Nobel Laureate Md Yunus arrives in Kolkata

Kolkata, Feb 11 (UNI) Bangladeshi Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus today said there should not be any debate on the use of agricultural land for industries but such transitions should not affect the peasants.

He also supported the setting up of SEZs for economic growth but at the same time stated that it should not cause hardship to the people.

The renowned economic reformist spoke to the mediapersons at the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International airport on his arrival here from Dhaka this afternoon on a three-day maiden visit to the city.

Nobel peace prize winner 2006, who was received at the airport by his former colleague and friend state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said, he was ''extremely happy to come here'' When his attention was drawn towards the recent controversy in India on the setting up of Special Economic Zones (SEZ), he said '' We can't afford to sit idle when they are being set up all over the world.'' Mr Yunus, considered to be the father of cooperative banking, said after the success of the gramin bank model he was now emphasising on 'social business' for society's 'Mangal'(welfare)and to ensure healthcare, drinking water and housing facilities for all.

Differentiating between business and social business he explained, ''the main motive of business now is making profit, however, in social business profit is not the main motive.'' ''If we suceeed in this field it will lessen the economic burden of the state,'' Replying to a query on the current political situation in Bangladesh, Md Yunus felt the situation was comparatively calm in his country.

''Now with the interim government remaining firm on the saddle there is no political trouble anywhere. Although earlier there was some uncertainity in the country,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Dasgupta said the state government would felicitate the Noble laureate with a grand public reception here either on April six or seven. ''Dr Yunus had given his consent to the state government's proposal to this effect and had agreed to come over once again during that time,'' he said.

During the three day visit Dr Dasgupto and Yunus would share the West Bengal's experience on micro-level development and that of Bangladesh.

''We will try to learn from each other on a primary basis now.But Next time we will discuss in detail,'' Dr Dasgupta added.

Asked about the possiblity of implementing the Bangladesh model of Gramin Bank in West Bengal, Dr Yunus said ''it has already been implemented in many forms not only in Bengal but in several other states in India''.

Later this evening, Dr Yunus would be given a reception by the Chitagang parishad as well as the Bangladesh Deputy High Commision here. He would also attend a series of meetings tommorrow, while Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi would host a dinner for the visiting dignitary at Raj Bhavan tomorrow night before returning to Dhaka on Tuesday.

UNI