Some 198 US citizens representing the Bangladeshi diaspora have expressed deep concern at the statement issued by some prominent figures, including former US president Barack Obama, regarding the ongoing trial of Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh.

A statement signed by 198 individuals from the Bangladeshi Americans communities was issued on Wednesday.

“We, the undersigned American citizens representing Bangladeshi diaspora communities around the United States, are deeply concerned by the statement issued by some prominent figures, including former president Barack Obama, regarding the ongoing trial of Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh,” the statement reads.

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They said they firmly believe that the statement in favour of Dr Yunus has been given without a thorough understanding of the facts, and in that process signatories of the open letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh brazenly attacked the sovereignty of the country that gained its independence through the sacrifice of three million martyrs.

"Nobel laureate Dr. Yunus has been charged with money laundering, tax evasion, labor rights abuse by the independent Anti-Corruption Commission(ACC) in Bangladesh,” it says.

Muhammad Yunus: DAG refuses to sign anti-Yunus statement allegedly prepared by AG office

They said the case is under trial and no verdict has been reached yet. "It is unfortunate that the signatories to the statement have drawn their conclusion without going through the merit of the case, while many of them advocate for rule of law and due process in the administration of justice. We, the undersigned, have been observing Dr. Yunus’ malpractice for many years. We also are well aware of Dr. Yunus’s art of deceit in public relations. However, we, as US citizens, never complained about it. We have reasons to believe the signatories of the open letter fell prey to Dr. Yunus’ deceit,” the statement adds.

They said it is truly unfortunate to note that signatories of the letter did not stop by just urging a ‘fair trial’ for Dr. Yunus, but have also indulged into election processes, rule of law and many other issues not related to the case in point.

Muhammad Yunus: DAG refuses to sign anti-Yunus statement allegedly prepared by AG office

“It is quite evident that the signatories unnecessarily tarnished their reputation by indulging into internal issues of a sovereign country that we so proudly call our motherland. Their call for a trial under ‘impartial judges’ completely undermined the entire judicial system and is an attack on the dignity of the honorable judges of a sovereign nation,” the Bangladeshi Americans write.

“In terms of development, democracy and human rights in Bangladesh, it is far better now than what it was 15 or 20 years ago. Its success in development, its quest to uplift the living conditions of the tens of millions of marginalized citizens and particularly on the issue of women empowerment, Bangladesh is a role model under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. It is recognized around the world, and more specifically by the developed west. We urge the signatories to retract their statement, either in a group or individually, to show respect to the 170 million Bangladeshis,” the statement reads.

On August 28, over 170 global leaders, including more than 100 Nobel laureates, issued an open letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying, "We are alarmed that he [Yunus] has recently been targeted by what we believe to be continuous judicial harassment."

"We respectfully ask that you immediately suspend the current judicial proceedings against Prof Yunus, followed by a review of the charges by a panel of impartial judges drawn from within your nation, with some role for internationally recognised legal experts. We are confident that any thorough review of the anti-corruption and labour law cases against him will result in his acquittal,” the letter addressed to PM Hasina reads.

In response to the call from world leaders to suspend legal action against Yunus, a total of 171 notable citizens, intellectuals, and professionals in Bangladesh issued a joint statement on September 2.

The signatories to the latest statement
are:

1. Dr. Nuran Nabi, Councilman, NJ

2. Prof. ABM Nasir, Professor, NC

3. Abu Ahmed Musa, Councilman, MI

4. Rana Hasan Mahmud, Engineer, CA

5. Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Professor, PA

6. Shikrithy Barua, IT Engineer, NY

7. Abul Khan, State Representative, NH

8. Mahbubul Tayub Alam, Millbourne City Mayor, PA

9. Md. Nurul Hassan, Councilman, Milbourne City, PA

10. Dr. Sufian A Khandakar, Scientist, NY

11. Dr. Ashraf Ahmed, Scientist and Writer, Washington DC

12. Dr. Joti Prakash Dutta, Writer, FL

13. Prof. Abu Naser Rajib, CA

14. Morshed Alam, Activist, NY

15. Ahad Ahmed, Engineer, MI

16. Dr. Baman Das Basu, Scientist, MA

17. Safeda Basu, Activist, MA

18. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, Community Leader, NY

19. Dr. Mohshin Patowari, Professor, NY

20. Jamal Uddin Hossain, Cultural Personality, AL

21. Dr. Mohshin Ali, Writer, NY

22. Dastagir Jahangir, Journalist, VA

23. Fahim Reza Noor, Activist, NY

24. Dr. Zeenat Nabi, Scientist, NJ = 25. Hassan Ferdous, Columnist & Writer, NY

26. Maj (retd.) Manzur Ahmed, Community Leader, NY

27. Dr. Pradip Kar, Scientist, NY

28. Dr. Protap Das, Physician, NY

29. Kowshik Ahmed, Editor, NY

30. Lovlu Ansar, Editor, NY

31. Rafayet Choudhury, Activist, NY

32. Abu Taher, Activist, PA

33. Soud Choudhury, Activist, NY

34. Dr. Mizan R Miah, Professor, IL

35. Dr. Jamil Talukdar, Professor, WI

36. Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Professor, NY

37. Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Professor, NJ

38. Dr. Khandakar Monsur, Scientist, MD

39. Dr. Syed Abu Hasnat, Teacher, MA

40. Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, Businessman, GA

41. Tajul Imam, Artist, NY

42. Abdur Rahim Badsha, Businessman, NY

43. Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Scientist

44. Abdul Qader Mia, Community Leader, NY

45. Zakaria Choudhury, Community Leader, NY

46. Bedarul Islam Babla, Community leader, NY

47. Mintu Rahman, Community Leader, GA

48. Nadira Rahman, Community Leader, GA

49. Arefin Babul, Community Leader, GA

50. Dr. Shahab Siddique, Scientist, GA

51. Mohammed Ali Babul, Lawyer, NY

52. Mohammad Mowla, Community leader, GA

53. Jharna Choudhury, Theater Artist, NY

54. Lutfun Nahar Lata, Artist, NY

55. Dr. Faruk Azam, Physician, NJ

56. Mian Helal, Businessman, NJ

57. Shamsun Nahar Helen, Technologist, NJ

58. Iqbal Yousuf, Community Leader, MA

59. Atiqur Rahman, Community Leader, FL

60. Rumi Kabir, Writer, GA

61. Ali Ahmad Farish, Businessman, MI

62. Rashed Ahmed, Community Leader, NY

63. Sitangshu Guha, Journalist, NY

64. Dr. Dilip Nath, IT consultant , NY

65. MA Salam, Community Leader, NJ

66. Fakir Ilias, Poet, NY

67. Mishuk Selim, Poet, NY

68. Khaled Sharifuddin, Poet, NY

69. Abu Sayeed Ratan, Poet, NY

70. Hassan Al Abdullah, Poet, NY

71. Mithun Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY

72. Minhaj Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY

73. Shakawat Ali, Community Leader, NY

74. Dr. Abdul Baten, Scientist, NY

75. Dr. Hasan Masud, Teacher, NY

76. Shahid Hasan, Artist, NY

77. Rathindra Nath Roy, Artist, NY

78. Istiaq Rupu, Poet, NY

79. Gopal Syannal, Community Leader, NY

80. Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Tuku, Businessman, NY

81. Dr. Nahid Banu, Scientist, NJ

82. Mahbub Reza Rahim, Community Leader, AZ

83. Dr. Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ

84. Golam Faruk Bhuyan, Businessman, NJ

85. Rehan Reza, Community Leader, KS

86. Dr. Hasan Mamun, Teacher, NJ

87. Zahedul Mahmud Zami, Community Leader, CA

88. Towfik Solaiman Khan, Community Leader, CA

89. Nazrul Alam, Community Leader, CA

90. Saifur Rahman Osmani, Broadcaster, CA

91. Dr. Golam Mostofa, Professor, PA

92. Rabiul Karim Belal, Businessman, PA

93. Dr. Ahsan Choudhury, Engineer, TX

94. Hashmot Mobin, Community Leader, TX

95. Shah Halim, Community Leader, TX

96. Maggie Halim, Community Leader, TX

97. Dr. Anisul Aslam, Physician, CA

98. Mohammad Billah Rana, Businessman, CA

99. Hadi Billah Roba, Businessman, NV

100. Quazi Shahraiar Rahman, Engineer, CA

101. Karimul Haque Chowdhury, Businessman, CA

102. Bashir Ather, Scientist, CA

103. Tapan Mondol, Social Worker, CA

104. Shah Alam, Community Leader, CA

105. Maminul Haque Bachchu, Sr. Community Leader, CA

106. Tasnim Salam Aslam, Engineer, CA

107. Abed Mansur, Community Leader, CA

108. Habib Ahmed Tia, Community Leader, CA

109. Mofazzal Hussain, Community Leader, CA

110. Mohammad Hossain Rana, Community Leader, CA

111. Abul Hasnat Rayhan, Community Leader, CA

112. Asaduzzaman Bachchu, Businessman, MI

113. Dewan Zamir, Engineer, CA

114. Belal Beg, columnist, NY

115. Nini Wahed, Journalist,NY

116. Dr. Farjahan Rahman Shawon, Professor, NC

117. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, Community leader, NY

118. Khurshid Anowar Bablu, Community leader, NY

119. Hassan Al Abdullah, Writer, NY

120. Syed Abu Hasnat, Professor, MA

121. Dr. Delwar Arif, Professor, AL

122. Iqbal Yusuf, Director, Intl. Sustainable Development

123. Atiqur Rahman, Businessman, FL

124. Hassan Jahangir, Businessman, FL

125. Junaid Akhter, Community Leader, FL

126. Dr. Hemayet Ullah, Professor

127. Dr. Mahbub Pramanik

128. Dr. Purobi Bosu, Writer, FL

129. Farhana Iliyas Tuli, Poet, NY

130. Syed Mamunur Rashid, Poet, NY

131. Swapnil Firoze, Poet, NY

132. Liton Ahmed, Activist, NY

133. Golam Mohiuddin, Musician, GA

134. Nazrul Islam, Community Leader, GA

135. Farque Ahmed, Community Leader, GA

136. Mohin, Community Leader, FA

137. Abul Hassan, Community Leader, GA

138. Ahmadhur Parvez, Community Leader, GA

139. Dr. Mohammed Nasim, Community Leader, GA

140. Mahmud Abbas, Community Leader, GA

141. Mohammad Akbar Khan, Community Leader, GA

142. Reza Karim, Community Leader, GA

143. Ali Hosen, Community Leader, GA

144. Pintu Yusuf, Community Leader, GA

145. Nurul Kabir Nahid, Community Leader, GA

146. Mojammel, Community Leader, GA

147. Moshiur Rahman, Businessman, GA

148. Russel Bhuiyan, Businessman, Ga

149. Arefin Pial, Teacher, GA

150. Mahrufur Bhuiyan, Businessman, GA

151. Borhan Uddin, Community Leader, GA

152. Rashedul Karim, Businessman, GA

153. Bindu Hossen, Singer, GA

154. Rezaul Bari, Activist, NY

155. Abul Bashar Chunnu, Activist, NY

156. Nabendu Dutta, Professor, NY

157. Siraj Ahmed Sohag, Community Leader, NY

158. Shyamal Chakraborti, Community Leader, NY

159. Pranobondhu Chakraborti, Engineer, NY

160. Mohammad Fazlul Haque, Community Leader, NY

161. Parimal Karmakar, Community Leader, NY

162. Jhorna Chowhdury, Artist, NY

163. Syed Rashid Ahmed Karmani, Businessman, NY

164. Ruksana Karmani, NY

165. Farque Ahmed, Businessman, NY

166. Dilara Ahmed, Activist, NY

167. Touqid Chowdhury, Activist, NY

168. Saniyet Ahmed Chowdhury, Engineer, NY

169. Toujiat Chowdhury, PhD student, NY

170. Alim Khan Akash, Businessman, NY

171. Sabita Das, Activist, NY

172. Abul Bhashar Bhuiyan, NY

173. Shareb Ahmed, NY

174. Rontu Lal Das, NY

175. Harun Chowdhury, VA

176. Santosh Barua, Poet, VA

177. Nupur Chowdhury, VA

178. Gourab Golpo, Artist, VA

179. Nasrin Ahmed Munna, Artist, VA

180. Dr. Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ

181. Nahid Chowdhury, Businessman, NJ

182. Mir Chowdhury, Community Leader, NJ

183. Dr. Niru Kamrun Nahar, OH

184. Engineer Jalil Khan

185. Mizanul Kabir, P.O., CA

186. Ruhul Amin, Businessman, MI

187. Abdul Muhit Mukta, Businessman, MI

188. Mohoshin Uddin Tipu, Businessman, MI

189. Md. Sirajuddin Tipu, Community Leader, MI

190. Dr. Adnan Morshed, Professor, WA

191. Dr. Atiar Rahman, FDA statistics, VA

192. Dr. Sadek Chowdhury, VA

193. Alauddin Ahmed, Community Leader, VA

194. Dr. Zahed Chowdhury, Software Engineer, VA

195. Nizamuddin Ahmed, CEO, Huge Network, VA

196. Saleh Ahmed, Activist, VA

197. Swapnik Khan, Activist, TX

198. Redwan Chowdhury, Community Leader, D.C