Words of support for Prof. Yunus

In December 2010 a Norwegian documentary was published, accusing Prof. Yunus and the Grameen Bank of misuse US$ 48 million donated by the Government of Norway to the Grameen Bank. These allegations are false. There are letters from the Norwegian Embassy in Bangladesh addressed to Prof. Yunus, clarifying the misunderstanding about the use of those funds. The letters explained that there was no misuse of funds by the Grameen Bank and Yunus himself. The documentary also claimed that the famous first borrower of Grameen Bank, Narunnahar Katun, died in poverty. I recently found on the Internet a video of Gail Ferraro (director of several documentaries about Dr. Yunus) showing the famous borrower alive and happy. This is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JGBQnrC-cw&feature=player_embedded

Yesterday, the Government of Bangladesh removed Dr. Yunus from his position as Managing Director of the Grameen Bank, alleging that the maximum age for this position is 60 years old. According to this rule, Dr. Yunus should have left this position 10 years ago. They also claim that, according to the Bangladeshi law, the Central Bank of Bangladesh should have approved Prof. Yunus reelection as Managing Director of the Grameen Bank ten years ago. The Bangladeshi government has taken advantage of the Norwegian documentary and its false accusations against Yunus and his work, to start a political battle against him.
I spent 9 months working for Prof. Yunus in Bangladesh and I witnessed the respect and love all Grameen employees feel about Prof. Yunus. All employees are happy to have Prof. Yunus as head of the Grameen Bank and they fully trust him as a guide and as a chief.
In my opinion, these charges are also due to political interests and jealousy. In 2007 Yunus, supported by a major political elite, decided to create a political party that would have brought peace and prosperity to Bangladesh, and that would have ended the corruption prevailing in this country (known as one of the world's most corrupt countries in the world). After being suddenly abandoned by those politicians who supported him in the beginning, Yunus found himself alone and decided to give up his political career. Since then, the relationship with the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was no longer friendly.

Is it fear of Prof. Yunus? How dangerous could be a Nobel Peace Prize winner, so beloved and respected worldwide, for corrupt politicians eager for power? What kind of interests could have the Bangladeshi Government over a critical mass of 10 million borrowers?
Muhammad Yunus fought tirelessly to create the Grameen Bank in order to help the poorest of his country. After winning the highest award a human being could ever reach, Proy. Yunus, in his 70`, is unconditionally dedicated to social causes, promoting microfinance and social business in all the corners of the globe, dreaming about a better world and inviting us to dream with him.
Yunus became a guide and a role model to me. He gave me hope and taught me to fight for my ideals. I will always be grateful to him... I would therefore ask the reader of this note to join the many voices defending Yunus, signing a petition to the Government of Bangladesh to withdraw the charges against him. Here the link to the petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?a110115z&51
By doing so, we will be able to help a man who did so much for humanity.