:

Yesterday the Supreme Court rejected Dr. Yunus' leave to petition appeal, meaning there is no possibility to reach to a negotiation between Grameen and the Government.
I personally do think that Yunus issue is a political agenda (categorically, I am not referring to any personal jealousy). It is political. For me it doesn't make sense that Ms. Sheikh Hasina harassing him because of her personal jealousy. As the Head of the government she is very much aware of the pros and cons of her government's action for both internal and external audiences. I do believe that it has nothing do with personal relation of Ms. Clinton with Prof. Yunus, neither to Sheikh Hasina. The current PM of Bangladesh and the US Secretary of State both are political actor. I do strongly believe that whatever they do they do it deliberately in order to protect and promote their political power. For me, it seems the whole issue is played by the ruling elites as a card against the US in order to gain some other benefits (although I could not figure out what those benefits are). Nevertheless, one thing has been clear from recent development on Yunus -issue is that one individual could take more importance over inter-state relation. In other words, it also confirms that Prof. Yunus is the one of the closest ally of the US interest in the Region.

At present The Grameen and Yunus issue has turned to political more than ever. In order to understand the reaction amongst the Dhakaite middle class one needs to take into account the fact that the country is vertically and horizontally grossly mobilized under two camps of Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Awami League. Meaning, reactions, whatsoever, very likely would fall under within the party-line. Therefore, Dhaka University, like all other institutions in the country has got most of its faculties divided into two camps: pro-AL and pro-BNP. Nevertheless, understandably the reactions amongst faculties in the DU is more like sympathetic to Prof. Yunus. Most of them (to whom I had the chance to talk on several informal occasions) didn't like the way government took on the issue. It is widespread among them that the Government has unnecessarily opened an extra front to fight. Yunus could have been removed in a more decent way. For me, seems that people are somehow convinced that Grameen has been matured enough to run its operation without its Nobel laureate Managing Director. And they also do not believe the allegations that were brought in by a part of local and international media. So, if the government doesn't want him to be there its okay but things could have been done in sophistication.

I would like to thank Kazi Maruful Islam for sharing his thoughts through this blog.

Prof Comments on Latest Developments - I

Yunus’ removal from his post and the reaction of the international community echoed very differently for many in Bangladesh particularly the media and the pro-government groups. Bangladeshi society and the international community have been closely following the developments surrounding Yunus’ removal. People have different views on this matter and the increasing pressure coming from the States; one thing that I was really wondering lately was how people in academia in Bangladesh approach the recent debate. Well, I asked an academic and he answered. Here is what I asked a young academic, Sajedur Rahman Sajib and his take on the matter.

Q1 Bangladesh is a very dynamic society. Every day new things happen. However, GB has been working quietly for some time and all of a sudden an earthquake hit GB and things never got back to normal for the last a couple of months. How can we make sense of these developments?

Q2 Can you tell me about the reaction you feel or observe in Bangladeshi society (rural and urban) and in the academia and particularly Jahangirnagar U about the recent allegations and Central Bank's decision?

Q3 What the current government's gain could be by doing all these in Yunus matter? also now US' intervention into the matter? What to say about that?

Sajedur Rahman Sajib, Department of Government and Politics from Jahangirnagar University:

I am not happy with the Govt decision on GB. Dr. Yunus and GB are synonymous in Bangladesh and Dr.Yunus contributed a lot for making a positive image of Bangladesh. I think, the withdrawal of Dr. Yunus will definitely hamper the relationship with friend countries of the nation. I think, alternative solution can be reached by mutual understanding as there may be some legal boundaries .

The game behind the curtain is unclear but it seems that there may be a political motives and personal clash behind it. It is alleged that there is a role of Dr. Yunus in making the military back caretaker Govt and at that time current chief of the govt Sheikh Hasina faced political suppression and house arrest.

The reaction of people here is mixed. In Jahangirnagar University, most of my colleagues are not happy with the matter. But other people’s reactions in village and town are mixed. Some people take it a positive move of the govt as GB has a bad reputation as a blood sucker in a good portion of people. But it is true that it is impossible to make happy all portion of the people at a time.

The current Government is playing zero-some game on the issue. Dr Yunus deserves a honorable departure for his huge contribution. The Govt policy certainly hampers the nation’s relation with western world which is very important for her development goal. The US intervention in internal affairs of a third world country is very common in this unipolar current world order but this time it seems that the US carefully watching the development here.

I would like to thank Sajedur Rahman Sajib for his time and for sharing his insights through this blog.

**Sajedur Rahman Sajib is working as an assistant professor at the Department of Government and Politics in Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh. He has taught Political sociology. Oriental Political Thought, Political History of Modern World and other courses. His areas of interest are Public policy, Conflict management and Governance issues. Now he is on education leave for pursuing higher studies in Germany under DAAD scholarship program.