US Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Democrat, representing Illinois) has met with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, who was recently appointed to lead the Bangladesh interim government following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as prime minister.  

Durbin has been a steadfast supporter of the work of Yunus for almost two decades, and greeted his appointment as leader of Bangladesh's interim government with a speech on the floor of the Senate. 

Durbin first met Dr. Yunus more than 20 years ago during a trip to Bangladesh.

“Dr. Yunus’ ideas changed the world and helped earn him a Nobel Peace Prize.  Tragically, his ideas also earned him the wrath of then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, whose government harassed Dr. Yunus for years with questionable legal charges and threatened jail time,” said Durbin.  

“Thanks to the Bangladeshi people who believed in a better future, they demanded Dr. Yunus lead their interim government.  Today, I once again offered my unweaving support for Dr. Yunus and urge President Biden to support him as well.  I know Dr. Yunus has the best interests of the Bangladeshi people at heart and will do his utmost in this challenging time.”
 
In July, Durbin led three colleagues in releasing a statement denouncing the harassment against Dr. Yunus, calling on the Bangladeshi government to end the mistreatment of Dr. Yunus, and pull down the dubious charges he is facing.  

The statement followed a letter sent by Durbin and his colleagues calling on then-Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to end the harassment against Dr. Yunus.  

During his Senate speech earlier this month, Durbin had hoped Yunus could make it to Washington during his trip to New York for the UNGA. In the end, he made the trip the opposite way to have the meeting with his old friend. 

The harassment campaign against Dr. Yunus was denounced by more than 100 Nobel Prize winners, including former President Obama.  

Durbin led the effort in the United States Congress to award Dr. Yunus the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010, recognizing his pioneering contributions in the fight against global poverty.  

The Medal was later presented to Dr. Yunus in 2013.  

Durbin also visited Bangladesh in 2017, during which he visited with Rohingya refugees who had fled violence in neighboring Burma.