Muhith bashing continues for praising Yunus

The finance minister's remarks about microcredit continued to draw flak among politicians, with the issue even being raised in parliament on Sunday. In parliament, Workers' Party Secretary Fazle Hossain Badsha MP raised the issue during his speech on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech. He said he was surprised by finance minister praising Dr Muhammad Yunus. “Yunus is nothing but a loan shark,” he said. “Dr Yunus doesn't go to Shaheed Minar. We don't know whether he has faith in the Liberation War. How did the finance minister praise him?” said Badsha. “It doesn't matter even if he buys five Nobel prizes, we don't have any respect or praise for him,” Badsha said. “Why did he praise him? What did he find worth praising in Yunus?” Badsha asked. “We are struggling to develop the country under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. We can't believe one can praise someone who has conspired against the country and the government,” he said. “I can't believe the finance minister did it from his heart,” he added. The minister was present in parliament but did not respond to these comments. Last week, Finance Minister AMA Muhith in an event at the LGED praised Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus and Brac founder Fazle Hasan Abed for their microcredit programmes which he said had helped reduce poverty. On Saturday, he came under fire from the prime minister for the remark. On Sunday, Awami League's Publicity Secretary Hasan Mahamud also echoed the prime minister’s criticism. “It is not micro-credit but the policies and programmes adopted by the Awami League government which have helped reduce poverty in the country,” Hasan said. “Micro-credit provides loans at uneven interest rates, but the government launched micro-grant programme that boosts the initiatives and the capacities of the rural poor,” he added. He said the finance minister’s remark was his personal opinion and would probably change again “since he was well known as being indecisive.” Hasan added that the Awami League would not ask the finance minister to take back his comments because they believe in promoting freedom of expression. However, he made it clear that the party in no way agreed with the minister’s remarks.