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DE RUEHCI #0050/01 0441333
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P 131333Z FEB 07
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1399
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RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/USAID WASHDC
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 1725

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000050 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI IN BG
SUBJECT: NOBEL PRIZE WINNER DR. MUHAMMAD YUNUS CONSIDERS ENTERING 
BANGLADESH POLITICS 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  On February 12, ConGen spoke with Nobel 
Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus about his plans to enter 
Bangladesh politics.  Yunus, on a two-day visit to Kolkata, 
expressed a strong interest to enter the political fray and said 
that he was reviewing his options.  He expressed support of the 
present Caretaker Government and its decision to declare a 
"State of Emergency," saying it had averted a possible civil 
war.  Yunus felt that Muslim fundamentalists represented a 
fringe and that while the dominant parties had developed ties 
with fundamentalists for political gain, most Bangladeshis did 
not favor the extremism.  Yunus was also receptive to closer 
commercial and trade relations with India.  Yunus recognized the 
risk of entering politics and its potential to tarnish his 
exemplary image.  However, even as he professed that he was 
still considering his options, he indicated a strong intent to 
plunge into the maelstrom of Bangladesh politics.  End Summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU) As a fellow Bengali, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, received a 
hero's welcome while participating in two days of programs in 
Kolkata, West Bengal, from Feb. 11-12.  During a lunch hosted by 
the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce (CCC) for its 175 th 
anniversary, ConGen spoke with Dr. Yunus about the present 
political situation in Bangladesh.  On February 11, Yunus had 
issued an open letter saying that he was seeking support from 
Bangladeshis to launch a political party to reform the violence 
and corruption in Bangladesh.  In the letter, Yunus asked people 
to send him their opinions on forming a political party focusing 
on good governance.  ConGen asked Yunus was he was intent on 
entering politics as recently reported.  Yunus confirmed that he 
was interested, having supposedly been asked by many people to 
step-in and overcome the political impasse between the two 
strongest political leaders, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia. 
Yunus added, though, that he was still discussing the merits of 
becoming a political figure.  CCC President Manoj Mohanka 
questioned the advisability of Yunus joining the messy world of 
Bangladesh politics and noted the likelihood of Yunus' 
reputation being tarnished.  Yunus quickly responded that he 
understood the dangers of entering politics but felt that 
responsible people had to step into the political field to make 
a real change in Bangladesh, which was wracked by corruption and 
poor governance. 
 
 
 
¶3.   (SBU) ConGen asked Yunus for his views on a recent 
"Economist" magazine article that described the present 
Bangladesh Caretaker Government's state of emergency and its 
support by the Bangladesh military as "The Coup That Dare Not 
Say Its Name."  Yunus was supportive of the imposition of the 
state of emergency, saying that it had averted a possible civil 
war.  He did not believe that the military's support was 
significant and added that the Caretaker Government's role was 
clearly defined under the constitution. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (SBU) When asked about the perception in India of the rising 
fundamentalism in Bangladesh, Yunus said that he saw the Muslim 
fundamentalists as a fringe not accepted by the Bangladeshi 
mainstream.  ConGen noted, however, that even the Awami League 
(AL), which had been the primary advocate of a socialist, 
secular nation, in December had signed an agreement with 
fundamentalist group Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish (BKM).  The 
agreement with BKM would recognize fatwas issued by Imams and 
block the introduction of laws contrary to sharia law.  Yunus 
responded that the agreement was a reflection of the AL's moral 
bankruptcy and was based on pure political calculus to garner a 
few additional votes and another example of the need for a new 
political party. 
 
 
 
¶5.    (SBU)  ConGen asked Yunus about his views on India and 
whether better trade relations could be developed.  Yunus was 
positive about expanding economic ties with India and within the 
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).  He 
felt that Bangladesh would be receptive to better relations with 
 
KOLKATA 00000050  002 OF 002 
 
 
India but that often it became a divisive political issue, with 
Bangladeshi politicians stoking resentment against India for 
political gain.  However, he recognized that the GOI maintained 
significant non-tariff barriers restricting Bangladeshi goods 
from India's markets.  He was favorable to opening Chittagong 
Port to regional trade with India, Burma, Bhutan and China; but 
said that the port was presently too small and at full capacity. 
 He added Grameen Bank was considering the possibility of 
financing a new "mega-port" project in Chittagong to meet the 
regional demand. 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Comment:  Although Dr. Yunus limited himself to 
saying he was still considering his options, the tenor of his 
comments indicated a strong to desire to jump into the maelstrom 
of Bangladeshi politics.  He recognized that he would face a 
potentially bruising response from the "two ladies" and other 
established political figures, but he felt that the situation in 
Bangladesh had reached a critical juncture as "civil war" had 
only just been averted.  As a person of great moral stature and 
strong organizational skills, Yunus' candidacy could offer a 
possible out from the present Hasina-Zia zero-sum game that 
cripples Bangladesh's democratic process. 
 
 
 
¶7.  (U) This message was cleared with AmEmbassy Dhaka. 
JARDINE