Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has met with the US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman in Washington.
However, journalists were not informed anything about the meeting held at the Department of State on Monday.
According to the State Department’s website, Sherman had the meeting with Yunus on her schedule, but it was classified as ‘closed press coverage’.
The meeting was held following issuance of tough warning by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government over a statement of Yunus Centre.
Requesting anonymity, a State Department official told bdnews24.com: “Different issues including Bangladesh’s political situation and Grameen Bank were discussed at the meeting.”
“On the part of the US, it was asked how Grameen Bank activities were going on in Bangladesh in the absence of Dr Yunus.”
Bangladesh Bank sacked Yunus from the office of the microcredit bank’s Managing Director after the Awami League-led government assumed office. The Nobel laureate lost the legal battle with the government over the central bank action.
Yunus has been criticising the government measures involving Grameen Bank since then while ministers and Awami League leaders are bashing him to return the favour. However, the opposition BNP is supporting Yunus.
The State Department official said the issue of Bangladesh’s getting back the GSP (Generalised System of Preference) facility, which the US government suspended last month over workers’ safety condition in factories, was also discussed.
Awami League leaders alleged on several occasions that Yunus had a hand in the suspension of the preferential facility.
Brushing aside the allegation, Yunus said: “Since we could not satisfy the buyers, they suspended the GSP facility.”
Source: Bd news24
