Baku: Ahmed Eltayeb, the Grand Imam of the Al-Azhar Al Sharif, today said Bangladesh would prosper and grow under the leadership of the country’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The head of one of the most respected Islamic religious institutions also invited Prof Yunus to deliver a speech at the millennium-old institution, saying the Al-Azhar University would announce new fully funded scholarships for the Bangladeshi students.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Al-Azhar Grand Imam expressed his confidence in Bangladesh’s future when he called on Prof Yunus at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in the Azerbaijan capital Baku. He praised Prof Yunus as a man of wisdom and expressed optimism about the country’s growth after the revolution. The Grand Imam commended Prof Yunus for adopting a wiser approach and anticipated that Bangladesh would reach new heights.
Prof Yunus expressed his gratitude for the Grand Imam’s invitation and reciprocated by inviting him to visit Bangladesh. He suggested that a visi
t would provide an opportunity to witness the changes brought about by the student-led mass uprising. During their meeting, Prof Yunus discussed the mass uprising and the reform initiatives undertaken by Bangladesh’s interim government.
The Grand Imam also praised Prof Yunus’s leadership and his contributions to social services, including the pioneering role of Grameen Bank as a microlender. He acknowledged Prof Yunus’s lifelong efforts to combat poverty and expressed hope that Bangladesh would continue its reform efforts.
Prof Yunus also expressed his gratitude to Al-Azhar, recalling that in the early 1980s, the institution decreed that Grameen Bank’s interest system was not in conflict with Islamic teachings. He presented the Grand Imam with a copy of “The Art of Triumph,” a celebrated art book featuring murals and graffiti from the revolution, which the Grand Imam appreciated for showcasing the artistic skills of Bangladeshi students.
The Grand Imam concluded by praising the Bangladeshi students current
ly studying at Al-Azhar University, highlighting their academic achievements and contributions.