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Download PDF Nobel Peace Prize winner Prof Muhammad Yunus was all ecstatic and full of emotion as he visited his birthplace Chittagong and Jobra village, now a familiar name across the globe, yesterday.
The whole Port City–from Engineers Institute to the economics department at Chittagong University to Jobra village where Prof Yunus’ revolutionary concept of microcredit kicked off–was vibrant with people from all strata heartily greeting the Nobel laureate.
The scene was extraordinary in Jobra village in the afternoon as a few of the first borrowers of Grameen Bank loans thronged the Nabajug Tebhaga Khamar premises and accorded a hearty reception to the lone Nobel laureate of the country.
Prof Yunus said he has come first to Jobra after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to convey gratitude and honour on behalf of all Bangladeshis to the people of this great village.
“It is you who actually deserve the honour,” he told the residents of Jobra village. “You did a wonderful act of honour for the whole country.
“I am very happy today to be here among you…I have come here to breathe fresh air of Jobra to my heart’s content,” the microcredit pioneer said.
Prof Yunus mentioned the names of a few old friends–Emran Hossain, Lokman Chowdhury, Faruk Ahmed and one “Kamallyar Baap” (father of Kamal)–who worked with him when Grameen Bank started its activities at Jobra. He invited them on the podium and introduced them to the audience.
Prof Yunus became choked with emotion while recollecting the memories of a few others like Yasin Sawdagar, Robin, Bazal Sawdagar and Wahab Miah.
Speaking in the local tongue, the economist said, “I am very proud as I have come here…What I did 30 years ago with your help has now spread all over the world as a unique model for eradicating poverty. Now Jobra is a familiar name worldwide.”
The sensation microcredit has created is actually a dream to eradicate the stigma of poverty “gradually and effectively” and this sensation has now crossed the country’s border and is being followed globally, he said.
“The aim of our microcredit mission is to bring slowly but steadily each and every single poor of the nation out of poverty and thus enable them to lead a normal human life,” Prof Yunus said.
He spelt out his dream to see a time “when there will be no more poor people in our country”.
“One day we will have to advertise in newspapers for poor people and we would announce a prize money of Tk 10 lakh if anybody can find out a single poor man in the country,” Prof Yunus said.
“We want to build a Bangladesh where some day the existence of poor people will be a matter of history or anthropological antics of a museum. Students will find them only in books and museums.”
The Nobel laureate reminded the people of the big task and responsibility ahead. “We will have to work hard…We should exploit to the fullest the strength the Nobel Prize has given us. Otherwise, all the pride it has brought will fail.”
Grameen Bank Deputy Managing Director Dweep Chandra Barua, Nabajug Tebhaga Khamar Project President Faruk Ahmed and General Secretary Lokman Chowdhury also addressed the reception ceremony at Jobra.
Earlier, Prof Yunus arrived in Chittagong–which he termed “the city of Nobel Prize”–in the morning. Different organisations and hundreds of people accorded a warm reception to Prof Yunus at the Shah Amanat International Airport.
“I have returned to the place from where I had started my work three decades ago,” Prof Yunus told the gathering at the airport.
Later, he exchanged views with journalists at the Engineers Institute. Emphasising once again the need for unity and consensus among the political leaders, he said at the meet, “I strongly believe that Bangladesh is an exceptional country. We proved our worth during the Liberation War. And now by winning the Nobel Prize we have again proved that we can change our own lot.”
“Let us conduct a peaceful election amid festive atmosphere and elect a leadership and government which will keep the dignity of the Nobel Prize unhurt…Let us hope that our next parliament will be a parliament of future generation,” he added.
Terming Chittagong Port the future of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus said, “All the hindrances should be removed from the port.” He emphasised the need for expanding and developing the port so that it can compete with other ports in the world.
“Then Bangladesh will achieve its goal towards economic emancipation and eradication of poverty,” he said.
Prof Yunus then visited the economics department of Chittagong University where hundreds of teachers, students and university staff greeted him warmly.
Chittagong University Vice-Chancellor Dr Badiul Alam declared that the social science building would be named from now “Dr Yunus Bhaban” in recognition to the Nobel laureate’s work and achievement.
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