DHAKA: Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, renowned as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist and currently serving as the chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, played a significant role in garnering international support for Bangladesh’s independence during the 1971 Liberation War. While teaching at Middle Tennessee State University in the United States, Dr. Yunus organized efforts to support the war, rallying the Bangladeshi diaspora and influencing international diplomacy.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Yunus spearheaded initiatives to build public opinion in favor of Bangladesh’s independence while in the United States. He mobilized the Bangladeshi community to raise funds and led programs aimed at drawing attention from diplomats, including those within the United Nations and the U.S. administration. Dr. Yunus operated the Bangladesh Information Center and published the ‘Bangladesh Newsletter’ from his Nashville home, providing critical information to the U.S. media.
Dr. Yunus’s autobiography, ‘Banker To The Poor,’ reveals his proactive measures during the war. He vividly recalls the day the war erupted, March 25, 1971, and his subsequent efforts to unite expatriate Bengalis. He convened a meeting at Dr. Zillur’s house in Nashville, where they decided to create a ‘Bangladesh Citizens’ Committee.’ This group engaged with local media and initiated a fund to support the independence struggle, committing 10 percent of their salaries monthly until Bangladesh’s liberation.
As the secretary and spokesperson for the committee, Dr. Yunus leveraged his position to secure media attention, resulting in coverage by local TV stations and newspapers. He urged Tennesseans to press their representatives to cease military aid to Pakistan. The committee’s activism extended to Washington, where they demonstrated at the U.S. House of Congress, gaining the attention of legislators and media alike.
Dr. Yunus’s efforts were instrumental in establishing a Bangladesh Information Center in Washington, dedicated to lobbying for Bangladesh’s recognition as an independent state. His tireless advocacy included organizing workshops across U.S. universities to raise awareness and support for the cause.
Upon Bangladesh’s victory on December 16, 1971, Dr. Yunus returned to contribute to the nation’s reconstruction. He joined the government’s Planning Commission and later founded the Grameen Bank, a pioneering institution aimed at empowering marginalized communities through microfinance.
Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Grameen Bank Chairman, highlights Dr. Yunus’s enduring commitment to social change and humanitarian service. Prof Yunus’s vision, which initially inspired his involvement in the Liberation War, subsequently led to the establishment of Grameen Bank, now boasting over 10 million members, dedicated to improving the lives of impoverished Bangladeshis.