Bangladesh's Yunus vows to help poor despite legal woes

Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate from Bangladesh, pledged on Sunday to win several legal battles that his supporters claim are politically driven to further his economic and environmental goals. “Our dream is to create a new world,” 83-year-old Yunus told reporters outside court, after he was formally granted bail in his appeal against a six-month prison sentence in a case widely criticised by human rights groups. With his innovative microfinance bank, Yunus is credited with helping millions of people escape poverty, but he has angered Bangladesh’s longstanding prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has accused him of “sucking blood” from the underprivileged. Hasina, who was inaugurated in for a fifth term this month following an overwhelming triumph in an opposition-banned election, has used repeated foul language jabs at the widely acknowledged 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Yunus was found guilty on January 1 of violating labour laws, but according to his attorneys, he is still facing at least 170 cases, including serious corruption allegations that may land him in jail for years if proven true. He denies every wrongdoing. Yunus, in an emotionally charged speech, said he had dedicated his life to supporting those most in need and was “committed” to continuing his work. His “Three Zero” plan is aimed to slash carbon emissions, end unemployment and cut poverty. “We have chased a dream,” Yunus said. “We have incurred the annoyance of someone because of chasing this dream,” he added, without specifying names. In the most recent case, Yunus and three colleagues from Grameen Telecom, one of the firms he founded, were accused of violating labour laws when they failed to create a workers’ welfare fund in the company. Yunus alleged the case was brought by a government department, but Minister of Transport Obaidul Quader said the “case was filed by the workers”. Hasina has rejected calls to pardon Yunus and said instead he should seek forgiveness from his employees.