Fri 13 Oct 2006
REJOICE MY FRIENDS!!! CELEBRATE !!!!!!!
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2006/index.html
Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank have been awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, it has been announced.
Mr Yunus, a Bangladeshi, founded the bank, which is one of the pioneers of micro-credit lending schemes for the poor in Bangladesh.The bank is renowned for lending money to the least well off, especially women, so that they can launch their own businesses.
The winners will receive a prize of 10m Swedish kronor ($1.07m, £730,000).
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6047020.stm
http://www.sajaforum.org/files/SAJAyunusMP3.mp3 (41M)
October 13th, 2006 at 4:36 am
I was a little disheartened when the nobel prize of economics went, again, to someone else.
But the peace prize, I did not imagine at all. It is much better. Much much better.
I am thankful for my involvement with Drishtipat. As a Drishtipat representative I had the opportunity for a relatively long meeting with Dr Yunus at his office earlier this year.
Something to brag about for Bangladesh. Exactly 93 years later after Tagore won the nobel for literature.
October 13th, 2006 at 5:23 am
Dr Yunus Reacts,
“Bangladesh Nobel Peace Prize winner calls award “great news” for his homeland.
The Associated Press
Published: October 13, 2006
DHAKA, Bangladesh Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus on Friday called the award “great news” for his homeland, where his microcredit finance programs have helped improve the lives of millions of poor people.
“I am so so happy, it’s really a great news for the whole nation,” Yunus told The Associated Press when reached by telephone at his Dhaka home shortly after the prize was announced.
Yunus and his Grameen Bank won the award for advancing economic and social opportunities for the poor through their pioneering microcredit work.”
October 13th, 2006 at 5:30 am
A very well deserved recognition for his contribution in helping the poor out of poverty. It is poverty that is the bane of so many Bengalis. Poverty has a greater impact on Bangladeshis than anything else.
And only the second Bengali to win a Nobel Award. Hopefully see people inspired for future triumphs as well.
October 13th, 2006 at 5:32 am
You guys forgot Dr. Amartya Sen.
October 13th, 2006 at 5:38 am
Tears of joy
Tears of pride
Cheers for Yunus
Cheers for Bangladesh
October 13th, 2006 at 5:56 am
From Naeem:
Dr Yunus & Grameen Bank of Bangladesh won the Nobel Peace prize today.
The other two Bengalis to win the Nobel Prize were Rabindranath
Tagore (Literature: 1913) and Amartya Sen (Economics: 1998).
At 5 AM, I received the news via SKYPE from an exuberant Kamal Quadir
in Dhaka. He had just come back from Yunus’ home. The Dhaka streets
were quiet as most people had not received the news yet. Then an
email from my father, glued to TV news as usual. Next, an email from
Asif Saleh in London who had just seen it on BBC. Then the avalanche
into mail boxes began.
Ironically, I was up at this ungodly hour because I had been writing
a polemic to a Dhaka paper about the need for positive role models
for Bangladesh.
One portion of that text read:
“I am wary of excessive nationalism because it can lead to chauvinism
and exclusion. But at the current crisis crossroads, we could do with
an injection of optimism and inspiration from unconventional
locations. Media profiles do not have to focus only on middle class
professionals, or the sons and daughters of “established” people (the
latter would re-inscribe hierarchies and local elites). There are
many other stories to track down. We can also attempt, emotionally
and politically, to embrace a pan-Bangali identity and take the
success stories of West Bengalis as part of our mosaic.
Current politics is a death-bound roller coaster, and the passengers
can’t disembark. People are always banging on about the resulting
short supply of optimism. The stories are there, inside and outside
the borders - vested with the Innovative NGOs, Tireless Activists,
Young Turks and Culture Agitators.”
A damn fine morning!
-Naeem
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http://shobakorg.blogspot.com
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Bangladeshi Wins Nobel Peace Prize
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2006/index.html
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/prof-yunus-of-bdesh-wins-nobel-peace/
23896-2.html
VIDEO: Yunus on Charlie Rose
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1986204406774837194&q=yunus&hl=en
VIDEO: Yunus at International Social Forum
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7311664220678511865&q=muhammad+yunus&hl=en
SAJA Webcast with Yunus
http://www.sajaforum.org/files/SAJAyunusMP3.mp3
SAJA Forum: Deshis In The News
http://www.sajaforum.org/2006/10/ditn_muhammad_y.html
Grameen Bank
http://www.grameen-info.org/
Grameen Foundation
http://www.grameenfoundation.org/
Little World Banks
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/IMF_WB/Grameen_50YIE.html
Ashoka’s Changemakers
http://www.changemakers.net/journal/03november/index.cfm
Alex Counts: Give Us Credit
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812924649
Capitalism For The Poor
http://www2.gsb.columbia.edu/journals/files/chazen/Grameen_Bank_v04.pdf
Power of Credit
http://www.fool.com/news/foth/2000/foth001213.htm
Telephone Ladies Connect Bangladesh
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4471348.stm
Latitudes Volume 2
http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/journals/latitudes/2grameen.htm
Social Science Research Paper
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID897522_code557814.pdf?
abstractid=897522&mirid=1
Grameen in “Strongest Position Ever”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1869113.stm
Ted Turner Visits Grameen
http://nation.ittefaq.com/artman/exec/view.cgi/38/23746
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October 13th, 2006 at 7:03 am
All congratulations to Dr Yunus and the hardworking people at Grameen. The bank, by the way, is a co-winner of today’s award. Following the news and the publicity over the last few years - the Magsaysay Award, the top-table treatment at places like Davos and conferences by The Economist - you always got the sense that Dr Yunus was in line for something like this. But when it actually happens, it’s still amazing, still special, still an overwhelming moment.
At a personal level, this means perhaps even more to me. There’s two people whose work left a very deep impression on me as I was growing up - Orwell in all his writings, and Yunus through his work. The latter showed that the power of an Idea that is simple, innovative and well-executed can change the lives of millions. Back in IBA, it was by mere chance that my “term-report group” was allotted to do a report on Grameen’s management practices. I found the whole operation so utterly fascinating, and the numbers so staggering, that I ended up doing a whole series of reports on them over the next couple of semesters. It was that kind of example and inspiration which was largely responsible in the end for my switching fields from finance/business to economics/development economics. I’ve never yet regretted the decision.
Let’s also give kudos today to all the countless thousands of development workers/NGO workers all across Bangladesh, whose dedication and hard work makes this possible, to Fazle Abed and BRAC and to many other people and institutions who fight the good fight every day. Also, a small shoutout to all the people who have done so much to promote Grameen and raise its international profile over the years, not least among them a certain Bill Clinton who as governor of Arkansas was one of the early admirers of the microcredit model.
October 13th, 2006 at 7:06 am
While this was bound to have happened - it is tremendous that it finally did. My son interviewed Prof. Yunus for his website last December. I wanted him to ask him which of the two Nobels would he like better: Economics or Peace? I like the Peace prize but I am still rooting for him to get the Economics one as well!
Notwithstanding some of the hype around micro-finance (anything can be taken to an excess), Dr. Yunus’ greatest contribution to human development is demonstrating that the poor can handle credit - and that a little credit can go a looooong way.
October 13th, 2006 at 7:27 am
Rumi/Muhit bhai,
The Economics prize is given basically to university-based academics who do a lot of theoretical research, producing cutting-edge models using some pretty hardcore mathematics. Yunus is more of a practitioner in the field, no longer an academic, so it’s unlikely that he would be considered for the Econ prize. As it is, very few development economists even in academia have won the Nobel - Sen was one, and before that Lewis, Schultz, and Solow. Although it is said that people like Paul Romer (who’s tried to go even deeper into the causes of economic growth) or Krugman/Bhagwati (for their theoretical work on trade) may eventually win the prize.
But Yunus’ work has been of immense, direct benefit to millions of people so that the Peace prize was pretty much an obvious one for him.
October 13th, 2006 at 7:33 am
One could argue that this is the biggest positive news for Bangladesh since we got our independencence!
October 13th, 2006 at 7:41 am
“Lasting peace cannot be achieved unless large population groups find ways in which to break out of poverty,” the Nobel Committee said in its citation. “Microcredit is one such means. Development from below also serves to advance democracy and human rights.”
Perfectly and appropriately quoted by the Noble Peace Prize Committee during the announcement of this year’s peace prize going to our very own Dr. Yunus. I always believed that one day he would be honored by this prestige but I am surprised that it took this long. His visionary concept of Micro-credit just didn’t spread and benefit people of Bangladesh but it reached many parts of the globe from Asia to Africa to South America.
Indeed a great news for Bangladesh this morning. Congratulations to you Dr. Yunus!
October 13th, 2006 at 7:54 am
Today is a proud day for Bangladesh. Mr. Yunus is one of my personal heroes, and I could not be happier with today’s Nobel Peace Prize selection. My sincerest congratulations to my friends and colleagues in Bangladesh!
October 13th, 2006 at 7:56 am
Here’s to a man who really knows how to follow his heart!! With a PhD from Vanderbilt, he could’ve just stayed in the US. He sacrificed a cushy career to go back home, and he sacrificed a family to listen to his heart and do something that gives him self-worth. Here’s a man who defines integrity.
And the hundreds of people who have toiled with him, accepting the low pay of Grameen Bank, and the few bureaucrats who had faith in him and wanted to work for change who gave him breaks and made his bank become reality. This prize goes to all of them.
This is about pride and feel-good, but more than that, this is a recognition that there is good in people’s souls. And this is the reward for having the courage to do what you have to do. This is payback for all the sacrifices the people of Bangladesh and Dr. Yunus in particular had to go through to work for positive change.
Here’s to a man with the biggest Koilja I know of
P.S. Zubair Bhai, also kudos to Akhtar Hamid Khan and BARD.
October 13th, 2006 at 8:03 am
We are proud of him, long live Dr.Yunus
October 13th, 2006 at 8:29 am
My sleepy eyes lit up bright when I opened the Google news page at 6:00 EST. An ardent follower of Microfinance, Prof Yunus’s work and its global influence I felt overjoyed. I woke my wife up and broke the news to her. She was even more thrilled.
As an Indian, I congratulate Bangladesh, Grameen and Prof.Yunus. This is the ultimate recognition in our millenium.
At a personal level, on Oct 11th, I submitted my application to Wharton MBA. My long term goal to become a Microfinance Investor, was pivoted firmly around Prof. Yunus’s life, and vision. The timing of my application cannot have been better. Thank you!
October 13th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Guys, I wish I could think of the right words to express what I’m feeling – excessive joy, pride, feeling of patriotism and utmost respect for this larger than life persona all hitting at the same time and causing an explosion! Not sure why I’m tearing up…
October 13th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Excuse the language.. but a fucking nice day to be a Bengali!!
October 13th, 2006 at 9:01 am
I am SOOOOO excited!! Finally something to be proud of. I wish I was on the streets of Dhaka, dancing away. If the stupid politicians can have countless days of hartal for no reason, then now we should have a whole month off to celebrate this (kidding). This really is the biggest thing since our independance!
I highly urge you all to read this amazing book about the effects of microcredit on poor women of Bangladesh: The Price of a Dream (David Bornstein)
http://www.amazon.com/Price-Dream-Story-Grameen-Bank/dp/0195187490/sr=8-2/qid=1160747848/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-3459241-7965658?ie=UTF8
This book made me cry and for the first time I was really proud to be a Bangladeshi
October 13th, 2006 at 9:11 am
And Prof Zafor Iqbal already saying he’d request Dr Yunus to take over country’s responsibility now! (on ATN at 7:10 news).
This is a great day, we’re glued to TV all day since I saw it’s being announced on CNN! However, I don’t think many people see at as a shocking news. He’s been nominated few times (especially by Clinton) and it’s about time, he got what he deserved.
October 13th, 2006 at 9:20 am
From ABC news:
The 65-year-old economist (Dr Yunus) said he would use part of his share of the $1.4 million award money to create a company to make low-cost, high-nutrition food for the poor. The rest would go toward setting up an eye hospital for the poor in Bangladesh, he said.
October 13th, 2006 at 9:47 am
To all those who shed tears hearing this great news, this thing is too big to be a girl or boy thing! It was funny me & my old mom sitting together trying to hide our tears while watching BBC. For those of us who were born on the later part of the 60’s & were too young in 1971, Dr.Yunus has given us a new identity that all of us should try to build on.
Cheers
October 13th, 2006 at 10:09 am
While driving to work this morning, I heard the name Dr. Yunus, and my heart just took a leap of sheer horror. The words Bangladesh, Dr. Yunus sent an automatic signal to my brain as “oh my God, they did it again, they killed him too”. In a fraction of a second I thought the worst because “what else could our Shonar Bangladesh could be on the national news for?”
Then the full sentence unveiled and it took me a while to comprehend the gravity of the news - what actually happened. What I felt is beyond description – getting hit by jolt of happy thunderbolts could probably only be a hint. All the words on the Thesauras for “euphoric” couldn’t sum it up. It was a feeling that was so hard to contain within myself that I called everyone I cared about and their dogs to wake them up with the News.
I wrote to a few of my friends as “today I am proud to be a Bangladeshi again”. Now, come to think of it, when was I ever a proud Bangladeshi? Oh yes, there is of course the feeling of everpresent sense of pride (?) for my jonmobhumi or what have you, but really, we are among friends here, when did anybody REALLY did us proud? When did WE ever did ourselves proud as a Bangladeshi? So, now I am certain, this feeling of “on top of the world” is novel to me. And I am going to hold on to it and brag and boast until I have sickened everybody around me. Hei, I finally earned it – I come from a country that produced a “NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER” – who won it by none less than changing the fate of millions of people in the world. This news is SO big that it made ME a “blog attempter” – who never even wrote a love letter – well a couple of those may be – but that’s about it……………..
Now let’s just all work on making him run the country and get rid of those other scumbags, and we’ll be all set.
October 13th, 2006 at 10:14 am
I say all of you toast this win tonight…..with your friends, family wherever they are. A few days ago, I wrote good guys in BD are taking it lying down. Not any more. Good guys win after all. Perhaps this is turning point for our country. One man can unify the nation ignoring the politicians. There are some incredible comments at the blog. Do check it out. Its hard to express. Just gave a radio interview describing my emotions. Perhaps this is how people felt in December 16th, 1971 — a new hope, glory and dreams.
Tak dum takdum bajai Bangladesh-er dhol,
Shob bhule jai tao bhuli na , Bangla mayer kol
October 13th, 2006 at 10:50 am
Yippie! Finally that darn peace prize commitee is getting a few things right. Jimmy Carter, Muhammed Yunus…
October 13th, 2006 at 11:02 am
Proud to be a Bangladeshi today where all my Co-workers are coming and congratulating Mr Younus and Bangladesh with respect.
Thanks Mr Younus for making us proud.We all wish you a very happy and properous journey to rest of your life.
Please produce more and more people like you in our country we badly need them.
thanks
Kawser Jamal
http://www.changeBangladesh.com
October 13th, 2006 at 11:07 am
This is a great day for Bangladesh. Congratulations to Dr. Yunus. He showed all of us the power of an idea against overwhelming odds. I read this morning’s Washington Post and welled up with emotion.
This prize belongs just as much to the harworking people of the villages of Bangladesh, who with a slight helping hand from Grameen, showed us that opportunity is all they need to rise above poverty. This should inspire us all.
I hope this Prize will focus attention on the plight of the poor and stir the world community into more effective action to alleviate poverty.
October 13th, 2006 at 11:10 am
Congratulations to Dr Yunus and everyone at the Grameen Bank - people like you make me want to stay alive, make a difference, and strive on for what I believe is just and right.
October 13th, 2006 at 11:17 am
I logged in this morning and was surprised to see at least 20 new emails but as I opened the first one, there it was!! the news that has made 150 million people ecstatic! the write-ups were so uplifting and energetic as people expressed their joy and hope for the future…this is very refreshing news especially at this time during elections that has caused political upheaval in Bangladesh…I hope and pray that a nobel “Peace” award will encourage the masses to resolve the political disputes in a peaceful manner………
called my folks and they are in such a festive mood..I really wish I was in Bangladesh too dancing on the streets! ..indeed, it is “a damn fine morning” and I am extremely proud to be a BANGLADESHI!
October 13th, 2006 at 11:22 am
Fantastic news for everyone Today I feel so proud to be related to Bangladesh, even as an adopted son!
As well as a richly deserved award for Dr Yunus himself, t’s a wonderful piece of positive coverage for BD at a time when the media looks only for negative imagery from this part of the world. Congratulations to everyone.
October 13th, 2006 at 11:30 am
Hey, just heard from my friends in Kolkata that everybody is celebrating the 4th Bengali to get a Nobel prize - as listed by the Kolkata media:
1) Rabindranath Tagore (Literature - 1913)
2) Mother Teresa (Peace - 1979)
3) Amartya Sen (Economics - 1998)
4) Dr Md Yunus (Peace - 2006)
(Mother Teresa was an Indian citizen and though born in Albania was adopted by Bengalis as one of their own.)
So hugely proud of being Bongo-French!
October 13th, 2006 at 11:55 am
[...] ople are delighted over at the Bangla blogging platform “Bandh Bhanger Awaaj“. Drishtipat has news, pictures and [...]
October 13th, 2006 at 11:56 am
What wonderful news. I couldn’t move for about 2 minutes after I saw around 30 e-mails with the same news on my work computer as I came in this morning. I wanted to rush out of my office and hug all of my colleagues, but they would think I was crazy!
One of the first things that comes to mind is how Dr Yunus is one of the most humble men I have ever met. It is so wonderful that someone who is above partisan claim can become a true hero for all Bangladeshis.
Bravo Dr Yunus, Bravo Bangladesh!
October 13th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
The first thought that came to mind when I read Asif’s email and Naeem’s reflections this morning was something Dr. Yunus had mention in one of the three times I had a chance to meet him in person. I don’t recall his exact words but it went something like “We can change the setting by changing the questions.” I think it is terribly important to recognize that the terrible stalemate and stasis in which we often find ourselves in politically, economically and socially, could sometimes be overcome by taking a step back and asking not why, but why not.
Best Wishes,
Mahmud, Evanston, IL
October 13th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
I am celebrating this great news sitting in a small room in an almost deserted Kabul guest house. With a deadline looming, I am glued to my lap top and with the only phone in the guest house deciding to go dead today, I can’t call anyone and share my joy. But thankfully the internet is working. Had I been at home in the US today, I would have surely spent the day watching Bangladeshi TV. Had I been in Dhaka, I do not know what I would have done!
But there is still great comfort in Kabul. In a country where millions of dollars of aid money have apparently got wasted, micro-credit is making a real difference. And while many organizations are involved, more than 80% of the micro-credit is being provided by just one agency, a Bangladeshi NGO - BRAC. We do not have an embassy here so the official flag does not fly. But the Bangladeshi flag is still flying high in the villages of Afghanistan, as it is doing in so many other countries, through the work of these dedicated people.
Prof. Yunus and his dedicated colleagues in Grameen Bank have shown what can be achieved when you combine bold dreams with simple, common-sensical solutions and retain a great faith in the potential of ordinary people.
It is highly appropriate that the prize was split between Prof. Yunus and Grameen Bank, showing both the power of a visionary individual as well as the need to have institutions. Yunus could not have achieved this much on his own; Grameen would not have been here without his leadership.
October 13th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Some great links provided by Zubaer:
A truly inspiring choice for Nobel Peace Prize - The Times, London
Credit where it’s due - Guardian, UK
The egalitarian economist - Guardian, UK
Pioneering banker gave credit to the poor - Financial Times, UK
Microloan pioneer and his bank win Nobel Peace Prize - New York Times
Bangladeshi Economist, Grameen Bank win Nobel Peace Prize - Washington Post
October 13th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
For a country and people starved for good news, this may rank as the best news ever! This is a proud day for all of us.
October 13th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Today, we are truly a proud Bangladeshi.
October 13th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
What’s happening in Dhaka ?
Are people crying like us?
Are people out in the streets?
People who have Bangladeshi Channels ..can you upload some news clips in youtube?
October 13th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Senior year at Oberlin College. The Graduation committee was discussing candidates for the three Honorary Doctorates. After making our way through familiar faces, we started discussion of an unfamiliar nominee.
“So, who is this Muhammad Yunus?”
The question was not hostile. Only curious.
I started doing my little prepared spiel. Grameen Bank, loans to women, Bangladesh, micro-credit, alternative economic theory, blah blah.
I was running on empty. I really didn’t know enough about Grameen Bank to put together a cogent argument. This was 1993 — before the web, browsers or google. The only way to find information was on clunky VAX terminals running Lexis-Nexis. I hadn’t found anything there on Grameen (Bill Clinton’s riff in Rolling Stone was a few years away), but a friend had photocopied an article from an environmental magazine. It had been sparse on details, but there was a nice photo of women in villages. They were all smiling.
I held it up and feebly continued my speech. But I was losing the audience, I could tell.
Another professor spoke up: “This other Economist we just voted for, is he also Bangladeshi?”
Now this was an odd spanner in the works. By a strange twist, two out of the three student representatives on this committee were from Bangladesh (the other was Nadim Haider). On a small, secluded, left-progressive college campus, there were eight Bangladeshi students (an unusually generous scholarship program the previous year). The Indian students outnumbered us, but had various affiliations (including boarding schools) that fragmented them. Our group had no particular moholla ties, and were inseparable. What had earlier seemed an amusing hegemony on campus was now a liability on this committee. Suddenly a spot of worry about stacking the decks. Ethnic or linguistic jingoism was certainly not my project.
The other economist they were talking about was Amartya Sen. We had already voted to give him a doctorate.
“Well,” I said, “Amartya Sen is Bengali as well…”
It didn’t seem as if anyone was actually too worried about the two-Bengali factor. It was more that there wasn’t much literature about Grameen. Most of the other nominees were American. Familiar faces from local media coverage. Not much explanation needed.
Suddenly the President of the College, S. Fred Starr, interrupted. “I know Dr. Yunus. Heard him give a speech a few years back. Micro-credit is a great concept. Very deserving of this award.”
Starr had been silent for most of the discussion. Everyone knew it was his last year as College President. Controversy over his policies, perceived as aloof and conservative, had followed him around for four years. I hadn’t expected him to weigh in on anything here. But now, for the first time in discussions, he put his weight behind Yunus’ nomination.
Although I was civil to Starr, I considered him suspect on political grounds. If the whole campus was agitating against him, surely our politics won’t mesh? But this committee was the first time I encountered him at close quarters. And here he was, expressing interest in micro-credit. Not for the last time, I had to think beyond surface.
And like that, it was done. Democracy is fun, but a confident argument from the big cheese is persuasive. There was more discussion, but the group was unanimous in support.
By the time Dr. Yunus arrived on campus, everyone had done their homework. The college library had ordered books on micro-credit. A Chicago activist had come and given a slideshow from his recent trip to Bangladesh.
At a college where a majority of graduates go on to social welfare professions like human rights law, union organizing and environmental activism, the micro-credit concept was received enthusiastically. Even the skeptical economists were won over.
It seems that others have been won over as well.
October 13th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
FROM BLOOMBERG:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a68F8w9UYgyY&refer=uk
>
Hey Bono, serves you right for shilling for Bush on national TV. And for suing Negativland. Step aside you windbag.
October 13th, 2006 at 2:07 pm
http://news.google.com/news?num=30&hl=en&ned=&ie=utf-8&q=Nobel-Peace-Prize
All the Yunus items on Google.
October 13th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
113 Photos here
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/sm/events/wl/100206nobel/p:4
AP is showing a video that is hard to see (as usual).
Can someone please grab video off one of the Bangla channels and put it on YouTube.
October 13th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
This man is fortunate to share his birthday with my kid.
I emailed him as soon as I heard the shu-kobor.
“Pride” and “proud” don’t sound right to me, so, I’ll say “tha gourob-er bishoy”
Oh, it just come to me…”elated” sounds good. Yes, I feel elated…
October 13th, 2006 at 6:05 pm
Friday the 13th, but what a memorable day for us.. we won in cricket too. And fatafati scorecard!!
http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/iccct2006/engine/match/249743.html
October 13th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
NTV Clip:
http://70.103.189.65/~sachalay/ntvn13O.wmv
October 13th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Three photos from Prothom Alo:
http://www.prothom-alo.org/issues/2006-10-14/2.jpg
http://www.prothom-alo.org/issues/2006-10-14/1.jpg
http://www.prothom-alo.org/issues/2006-10-14/3.jpg
October 13th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
Here’s Dr Yunus on phone with Norwegian TV right after the announcement was made:
http://www.hddweb.com/67773/Dr_Yunus.mp3
[thanks to Rumi bhai for letting us use his personal account for the file upload]
October 13th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Barefoot Bank with Cheek
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/199512/grameen-bank
Mothers vs Mullahs
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15254411/site/newsweek/page/2/
Yunus to partner with Danone
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=158770&Sn=WORL&IssueID=29208
God’s Banker
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?menu=f10600&no=322934&rel_no=1
October 13th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
BUSINESSWEEK: What Nobel Means For Microcredit
FINANCIAL EXPRESS: Village Wisdom
TIME: Paving The Way
October 13th, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Cooooongraaaaatuuuuulaaaaaatiiiiiioooon!!!!!!!!
TORA SHAB JOYODDHANI KOR
TORA SHAB JOYODDHANI KOR
AUEE BIJOYER KETON UURE
TORA SHAB JOYODDHANI KOR.
PURBA DIGANTE SURJA UTHESE
ROKTOLAL ROKTOLAL
With the whole nation I’m so happy and proud of Dr. MUHAMMAD Yunus. I have always some question!Dr Yunus deserves Nobel prize in Economics and should have been given that. But how come he got Nobel Prize for peace. Is there anything amiss here!
My name is Mohammed. Did anybody send my resume to Nobel Selection Committee? Is that I got it and by mistake it went to Dr. Yunus due to
wrong address!
No kidding, DP should look into the matter. If it, in truth, had been me DP could be more happy and proud of me!
After every victory from national election to local asssociation election amongst us we always raise question. This is a tradition but very bad tradtition. So being back to my good sense I, Mohammed Abuusa conceded to Muhammad Yunus. Victory is his and Joy is ours.
Again I congratulate Great Guy Dr. Yunus and share joy with everybody.
October 13th, 2006 at 8:04 pm
These two terms are the top two items on
http://news.google.com
Muhammad Yunus
Grameen Bank
On Friday night.
Interesting thing is that the Orhan Pamuk Nobel for Literature has been eclipsed by the Grameen Nobel. They should have spaced them out.
October 13th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
Blog reactions on Yunus’s nobel prize.
October 14th, 2006 at 12:26 am
The Headline changer.
Story of a sleepless night and a good day.
-by Aftab
On Thursday, October 12, 2006 I got out of my fulltime Job at 9:00PM. Took the Subway from Manhattan to Jackson Heights, Queens, and arrived at the Newspaper office (Weekly Kagoj) around 9:45 PM. The Newspaper was to be published on the following morning. So, the Press was hectic as usual. With the apparent failure of the so-called ‘Election Commission reform talks’ the Headline of the Newspaper was supposed to read something depressing and disgusting as usual; like, “Talks failed; Khaleda & Hasina talks with their foreign Bosses.” After checking the final office print of the Front page, I left the Newspaper office at 2:30AM; took the late and tired Subway home at 3:45AM.After taking a shower and a breather for an hour, it was time to drive my wife to the Jamaica Long Island Rail Road Station for her Job. By this time I was dead tired; after returning from the LIRR station I went to bed at 6:00AM hoping that I would be able to wake up on time after 4 hours of sleep for my fulltime Job.
As I was still counting my heartbeats under a spell of semi-consciousness, the Telephone rang. Frustrated, I looked at the bedside alarm clock; it was 6:30AM. But I had to answer it, because the caller ID showed the Cell-phone number of Sohel Sarwar, the Manager-cum-Graphic Composure of the Newspaper who was supposed to be at the Printing Press around that time while the Newspaper was being printed. He was short of breath with excitement. From his excitement I gathered that while the Newspaper was getting printed at the Press, someone called him and told him that the Noble Academy in Sweden has declared the Bangladeshi Economist Dr. Md. Yunus and his brainchild the Grameen Bank, as the winner of this year’s Noble peace prize.
This made me wake up; while stumbling on my feet in the darkness searching for the switch, I made an apprehensive plea, ‘Is the Front page printed already?’
He answered, “No, that’s the good news, I told the Printing press that we have a ‘Big mistake’ on the Front Page that we must correct and asked them to stop printing. I tried to reach Abedin Bhai (The editor of the Newspaper Dr. Abedin Quader) but he must be inside his library room in Manhattan where he doesn’t get the signal on his Cell-phone. I think we need to put this Big News out this morning.”
I jumped and said, “Yes, yes we do, we must, but can you come back to the office, make the changes and then return to the Press at this time?”
He said, “I caught a Cab and I am on my way back to the office as we speak.”
Within minutes I got busy on the Internet and started making phone calls to confirm the news, while Sohel Sarwar reached the office and turned on the Computers and his Graphics skills again. For the next half an hour we were on the phone changing the Headline, dictating and composing the News. The previous Headline about the ‘failed talks’ of EC reform and the ‘secret’ endeavors of Khaleda and Hasina to win the upcoming elections were moved to a well-deserved corner of the Front page and a new Headline with smiley faced Prof. Dr. Yunus emerged. After we finished we congratulated each other. To the best of our knowledge we were to be the first Bangla Newspaper in the whole world to print this great news, and we took much pleasure brooding over this thought while still trying to fathom the significance of this award from a Bangladeshi context.
It was 8:30AM, I couldn’t go back to sleep at that point, I had to make phone calls to break the News to everyone. After I finished the phone calls, it was time for me to go to my regular Job again. Though, for obvious reasons, I wasn’t tired a bit, because it was not just another day; it was a good day.
October 14th, 2006 at 1:14 am
I was completely overwhelmed when I first heard the news from my wife. It is intensely a thrilling news for all Bangladeshi’s that Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been honoured the most prestigious noble peace prize. No doubt it is a great break through for our country as well as for Dr. Muhammad Yunus after introducing his innovative micro financing idea in 1974. He edged out the U2’s Irish singer Mr. Bono and Sir Bob Geldof the band aid organizer as Dr. Yunus and his Grameen Bank picked up the Noble prize. It’s a stupendous achievement and honour for all Bangladeshi people. Let’s salute this living legend for making us proud.
October 14th, 2006 at 3:47 am
24 hours later -
True to form, a few of us met up at London’s Kolapata restaurant last night and celebrated a wonderful day - with a proper down-home dinner of bhaat, ilish, aloo bhorta, begun bhaji, daal, etc etc!
Would that such a day would return every few years. It’ll be a long time before we can feel so PROUD and TALL again
October 14th, 2006 at 9:41 am
The spirit, faith and intensity of the accounts on this thread confirms to me that Bengalis CAN get united about the cause - if the cause is worthy enough. Despite our penchance for individual thinking and separatist attitude, the thoughts reflected by the bloggers - many of whom skirmish intellectually over other issues - should show all that in our hearts we are Bangalis first and take pride and ownership in our heritage.
Let us not let the moment go to waste - let us not squander the happiness and pride that Dr. Yunus has ignited in our hearts and minds. Let us seize the moment and pledge to rise above partisan and individual politics and prove to the world - but equally importantly, to our own selves - that we can cure ourselves of our self imposed injuries.
Will you join me in making a promise - a pledge?
That from this day on, when it comes to issues that affect our old country, we will put aside partisan differences and work together to provide a united front - a front that is both proud and sincere. That means that before we act, we will ask how our actions will reflect on our country as a whole - not just one party or another. And whenever possible, for celebrations of culture or the assertion of rights, we will cooperate with each other to create or present a program that will make the country proud.
Dr. Yunus has shown that it is possible for us to teach something new and noble, and in these times of trouble, to own the moral high ground. Let us promise ourselves to never cede the moral high ground.
October 14th, 2006 at 2:27 pm
Awwwww, this makes me feel so proud. Well done Prof Yunus!
October 14th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
good news for bangladesh.
we need a bit these days. i mean the last time dhaka was like this, we had just beaten australia in a rather more petty contest of cricket.
heres to microcredit theory and practice continuing to improbhe itself and refine itself to suit peoples all obher the world.
and to deshis who work hard and think prospering.
October 14th, 2006 at 3:22 pm
It is wonderful to read your enthusiastic reaction and pride in this great recognition. Dr. Yunus, Grameen and all Bangladeshis deserve to feel euphoric. Those of us who love your country and people are thrilled too and welcome your leadership in creating a poverty-free world.
October 15th, 2006 at 1:16 am
CONGRATULATIONS, DR. YUNUS! WE’RE REALLY PROUD OF YOU. YOU’VE DONE IT FOR THE POVERTY-RIDDEN FRUSTRATED BANGALEES. LONG LIVE DR. YUNUS.
October 15th, 2006 at 2:59 am
Bangladeshi young people will atleast have one icon other than the moviestars and cricketers that they follow……salute Dr. Yunus
October 15th, 2006 at 5:04 am
Dear Dr.Yunus,
We, the Bangladeshi nation as a whole, is extremely proud of you, your family and your creation, Grameen Bank. On behalh of Bangladesh and the entire peace loving people of the world and our family ( Wife : Alam Ara ; Daughter ( 13 yrs ) : Sharif Tahsin Farah / Sristy and myself ), I congratulate & salute you !
After Bangabandhu Sk. Mujibur Rahman, the father of our nation, your winning of Nobel Prize has given us the unique and most precious scope to unite our country, which may not come again within the next 100 years’ time. Though you are not involved in politics, still for the sake of the permanent peace in our country and correct history, would you mind to please come forward to boldly declare the statement in public, which late President Ziaur Rahman confirmed in several occations, both verbally and in writings ? In this regard, I would like to mention the single statement, which late President Zia made on March 27, 1971 from Bangladesh Radio, Chittagong saying that ” I, Maj. Zia, do hereby declare the independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Bangabandhu Sk. Mujibur Rahman “.
Our country is divided into so many fractions of interested groups ( who are maximum 15% of our total population ) only due to narrow political gambling and that’s why, we were poor, we are poor and we shall remain poor for an unlimited period of time, until and unless, we can come out from this game.
As we know, without Political decision, no peace can be dreamt even and hence, in order to establish the permanent peace in our country, first of all, we should settle the basic controversy about the contributions of our national leaders, mainly Bangabandhu & President Zia. It is beyond any doubt that late President Zia was really a very good and honest leader, but Bangabandhu was also his ( President Zia )undisputed leader, whether the heirs of President Zia’s family and his established Political Party or the related advisors & followers agree to that or not. Bangabandhu was the undisputed single national leader of Bangladesh, while President Zia was one of his ( Bangabandhu ) important faithful followers. This is historical fact and the world should know it once gain for the permanent decision to bring peace in our country.
Though, in writing, all the Political Parties want to do really good for their Country & People, but practically, it is reverse due to the existence of some corrupt persons in all the Political Parties and the total unexpected silence of the Chiefs of those Political Parties due to unknown reasons. Though the majority ( at least 85% ) people are good and everyone should be judged by his/her personal activities, but unfortunately, we, the majority people, are totally powerless, which scenerio should be changed and we prefer your leadership here.
Now, you are our nation’s hero. The world knows you. You got NOBEL Prize in PEACE. You have nothing to fear. If you want to, you can please personally talk to their Excellencies, Begum Zia and Sk. Hasina in a close-door meeting to overcome all those narrow gambling for ever. If their personal and political activities are good, they have nothing to fear and you have nothing to fear as well.
We honour our Constitution and also want our National Election as per the Constitutional way. But there is a small problem. As the Poltical Party in Power, with a narrow aim in mind, changed that constitutional way by changing the age limit of the judges only and that is why, controversy came with Justice Hassan, who is the close relative of Begum Zia, was attached with the present ruling Party, could not pass judgment on Bangabandhu’s assacination and who also very recently proved his obedience to the ruling Party. EC Aziz also proved his questioned neutrality through some unwanted comments / remarks about the present Party in opposition, which you know.
Considering all those circumstances in mind, in order to establish the permanent peace & poverty by eliminating the narrow conspiracies from the Political Parties as above mentioned, would you please come forward in your own way to save the nation ?
I believe, this is the peak time to rootout all the conspiracies from our Political Parties in order to establish your peace plan. I also believe, if you decide to come forward to establish the historical facts as above mentioned, the entire nation will be with you and that will surely bring permanent peace in our homeland and to do so, you may need maximum 15 years instead of 25 years’ time.
With thanks & kind regards,
Truly yours,
Muhd.Iqbal Hussain Sharif
A loyal citizen of Bangladesh
Lake Kahcashen
House : 6, Suite : D-5
Road : 33, Gulshan-1
Dhaka-1212
Mob : 01711-527-080 ; Tel : 8851848
E-mail : itwl@siriusbb.com
Dated : Dhaka, Sunday,October 15, 2006
October 15th, 2006 at 6:11 am
there is no doubt that 13th oct, is our 2nd victory day. today we win the world.
we need to take some lesson from this great acivement.
October 15th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Hello Everybody,
its Time To Congrats Dr Muhammad Yunus Sir…
So Why Not Send greetings to Him…:)
Visit Here ::
http://amazon707.googlepages.com/yunus
Hope You all will send your greetings To HIm
Regards,
Samiha Esha
October 15th, 2006 at 5:34 pm
i am very happy to say that it is a great surprise in the world.
congratulations to sir yunus.
shahid
cool-future@hotmail.com
October 15th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
[...] ere has been in paroxysms of delight, naturally. Drishtipat and Mash has some excellent coverage. What now f [...]
October 15th, 2006 at 7:46 pm
Please sign the petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/Yunus/
October 15th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
Sabash Bangladesh and the great son Professor Mohammad Yunus
October 15th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
I am Indoensian, I extremely proud of Mr. Yunus,
I wish he become to Indonesian teacher Economics and tell to the decision maker. How to build an marginal economic.
October 16th, 2006 at 8:03 am
My heartily congratulations to Respected
Dr.Mohammad Yunus for getting the Nobel Prize. On this delightful Moment, I would like to invite all to work together for human and not only for benefits.
October 17th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Awesome, Dr. Yunus. You Da MAN!