Nobel laureate Yunus suffers blow in his stepping into politics

Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has suffered a blow in his initial stage of stepping into politics as student bodies and majority of teachers of Dhaka University, the highest seat of learning, opposed his joining the convocation function of the university.

Dhaka University Vice-chancellor MA Faiz had invited Dr. Yunus as a main speaker of the convocation function to be held on February 28, but the student bodies of the university are agitating against his joining the function as he entered into politics.

Dr. Yunus launched his political party "Nagorik Shakti" on Thursday through an open letter to the people. But many politicians, students, community and the academics questioned his deed.

The student bodies and a section of teachers of the university urged the university authorities not to invite the Nobel winner Dr. Yunus at the convocation.

Leaders of Students Movement Council, a combine of several student bodies, met the vice-chancellor Saturday. They said that Dr. Yunus, as the leader of the newly formed political party, has no moral right to be the convocation speaker.

"We cannot allow the leader of a political party to use the convocation of Dhaka University as a platform for his politics," said Prof. Harun-or-Rashid, dean of social science faculty, was quoted Sunday by local newspaper The Daily Star as saying.

"The situation has changed and he is now the leader of a political party. We are concerned that he might use the platform for political purposes," said Rashid.

He said that in the past, those who delivered the convocation speech were non-partisan and acceptable to all.

"But Dr. Yunus has already made himself controversial by floating the political party," he added.

Nobel Prize Committee announced on October 13, 2006 to award Nobel Peace Prize to Bangladeshi Grameen Bank and its founder Muhammad Yunus for their efforts to bring millions of people out of poverty through micro-credit program.

Source: Xinhua