If someone were to ask, as a member of this generation, what makes you proud of your country—without hesitation, I would say: We have witnessed a global celebrity like Dr. Muhammad Yunus as a leader among us. He was born in our beloved Bangladesh, speaks our Bengali tongue, and dreams like our youth do. And more than just dreaming, he aligns those dreams with the aspirations of a nation full of hope and love.
We are extraordinarily fortunate to live in a time when an 84-year-old man, with the vigor of a young visionary, is tirelessly working to place Bangladesh on the global stage. I feel proud to have witnessed his journey—a tale I’ll share with future generations, my voice filled with admiration. What an exceptional, magnetic figure he is! Even those who once stood in opposition have found themselves drawn into his circle of kindness and wisdom. He holds no grudges, harbors no vengeance. Instead, with a rallying cry of “Come, let’s unite and build our country,” he inspires a whole generation to chase collective dreams.
And yet—how was this man first introduced to us? In childhood gatherings, I heard him condemned as a “usurer,” a “bloodsucker of the poor.” His Nobel Prize—Bangladesh’s first—ironically became a burden. But through years of harassment and hostility, he earned the love of a generation. While the world reveres him as a global icon, our own soil subjected him to lawsuits, insults, and indignity. It’s become a part of our history—how sympathy always finds the side of the unjustly vilified.
In many ways, Dr. Yunus has stood before us as a savior. A man whose name needs no title, who belongs to the world yet remains our own. He has nothing to take—only so much to give. The real question is: Can we as a nation receive all he has to offer? Historically, we’ve rarely had such opportunities, nor have we truly recognized their value when they came.
With another election on the horizon—perhaps this December—it’s imperative to think beyond partisanship. Bangladesh needs Dr. Yunus more than ever. Let us, as a nation, plead with him to serve as a national envoy, a symbol of hope and progress in front of the world’s leaders. Better yet, let us pause the political cycle and give him five years of unchallenged authority, entrusted not with power for power’s sake, but with a mission of transformation. We’ve seen enough false promises—let’s try something real.
In Canada, we understand the value of consensus and the strength of unity. A national referendum to gauge support for Dr. Yunus’s leadership isn’t unthinkable. Why not ask the people, sincerely and democratically?
If five years of leadership isn’t possible, then at the very least, let him remain in a powerful advisory role—not as a token figure in a caretaker government, but as a respected, appointed statesman within an elected government. That would be a step toward redemption—a way to atone for the injustices we’ve done to a man who has given his life to uplift ours.
Wherever Dr. Yunus goes, whatever he says or does—he plants seeds of prosperity for Bangladesh. Few, if any, know the language of global diplomacy as fluently as he does. No one else from our country holds such credibility or charisma on the international stage.
We may not fully grasp how far he could take us. But the respect and admiration he commands from presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, and global organizations are a testament to the towering presence he holds. His potential is vast, and our vision, too often, limited. Let us not lose him to small-minded politics, envy, or baseless fear.
Those with true integrity and skill have a powerful sense of dignity. Let us not allow our mistakes to sink the ship before it reaches the shore. As citizens and co-authors of this nation’s destiny, we must stay alert.
And if need be, let us take to the streets—not for chaos, but for a cause. Let the youth and people of this country rise in peaceful determination to ensure that Dr. Yunus continues to walk beside us, leading Bangladesh into a future worthy of its promise.
