PM serious about Yunus as WB president
Says Gowher Rizvi
The prime minister's International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi yesterday said Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina was serious about her proposal to nominate Nobel Laureate Prof Muhammad Yunus as the president of the World Bank.
“When the PM gives a proposal, she is serious. He (Prof Yunus) has competence; he has experience; he has standing; he has stature.
“He is a completely competent choice for the presidency of World Bank. There cannot be a more competent choice,” said Gowher in an interview with the television channel ATN Bangla.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina conveyed the proposal to the European Union during a meeting with an EU delegation on February 22.
A few days later US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena endorsed the prime minister's proposal and expressed confidence that should Prof Yunus agree to his nomination for the position, it will be given the fullest consideration.
While the United Nations Development Programme chief used to be an American, the last few years have been different, added Gowher.
“It is not written anywhere or said in any constitution or any rules that it has to be an American. So the US will support him,” he said.
The World Bank said it plans to appoint a new president by the time of the annual spring meetings in April as the current chief Robert Zoellick declared to step down at the end of June.
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