Nobel laureate Yunus backtracks on plan for entering politics

Dhaka, May 3 (UNI) Bangladesh Nobel laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus today backtracked on his plan for entering the domain of politics citing his failure to find any competent team for floating his proposed political party.

"I refrain from carrying out the process of floating a political party," a disillusioned Yunus declared amid a muddled-up situation prevailing in the country's political arena under the state of emergency.

Rising to a rude reality, the Nobel-laureate microfinance trailblazer today issued his third open letter to the citizens formally retracting the previous ones that had broached his action plan for forming a party to provide an alternative stream in politics.

The founder of Grameen Bank stated in the letter that he realized that he would not succeed in forming a compatible team even if he waited long in quest of it. "So, accepting the reality, I think that it is the high time I decided to back out from my earlier initiative," he said.

Prof Yunus lamented that those who had inspired him to try his luck in politics and the politicians who had promised to join hands with him all shied away.

He drew the inference that they deserted him in view of the current political scenario of the country.

Prof Yunus admitted that he failed to rally some reliable and acceptable people round his proposed political party on which the people could rely.

"I invited all who communicated with me and personally communicated with many to come in my party. But, those who were inspiring me wouldn't come in politics or support me openly as they have some problems," he apprised the countrymen of the futility of his effort.

He added, "Those who were in politics declined to join in my party, at least now. They may come if the political scenario changes." Describing his earlier desire to form political party, which he provisionally named "Nagorik Shakti", Yunus noted that, after promulgation of the state of emergency and formation of a new caretaker government in January this year, there was tremendous optimism created among the people.

"In this context, I decided to enter into politics. All of our dreams were to create a stream of corruption-free politics based on the concept of unity, flexibility, tolerance, peace, non-communalism, economic progress, and belief in strong local government." Prof Yunus, who earned world acclaim through winning the Nobel for peace, thanked all those who responded to his appeal by sending im SMS, fax, e-mail and letter. "I am very much sorry that, after creating an inspiration, I have to back out of my way," he added.

UNI