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Download PDF Nobel Peace Laureate Prof Mohammad Yunus yesterday urged the president and chief of the caretaker government to be tough and proactive in running the country.
“You will have to be very tough, otherwise the nation will plunge into darkness. But you must be tough on all, not only on some particular ones,” he said speaking at a grand reception accorded by President Iajuddin Ahmed for winning Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
“It’s a hard time for the nation and the people want to see an active and courageous leadership,” he observed.
“Set a precedent dealing with at least one area of massive corruption facing the nation during the tenure of the caretaker government,” he added.
He then described power situation, price of essentials, Chittagong port, and law and order as the areas most prone to crisis.
He also urged the president to listen to everyone but take decision on the basis of his own reasoning. Yunus called on the advisers of the caretaker government also to set at least one example of ridding a sector of corruption.
Held at the Darbar Hall of the Bangabhaban amid tumultuous applause at intervals, the maiden state reception was attended by caretaker government advisers, former ministers, secretaries, diplomats, political leaders, artists, literati, and civil and military officials.
Yunus won the peace prize on August 13.
He advised the president to leave the trivial jobs with others and focus on how to conduct the upcoming national election in a peaceful and fair manner.
President and Chief Adviser Iajuddin Ahmed in his address stressed the importance of creating an atmosphere conducive to holding a free and fair election. “The peaceful atmosphere brought about by the winning of Nobel peace prize must continue,” he said adding, “We will have to be careful so that the peace is not hampered.”
Iajuddin observed, “As a small and developing nation, Bangladesh received a lot from the developed world while in return it gave the concept of microcredit.”
He said he hopes that all discord, division and conflicts would be resolved through peaceful means.
He underscored the need for continuing the democratic progress and giving it an institutional shape. “Only then we can build a happy and prosperous country for the future generations,” the president added.
He termed winning of the Nobel peace prize by Yunus as one of the greatest events in Bangladesh since independence. “Winning of the peace prize by Dr Yunus heralded a new era in the history of Bangladesh,” the president said adding, “I was impressed hearing the news and immediately phoned him and invited him to Bangabhaban.”
He also thanked the Nobel committee for choosing Dr Mohammad Yunus and Grameen Bank for this year’s peace prize.
Yunus observed that the activities of the caretaker government should be made public through the media so that there remains no room for rumours or controversies.
He requested the interim government to be proactive, rather than reactive.
“You will have to take a tough line ignoring the criticism and prove your point right.”
The first Nobel laureate of the country regretted that the enthusiasm created among the people after liberation of the country was not used properly.
He said, “We will have to use the power of enthusiasm this time and be careful so that the peace is never hampered. The whole nation is looking forward to the next election and the people do not want disorder.”
Prof Yunus attributed the winning of the Nobel Peace Prize to the 67-lakh clientele of the Grameen Bank.
In his half-an-hour speech, Prof Yunus described the background of Grameen Bank and its difference from other banks. The Grameen Bank has changed the very concept of banking system as it provides loans to its clients without any mortgage while other banks provide loans only to those who have money and assets. Besides, Grameen Bank gives priority to women for giving the loans.
“There is hardly any country in the world now, which is yet to introduce the concept of microcredit pioneered by Grameen Bank,” Prof Yunus said. Referring to his recent visit to China, he said the Asian giant has also decided to allow Grameen Bank’s activities there.
Among the dignitaries who attended the reception include Chief Justice Syed JR Mudassir Husain, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad and his wife Roushan Ershad, former chief adviser to a caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman, former ministers Moudud Ahmed, Abdul Moyeen Khan, KM Obaidur Rahman, Kazi Zafar Ahmed, JP Secretary General Ruhul Amin Howlader, former caretaker government advisers Rokia Afzal Rahman, Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud and Monjur Elahi. None of the top leaders from the 14-party combine was, however, seen at the function.
January 4th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Subject: A proposal to build a South Asian Union (SAU) like European Union by expanding SAARC states.
His Excellencies,
Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, Head of Governments & States, Political & Religious Leaders, Intellectuals, Educationists, Economists, Welfare Organizations, Mass People of South Asian region.
Peace be upon all of you, history is repeating from the creation of human life till now and will be repeated until the last final judgment of Creator. Actually, Creator created us as his best creation of life but we divided it into different nations, religions, cultures, languages, ideologies, etc in several thousands of years since the appearance of 1st human Adam (PBUH). We don’t know when the human life on earth will be finished for ever on dooms day, but some think that human life never stop repeating it’s wrongs. Now we have seen that the days of the human being are becoming more critical, insecure, divided among our selves in different ideas, increasing of poverty, and destruction of economy of some nations in comparison with the economy of some rich countries of the west. So the time for South Asian nations to unite as a strong body which is most caring for the inhabitants of this region has come, and in this way, we can develop ourselves. I have no right to waste your valuable time, but my heart is pressing me to place this proposal or advice to the holy hearts of our great rulers of the people of SAARC countries.
Proposal for future South Asian Union (SAU)
1. The mass people of this region want to abolish visa system for them selves in order to enjoy traveling facility freely and free trade among the regional countries like EU states. We can include Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan & Philippine. The Afghan president his Excellency Mr. Hamid Karzai and his Government also shows interest for entering into SAARC.
2. If we can include thirty seven more countries (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan & Philippine) with the seven countries of SAARC (Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives), then this organization or union will be one of the strongest unions. Then we can establish a powerful single currency like EURO as, for example SACU (South Asian Currency), dollar, or any other selected by the forum. And currency value can be fixed by averaging the currency values of the nations concerned.
3. All states will keep there own national flags as state flag and one common union flag, like that of EU.
4. We can establish joint military command council for the defense of the whole region like EU. That means we can unite in a union to ensure human life security along with a strong economy like European Union.
I do not know when the people of this region of South Asia will start to feel love and affection for each other, and will be united. But we should try to establish a golden future for ourselves. If successful, then generation after generation of this region will remember you for your kindness. God bless us with eternal & external peace.
Yours,
Saulat Kamran
E-Mail Address: saulat@dhaka.net
Website: http://www.southasianunion.net
House No -28, Road No-4, Dhanmandi R/A.
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
January 4th, 2007 at 11:50 pm
Proposed Road Map of SAU
. Marching a step ahead to form South Asian Union (SAU) is good sign for the people of the region. We may be of different cultures, religions, languages etc but we all are human and descendents or genealogy of first parents-Adam and Eve (p.b.u.t.).
We all have to come closer and make ourselves ambitious to lay down the foundation of the Union. Proposed 44 countries are mentioned below:
Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, , Brunei, China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and Philippine.
Process of South Asian Union (SAU) Implementation
1. Forming union by including 44 countries as mentioned above.
2. The Nations of the region can form South Asian Parliament by approving the appointment of Presidents, Kings, Prime ministers, Foreign ministers, Home ministers, Defense ministers & ministers for trade & commerce as members of the SAU parliament.
3. Establishing a powerful single currency like EURO, for example South Asian Currency (SACU) or dollar or any other selected by the forum. And valuation can be fixed by averaging the currency values of the nations concerned.
4. Abolishing visa system in order to promote traveling freely, and adopting free trade among the regional countries.
5. Forming a joint military council to establish security of state, countries of the union & for common people.
6. Paving ways for the people of the Union to seek jobs according to their capabilities.
7. Making good uses of cultural and sports organizations through which the participating nations can establish their identity to understand each other.
8. Funding should be made by member nations to establish Research Centers for medicines, incurable diseases, and science & technology for the benefit of general people.
9. Establishing Bank such as Union Bank of South Asia to educate mass population, provide fund for natural disaster. Also making ways to drive homeless and astray people into employment through cottage industries to make their livelihood better so as to stop them from becoming smugglers, miscreants, or terrorists.
10. Regarding child labor, concrete steps should be taken by providing free education established by the Union in the form of NGO. Orphans to be included in this establishment.
11. Each state should be responsible to stop smuggler from drug/ arms trafficking. Also find ways to stop women & children trafficking.
12. State to State disputes should be resolved for the best interest of the people. If necessary, the SAU may be called in the process of settlement.
Yours,
Saulat Kamran
E-Mail Address: saulat@dhaka.net
Website: http://www.southasianunion.net
House No -28, Road No-4, Dhanmandi R/A.
Dhaka, Bangladesh.