The Nobel Prize and a happy nation

He will no doubt be invited to speak in learned bodies and societies the world over. I am sure a civic reception will be given in Dhaka. But an address to the Sangsad may inspire our politicians. If not, at least it could go down in history as a note.

I got the news of the Nobel Prize in the morning, and checked my email right away. There was already a congratulatory email waiting for me from Arch Shubhra (she is from India), and another ecstatic voicemail from Munnu, (another Bangladeshi friend from Dallas).

It was a very emotional day for me, as I couldn't stop blurting it out to whoever I came across. I was beaming with joy the whole day... basking in the glory of the victory. I knew I wasn't alone in this experience, when the president of my company, in the middle of a work meeting, looked at me and said in a very serious tone, "Why haven't you raised the Bangladeshi flag yet?" I immediately started laughing. He turned around, looked at others and said, "Nobel Peace Prize! Do you realise how serious that is? Do you understand what a great honour that is? Congratulations!"

The rest of the evening, we celebrated the occasion at a restaurant with a couple of friends. One of my colleagues said, he made a contribution to Dr. Yunus' funds once and now feels proud of it. And I kept saying how I badly wanted to go back to Dhaka to celebrate this occasion with family and friends.

News like this means a whole lot more for Bangladeshis living abroad... because it is not only a matter of national pride and joy, but is also something extremely personal. This has to do with one's sense of identity, self-respect and dignity in a foreign land, especially when most people throw a quizzical or sympathetic look, every time Bangladesh comes up.

Ershad Ahmed On e-mail

It was Friday which means last class of the week at Vienna Uni of Business and Economics. Our teacher congratulated Turkish students on the success of the Turkish novelist who had won the Literature Nobel this year. Just after the class when I went to check mail in uni computer room I heard the latest news on Dr. Yunus' Nobel Prize.

Like millions of Bangladeshis back home I feel the joy here in this foreign land for his success and my eyes get filled with tears of emotions when I saw yesterday his photos and interviews everywhere.....

Indeed it is something I have been waiting for more than six years like all others.

Sarker Ashek Mahmud Probal Vienna, Austria

The greatest and the biggest victory we have won in the post liberation Bangladesh so far. This is the first time in my life I am feeling my birth in this country is simply not a matter of sorrow. From 13 October 2006 my continuous pessimistic approach to life has changed.

Salute the Greatest Son of the soil: Professor Muhammad Yunus.

Al Asad An NGO worker

The Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. Yunus could not have come at a better time for us. We desperately needed some good news in the national arena, and the Nobel to Dr. Yunus at this point in time in our national history is something that the nation could only dream of.

For the past few days, the nation is forced to observe the fiasco of a national dialogue between the two major political parties when the issue at stake could have been solved easily long time ago if the political parties had the sincerity to do so. As Dr. Yunus himself pointed out in his interviews with the electronic media on the day of announcement of the award, all it needs is sincerity of the political parties in working together towards finding a peaceful solution.

Dr. Yunus getting the award has created a unique opportunity before the nation to get over this political crisis once and for all. With this achievement of monumental proportion, Dr. Yunus can now play the catalytic role in convincing the two major political parties in finding a solution to the crisis soon. And if Dr. Yunus is to be of any inspiration, it can perhaps motivate Justice Hassan to take the opportunity of announcing publicly of his inability to take the responsibility of the caretaker government. The sooner he makes the announcement, the better it is for the country.

We can only be grateful to Dr. Yunus for giving us the pride and joy that we do not get to enjoy very often. It is people like Dr. Yunus that make us keep dreaming for a better Bangladesh.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you, Dr. Yunus!

Zubair K M Sadeque Lecturer, North South University

I couldn't control my emotion while listening to one of the greatest news of my life. Dr. Muhammad Yunus being awarded the Noble peace prize was not only mine; rather it was the most desired news of the whole nation for a very long time.

Dr. Yunus' love for the people of this country has brought him the reward, which has also brought tears of joy in our eyes. We had to suffer the heartburn of being labelled as citizens of a third world country, which is called a bottomless basket. But do we care now? Right at this moment we are not the citizens of a country, which is champion in corruption. We are now the people of the country where a man like Dr. Yunus was born.

I was not lucky enough to feel the joy of the birth of Bangladesh in 1971, as I wasn't born then. But I can surely say that this joy can't be less than that of 1971.

For the senior citizens of our country, this achievement has brought the chance to taste that pride again. And for us, the young generation, it has made us feel for the first time how worthy our country is.

Our heartiest gratitude to Dr. Yunus and so many thanks for making us so proud.

Nabila Nudrat Department of Business Administration Jahangirnagar University

This is an extraordinary achievement for Bangladesh and I am prouder than ever. We could be a poor/ third world country but visionary and creative people like Dr. Yunus are working hard for brightening our image.

Sohel Toronto

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate, presents before the nation a new challenge of development.

He has proved that the service to the distressed and poverty stricken people could justify the Nobel Prize, not the economic theory alone. The banker of the poor proved that banking is possible with people without collateral security and with 98% recovery. Besides, this banking helps to overcome poverty employing the poor in income generating activities and thus devising a meaningful poverty reduction strategy . This is a new concept applied for the benefits of the poor.

Peace can be established only when poverty is eradicated. Terrorism, lawlessness, absence of good governance etc originate from poverty. Dr. Yunus has proved that this poverty could be reduced with micro credit assistance.

The politicians must realise the truth and try to give the nation true leadership.

Kumar Prithwiraj Nath Dhanmondi, Dhaka

It's like a rainbow in the dark! Yes, when we, the Bangladeshis were caught in a maze of uncertainties of all kinds just ahead of the election , there has been the bright ray of hope for us all Dr Yunus' Nobel Peace Prize. We are honoured, we are proud, we have gained the faith in ourselves that we achieved through our glorious liberation war in 1971.

Nobel laureate Dr. Yunus, founder of the revolutionary micro credit bank--

The Grameen Bank, has brought great laurels for the country.

We will solve all our differences of ideas, political and non-political, to steer our dear nation ahead, working hard hand in hand with proper guidance from the Nobel laureate.

Rafiqul Islam Rime Agrabad, Chittagong

My fervent appeal to our countrymen would be: "For God's sake, please do not drag the nation's pride Prof. Yunus to the despicable domain of Bangladeshi politics. Let him remain high above in the sky of glory." In a country where a person of unshakable integrity and unbending honesty, that is Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed, could be dubbed as 'traitor', 'betrayer' and what not by our sick politicians for his uncompromising role as the President of the Republic during the 2001 general election, we do not wish such a fate for a person whose name and fame transcend well beyond the narrow Bangladeshi border. He belongs to the world as the untiring "Friend of the Poor". Just spare him from the dreaded and power-hungry Bangladeshi politicians!

Ahmed Ghani Baitul Aman Housing Society Adabar, Dhaka

Prof. Mohammad Yunus and Grameen Bank were awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for the 'efforts to create economic and social development from below'.

Great news for Bangladesh and Bangladeshis abroad.

Heartiest Congratulations to Dr. Yunus.

Dr. Hasanat Husain MBE Convenor, Voice for Justice, UK Patron, Greater Sylhet Council, UK

The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Dr. Mohammad Yunus is a cause for celebrations in Bangladesh. The Nobel Peace Award Committee has acknowledged his contribution.

His philosophy that poor people can themselves remove the causes of poverty with the help of small non-collateral loans bears testimony to his empathy and immense trust in the poor. It is not charity or handout that brought dignity to the poor to lift them out of poverty, but it is their creativity and their labour which require small finances that create the right mix and have brought the unprecedented success to Dr. Yunus's concept of micro credit.

The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Dr. Yunus has come at a time in the history of Bangladesh that can turn the nation towards a positive direction. His stature in Bangladesh is now unenviable. If there is anyone the people of Bangladesh can trust, his name would definitely be one of them. As a successful banker he knows how to deal with difficult clients. He could present better alternatives and show the pitfalls of stubbornness. As an economist he has the vision of how to change the world around him.

Politics in Bangladesh needs a 'Third Party' to bring some control over the two dominant political parties. A 'Third Party' which does not necessarily aspire for political powers but has the goodwill of the people and does not have any stain of corruption. But if need be can replace either of the political parties because of its tremendous success in business at home and recognitions from abroad. This 'Third Party' can exert enough influence to direct the political parties to clean up their acts and refrain from destructive politics. Dr. Yunus could be that catalyst.

Hassan Nawaz Wilmington, Delaware, USA

I am a Bangladeshi physicist living and working in Massachusetts. Today, I am walking in the corridors of my laboratory, where I work, with my head held high with pride.

Please convey my congratulations and my sincerest gratitude to Prof. Yunus for making me a proud Bangladeshi.

Bamandas Basu, On e-mail

This announcement could not have been better timed ! At the moment when the headline news is about mud slinging, rampaging factory workers, killings & corruption etc., Prof. Yunus' achievement should make the nation proud. My heartfelt respect and congratulations to Prof. Yunus.

Nahid Rahman, Oxford, UK