Nobel prize winner changes lives in Bangladesh

BASTA, Bangladesh, Oct 16 (Reuters) Banesa Khatun says the microcredit scheme Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus introduced in Bangladesh 30 years ago lifted her from the poorest of the poor to a respectable, self-dependent woman.

Married 10 years ago, Banesa, was plunged into despair when her husband couldn't find work and financial problems piled up.

''I saw my life turning even more miserable,'' she told Reuters at Basta village, 45 km north of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, yesterday.

''My dream for a sweet, loving life was almost shattered,'' she said.

But then came a ray of hope.

She heard of Yunus' microfinance campaign from women in nearby villages and within a month borrowed 2,000 taka () from the nearest branch of Grameen Bank.

With the money the bank loaned her, she bought a rickshaw for her husband and started a very small poultry business, After a decade, Banesa is now rich by Bangladesh rural standards.

''I have 27 rickshaws, a poultry firm of 3,000 chickens, a pond for fisheries'' she said.

''That 2,000 taka from the Grameen Bank made all the difference.'' TINY LOANS Yunus and his Grameen Bank, which offers tiny loans to the poorest to help them become self-employed, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.

''We are delighted that the man who brought us hope and gave us a new life has been recognised globally,'' Banesa said.

''It was Dr Yunus who ... gave us money so we could survive.'' Julekha Begum earns a living selling milk from a cow she bought with Grameen loan. Her neighbour, Samiran Bibi, runs a small shop she started with hers.

They both now have their own homes, cattle and land to grow rice and vegetables.

Similar stories were told by Rabeya Begum, Razia Begum and other villagers at Basta, where they gathered yesterday to pay back instalments of their loans.

Residents of Basta and villages across Bangladesh have been celebrating Yunus' Nobel prize by distributing sweets, singing and dancing.

Abul Kalam Azad, Grameen Bank branch manager at Basta, said they had 80 borrowers -- all women -- in this village.

''They all have been able to change their lives in a few years through using microcredit,'' he told Reuters.

REUTERS AKJ RAI1150