Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Expressing concern over the statement of Dr Muhammad Yunus, eminent citizens of the country said after losing in the legal battle, Dr Yunus has been creating pressure on the government through 'super power' and donor agencies exploiting his personal relations with them.
"Such an unexpected pressure is tantamount to interference in the country's internal affairs which is not acceptable to the citizens of an independent state," they said in a joint statement on Saturday.
In their reaction, the distinguished personalities said there is a difference of opinion between the government and Dr Yunus over the appointment process of managing director of Grameen Bank.
Bangladesh Bank removed Dr Yunus from the post of managing director of Grameen Bank because of expiry of his service age as per the government's service rule, they said and added he (Yunus) lodged a case and the highest court of the country delivered a judgment in favour of the government's decision.
The matter was settled legally through it, they added.
The eminent citizens said anyone could have different opinion about the recent amendment the government has brought to the Grameen Bank Ordinance for the third time.
"But we're observing that Dr Yunus was putting pressure on the country through 'super power' and different donor agencies," they added.
"We're also observing that Dr Yunus in a statement has tried to misguide the countrymen, especially the young generation, saying that new government after coming to power would change this ordinance to reinstate Grameen Bank in its previous position," they said.
"But he did not make clear what he wanted to say about the new government, when an elected government is in power," they added.
"We know, Dr Yunus formed a new political party when conspiracy was going on to implement 'Minus Two Formula' after arresting two leaders during the emergency of the last caretaker government," they said in the statement.
They urged the countrymen to remain alert against any sorts of conspiracy that can hinder the country's democracy through undemocratic means.
Signatories to the statement included Professor. Zillur Rahman Siddique, Artist Quayum Chowdhury, Sayed Shamsul Haq, Artist Hashem Khan, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Kamal Lohani, Justice (retd) Mejbah Uddin Ahmed.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Anwar Hossain, Professor Nazrul Islam, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice- Chancellor Professor Prangopal Dutta, Economist Abul Barakat, Prof. Abdul Khalek, Professor Nazrul Islam, Poet Belal Chowdhury, Ramedu Majumder, Mamunur Rashid, Selina Hossain, Poet Nirmalendu Gun.
BBN/SSR/AD-26Aug12-9:50 am (BST)
