Yunus may contest polls in Bangladesh

Kolkata, Feb 12 (UNI) Bangladesh's political life could well be the new focus of experiment for national icon and Nobel Laureate Mohammed Yunus who today said he may fight elections in that country in near future.

The economist said, "Though I am undecided for now, I may join politics in future.

"I have not decided if I will join any of the national parties in Bangladesh or form a new party," he said.

"But if the situation demands I will surely extend my services by fighting the elections," he added.

He had reportedly expressed intentions of launching a political party aiming to establish "political goodwill, proper leadership and good governance." In an open letter promising to "build a new Bangladesh", Dr Yunus opened the possibility of a realignment that might challenge the dominance of the political scene by two squabbling former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.

The banker for poor received the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his pioneering work of extending mass micro-credit in rural areas through his Grameen Bank.

While stating that poverty level has reduced by 20 per cent in Bangladesh, he said, "I am confident that we would be achieving millennium developement goal by 2015." "Migration has existed for centuries and its a natural phenomenon that people migrate for better opportunities," Yunus said when quizzed about the constant infiltration from across the border inspite of the positive growth in Bangladesh.

But when it was stated that most of the Bangladeshis who cross over are engaged in menial jobs, he chose to skip an answer.

He also emphasised that all the SAARC countries should have a proper communication process so as to improve the relation among them.

Stressing upon the need of SAARC members holding a common passport, he said at least one seat should be reserved for the youth of SAARC countries in variuous foreign universities so that they could pursue higher studies abroad.

"There should be a proper exchange of content in the newspapers," Mr Yunus said when asked about the "bitter" Indo-Bangla relations.

He said he had no idea about what is being published where.

"The papers project several irrelevent things hence the gap between the media of both the countries has to be bridged," he said.

He was also surprised to know that no Bangladeshi channels were telecasted here.

While talking to the reporters during the book release "Noble Joyee Biswa Pathik Yunus" by Rashid Ul Bari, Dr Yunus said he would be writing another book on social business very soon. His first book "Banker to the Poor" was highly acclaimed by everyone.

UNI