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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
People's will, not mine – 85-year-old Yunus shares why he stepped into Bangladesh's political hot seat
KUALA LUMPUR: Age has not slowed down Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, 85, who could have chosen a quiet life of retirement, far from the turbulence of Bangladesh's national transition. Instead, he now finds himself in the centre of a political change, sitting in a hot seat to take up a role that he described not as ambition but a duty he has to perform. Yunus, the Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, responding to questions at a recent interview here, quickly says it was never about him but the people. "It's not me. It's the people who want this change. I am just helping them to go the way they want," Yunus told Bernama, in an exclusive interview at the end of his three-day official visit to Malaysia. He was in the country at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from Aug 11 to 13. "I don't impose anything of my own. I just wait to see what the will of the people is, and then I facilitate it," he said in a conversation with Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, together with Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping and Assistant Editor of Bernama Economic Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. For a man who earned global recognition as the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate for pioneering microfinance, stepping into the seat of political leadership was never part of his plan. However, he said, circumstances left him with little choice. Yunus humbly describes his role, less as a leader, and more as a guardian of a democratic process long denied. Yet, he acknowledges the immense challenges ahead. "There are many difficulties. Many people want to disrupt this, as the political elements that were ousted from Bangladesh are attempting to destabilise the entire system," he said, adding that many first-time voters who came of age over the past decade and a half had never cast a ballot before. He said some people had been waiting for 10 years, and some even 15. "Imagine being 18 years old, excited to vote, but your chance never came because elections were never truly held. Now, they will be casting their vote for the first time in 15 years," he explained. His words carry the weight of hope for a national transition. Bangladesh's next general election is scheduled for February next year. The world-renowned economist and social entrepreneur was hand-picked by Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin to lead the transitional government on Aug 8, 2024, in the aftermath of the youth-led uprising that ousted former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, and brought an end to her authoritarian rule. Yunus's journey of service began decades earlier, inspired by the Bangladesh famine of 1974. Moved to help those in dire need, he made a modest personal loan of just US$27 to 42 families, enabling them to produce goods for sale without the crushing burden of high interest under predatory lending. The Grameen Bank initiative began in 1976, as an action research pilot project in Bangladesh's Chattogram district. By 1983, the project had evolved into a fully operational bank, with a mission to alleviate poverty and empower marginalised communities in Bangladesh through micro-credit.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia and Bangladesh to collaborate on halal products for global market
KUALA LUMPUR: Bangladesh has invited Malaysian investors to expand their halal production facilities in the South Asian country and jointly penetrate the fast-growing global halal market. 'By combining our resources, the halal sector would be a natural area for increased partnership between Dhaka and Putrajaya,' the Bangladesh Government's Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus said in an exclusive interview with Bernama at the end of this three-day official visit to Malaysia. He was here on the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim between Aug 11 and 13. He noted that Malaysia's expertise in halal certification and branding and Bangladesh's abundant land, labour and facilities would be a potent combination to scale up production. 'This positions both countries well to meet the demand for halal products in international markets,' he said. The interview was led by Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, together with Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping and Assistant Editor of Bernama Economic Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. Yunus said the halal market is not confined to Bangladesh or Malaysia, but constitutes the global market, alluding to the consumer base for halal products based on the two billion Muslim population globally. According to Future Market Insights Inc.'s projections, the global halal food market is expected to grow from US$1.5 trillion in 2025 to US$3.8 trillion by 2035. This phenomenal growth is driven by the rising demand for clean-label, ethically produced and hygienically processed food products, a report by the market intelligence provider and consulting services firm said. Against such a backdrop and to get things moving, Yunus said he hoped that a delegation of Malaysian investors could visit Bangladesh to explore potential opportunities. 'We can help to facilitate with manpower resources,' he said. Yunus said Bangladesh is ready to provide investors with facilities and support for halal production, which would make it easier for Malaysian companies to set up factories and to scale up. 'We will give you all the facilities, especially labourers for halal production. Come and locate your factory in our area, and we can provide whatever is needed. 'It's a fast-growing industry, so we should take advantage of it,' he said. Furthermore, he said Bangladesh's young manpower surplus could offset Malaysia's labour shortage. 'Whatever Malaysia is producing, you can shift the factory (here) because you need workers, and workers are available in Bangladesh. 'At the same time, Bangladesh itself is a huge consumer market exceeding 170 million, hence there will (always) be consumers waiting in line,' he said. While halal production is a natural area for partnership, Yunus highlighted that investment opportunities and possibilities extend to garments, semiconductors, the maritime economy, digital services, as well as cross-border trade. During his visit, Yunus and Anwar reviewed the progress of Malaysia–Bangladesh ties, focusing on trade and investment, labour, education, tourism and defence, as well as regional and international developments of mutual interest. Besides meeting officials from the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and the Halal Development Corporation, Yunus also met officials and investors from Proton Holdings, Sunway Group, Axiata Group Bhd and Khazanah Nasional Bhd. Bangladesh is Malaysia's second-largest trading partner and export destination in South Asia. Key exports comprise petroleum products, palm oil and chemicals, while imports include textiles, footwear, petroleum products and manufactured goods. In 2024, Malaysia-Bangladesh trade rose 5.1 per cent to RM13.35 billion (US$2.92 billion). - Bernama
Barnama
2 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia And Bangladesh Can Jointly Produce Halal Products For Fast-growing Global Market
BUSINESS By Kisho Kumari Sucedaram KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) — Bangladesh has invited Malaysian investors to expand their halal production facilities in the South Asian country and jointly penetrate the fast-growing global halal market. 'By combining our resources, the halal sector would be a natural area for increased partnership between Dhaka and Putrajaya,' the Bangladesh Government's Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus said in an exclusive interview with Bernama at the end of this three-day official visit to Malaysia. He was here on the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim between Aug 11 and 13. He noted that Malaysia's expertise in halal certification and branding and Bangladesh's abundant land, labour and facilities would be a potent combination to scale up production. 'This positions both countries well to meet the demand for halal products in international markets,' he said. The interview was led by Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, together with Editor of International News Service Voon Miaw Ping and Assistant Editor of Bernama Economic Service Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. Yunus said the halal market is not confined to Bangladesh or Malaysia, but constitutes the global market, alluding to the consumer base for halal products based on the two billion Muslim population globally. According to Future Market Insights Inc.'s projections, the global halal food market is expected to grow from US$1.5 trillion in 2025 to US$3.8 trillion by 2035.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Bangladesh, Malaysia agree to establish cleaner, transparent recruitment system
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Bangladesh have agreed to work towards establishing a cleaner and more transparent recruitment process for Bangladeshi workers. Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's government Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus said the matters have been discussed in depth during his meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Putrajaya on Tuesday. He also acknowledged existing flaws in the current process and stressed the need to 'clean it up' to avoid problems for either side. 'We had a very elaborate discussion on how to proceed without having trouble for the Malaysian government. 'We both promised ourselves to clean up the system and to make it easier and transparent,' he told the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) in an exclusive interview held on the sidelines of his official visit here. The interview was led by Bernama's Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj together with Editor of International News Service, Voon Miaw Ping, and Assistant Editor of Economic News Service, Kisho Kumari Sucedaram. The Nobel Prize laureate said that while Malaysia needs foreign workers, Bangladesh also seeks to ensure that the recruitment of its citizens is transparent, allowing them to work abroad with dignity, proper rights and benefits. 'Malaysia needs people and we need to have these people come here to make a living for themselves and their families. So both sides need each other. 'There is no shortage of goodwill. It's a question of putting together and see where the things go wrong and then we track and clean it up,' he said. As of February 2025, Bangladeshi nationals form the largest group of foreign workers in Malaysia, numbering about 898,970. They represent a critical workforce in the country, primarily employed in the construction, manufacturing, plantation and service sectors. The Malaysian Home Ministry has implemented the Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) facility for Bangladeshi workers, effective August 8, underscoring Kuala Lumpur's commitment to ethical and regulated labour cooperation with Dhaka. Yunus was on a three-day official visit to Malaysia from August 11, at the invitation of Anwar, and reciprocating the Prime Minister's visit to Dhaka in October 2024. - Bernama
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
FBI marks milestone of their 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list
LEXINGTON, S.C. (WSAV) — Friday, the FBI marked the creation of their 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list. Seventy-five years ago, this initiative was designed to publicize dangerous fugitives and enlist the public's help locating them. The 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list was borne from a newspaper story in late 1949. A reporter for the International News Service asked the FBI for the names and descriptions of the 'toughest guys' the FBI would like to capture. The story had such widespread appeal that on March 14, 1950, former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover implemented the 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' program. Since then, 496 fugitives have been apprehended or located. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
