Some 198 leading Bangladeshi Americans in a joint statement protested the call from global leaders to halt trial proceedings against Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

They also expressed concern over the global leaders’ open letter sent on August 28 to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The full statement is given below:

We, the undersigned American citizens representing Bangladeshi diaspora communities around the United States, are deeply concerned by the statement issued by some prominent figures, including President Barack Obama, regarding the ongoing trial of Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh. We firmly believe that this statement has been given without a thorough understanding of the facts, and in that process signatories of the open letter to the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh brazenly attacked the sovereignty of the country that gained its independence through the sacrifice of three million martyrs. Nobel laureate Dr. Yunus has been charged with money laundering, tax evasion, labor rights abuse by the independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Bangladesh. The case is under trial and no verdict has been reached yet. It is unfortunate that the signatories to the statement have drawn their conclusion without going through the merit of the case, while many of them advocate for rule of law and due process in the administration of justice. We, the undersigned, have been observing Dr. Yunus’s malpractice for many years. We also are well aware of Dr. Yunus’s art of deceit in public relations. However, we, as U.S. citizens, never complained about it. We have reasons to believe the signatories of the open letter fell prey to Dr. Yunus’s deceit.

It is truly unfortunate to note that signatories of the ad campaign didn’t stop by just urging a “fair trial” for Dr. Yunus, but have indulged in to election processes, rule of law and many other issues not related to the case in point. Parts of the statement read: “ ….upcoming national election be free and fair, and that the administration of the election be acceptable to all major parties in the country. The previous two national elections lacked legitimacy.” This is politically motivated without any regards to the historical context. In the past, the so-called “major parties” have showed utter disregard to the democratic process in Bangladesh.

It is quite evident that the signatories unnecessarily tarnished their reputation by indulging into internal issues of a sovereign country that we so proudly call our motherland. Their call for a trial under “impartial judges” completely undermined the entire judicial system and is a brazen attack on the dignity of the Honorable judges of a sovereign nation.

In terms of development, democracy and human rights in Bangladesh, it is far better now than what it was 15 or 20 years ago. Its success in development, its quest to uplift the living conditions of the tens of millions of marginalized citizens and particularly on the issue of women empowerment, Bangladesh is a role model under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. It is recognized around the world, and more specifically by the developed west. We urge the signatories to retract their statement, either in a group or individually, to show respect to the 170 million Bangladeshis.

With kindest regards,

1. Dr. Nuran Nabi, Councilman, NJ

2. Prof. ABM Nasir, Professor, NC

3. Abu Ahmed Musa, Councilman, MI

4. Rana Hasan Mahmud, Engineer, CA

5. Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Professor, PA

6. Shikrithy Barua, IT Engineer, NY

7. Abul Khan, State Representative, NH

8. Mahbubul Tayub Alam, Millbourne City Mayor, PA

9. Md. Nurul Hassan, Councilman, Milbourne City, PA

10. Dr. Sufian A Khandakar, Scientist, NY

11. Dr. Ashraf Ahmed, Scientist and Writer, Washington DC

12. Dr. Joti Prakash Dutta, Writer, FL

13. Prof. Abu Naser Rajib, CA

14. Morshed Alam, Activist, NY

15. Ahad Ahmed, Engineer, MI

16. Dr. Baman Das Basu, Scientist, MA

17. Safeda Basu, Activist, MA

18. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, Community Leader, NY

19. Dr. Mohshin Patowari, Professor, NY

20. Jamal Uddin Hossain, Cultural Personality, AL

21. Dr. Mohshin Ali, Writer, NY

22. Dastagir Jahangir, Journalist, VA

23. Fahim Reza Noor, Activist, NY

24. Dr. Zeenat Nabi, Scientist, NJ = 25. Hassan Ferdous, Columnist & Writer, NY

26. Maj (retd.) Manzur Ahmed, Community Leader, NY

27. Dr. Pradip Kar, Scientist, NY

28. Dr. Protap Das, Physician, NY

29. Kowshik Ahmed, Editor, NY

30. Lovlu Ansar, Editor, NY

31. Rafayet Choudhury, Activist, NY

32. Abu Taher, Activist, PA

33. Soud Choudhury, Activist, NY

34. Dr. Mizan R Miah, Professor, IL

35. Dr. Jamil Talukdar, Professor, WI

36. Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Professor, NY

37. Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Professor, NJ

38. Dr. Khandakar Monsur, Scientist, MD

39. Dr. Syed Abu Hasnat, Teacher, MA

40. Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, Businessman, GA

41. Tajul Imam, Artist, NY

42. Abdur Rahim Badsha, Businessman, NY

43. Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Scientist

44. Abdul Qader Mia, Community Leader, NY

45. Zakaria Choudhury, Community Leader, NY

46. Bedarul Islam Babla, Community leader, NY

47. Mintu Rahman, Community Leader, GA

48. Nadira Rahman, Community Leader, GA

49. Arefin Babul, Community Leader, GA

50. Dr. Shahab Siddique, Scientist, GA

51. Mohammed Ali Babul, Lawyer, NY

52. Mohammad Mowla, Community leader, GA

53. Jharna Choudhury, Theater Artist, NY

54. Lutfun Nahar Lata, Artist, NY

55. Dr. Faruk Azam, Physician, NJ

56. Mian Helal, Businessman, NJ

57. Shamsun Nahar Helen, Technologist, NJ

58. Iqbal Yousuf, Community Leader, MA

59. Atiqur Rahman, Community Leader, FL

60. Rumi Kabir, Writer, GA

61. Ali Ahmad Farish, Businessman, MI

62. Rashed Ahmed, Community Leader, NY

63. Sitangshu Guha, Journalist, NY

64. Dr. Dilip Nath, IT consultant , NY

65. MA Salam, Community Leader, NJ

66. Fakir Ilias, Poet, NY

67. Mishuk Selim, Poet, NY

68. Khaled Sharifuddin, Poet, NY

69. Abu Sayeed Ratan, Poet, NY

70. Hassan Al Abdullah, Poet, NY

71. Mithun Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY

72. Minhaj Ahmed, Cultural Activist, NY

73. Shakawat Ali, Community Leader, NY

74. Dr. Abdul Baten, Scientist, NY

75. Dr. Hasan Masud, Teacher, NY

76. Shahid Hasan, Artist, NY

77. Rathindra Nath Roy, Artist, NY

78. Istiaq Rupu, Poet, NY

79. Gopal Syannal, Community Leader, NY

80. Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Tuku, Businessman, NY

81. Dr. Nahid Banu, Scientist, NJ

82. Mahbub Reza Rahim, Community Leader, AZ

83. Dr. Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ

84. Golam Faruk Bhuyan, Businessman, NJ

85. Rehan Reza, Community Leader, KS

86. Dr. Hasan Mamun, Teacher, NJ

87. Zahedul Mahmud Zami, Community Leader, CA

88. Towfik Solaiman Khan, Community Leader, CA

89. Nazrul Alam, Community Leader, CA

90. Saifur Rahman Osmani, Broadcaster, CA

91. Dr. Golam Mostofa, Professor, PA

92. Rabiul Karim Belal, Businessman, PA

93. Dr. Ahsan Choudhury, Engineer, TX

94. Hashmot Mobin, Community Leader, TX

95. Shah Halim, Community Leader, TX

96. Maggie Halim, Community Leader, TX

97. Dr. Anisul Aslam, Physician, CA

98. Mohammad Billah Rana, Businessman, CA

99. Hadi Billah Roba, Businessman, NV

100. Quazi Shahraiar Rahman, Engineer, CA

101. Karimul Haque Chowdhury, Businessman, CA

102. Bashir Ather, Scientist, CA

103. Tapan Mondol, Social Worker, CA

104. Shah Alam, Community Leader, CA

105. Maminul Haque Bachchu, Sr. Community Leader, CA

106. Tasnim Salam Aslam, Engineer, CA

107.  Abed Mansur, Community Leader, CA

108. Habib Ahmed Tia, Community Leader, CA

109. Mofazzal Hussain, Community Leader, CA

110. Mohammad Hossain Rana, Community Leader, CA

111. Abul Hasnat Rayhan, Community Leader, CA

112. Asaduzzaman Bachchu, Businessman, MI

113. Dewan Zamir, Engineer, CA

114. Belal Beg, columnist, NY

115. Nini Wahed, Journalist,NY

116. Dr. Farjahan Rahman Shawon, Professor, NC

117. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, Community leader, NY

118. Khurshid Anowar Bablu, Community leader, NY

119. Hassan Al Abdullah, Writer, NY

120. Syed Abu Hasnat, Professor, MA

121. Dr. Delwar Arif, Professor, AL

122. Iqbal Yusuf, Director, Intl. Sustainable Development

123. Atiqur Rahman, Businessman, FL

124. Hassan Jahangir, Businessman, FL

125. Junaid Akhter, Community Leader, FL

126. Dr. Hemayet Ullah, Professor

127. Dr. Mahbub Pramanik

128. Dr. Purobi Bosu, Writer, FL

129. Farhana Iliyas Tuli, Poet, NY

130. Syed Mamunur Rashid, Poet, NY

131. Swapnil Firoze, Poet, NY

132. Liton Ahmed, Activist, NY

133. Golam Mohiuddin, Musician, GA

134. Nazrul Islam, Community Leader, GA

135. Farque Ahmed, Community Leader, GA

136. Mohin, Community Leader, FA

137. Abul Hassan, Community Leader, GA

138. Ahmadhur Parvez, Community Leader, GA

139. Dr. Mohammed Nasim, Community Leader, GA

140. Mahmud Abbas, Community Leader, GA

141. Mohammad Akbar Khan, Community Leader, GA

142. Reza Karim, Community Leader, GA

143. Ali Hosen, Community Leader, GA

144. Pintu Yusuf, Community Leader, GA

145. Nurul Kabir Nahid, Community Leader, GA

146. Mojammel, Community Leader, GA

147. Moshiur Rahman, Businessman, GA

148. Russel Bhuiyan, Businessman, Ga

149. Arefin Pial, Teacher, GA

150. Mahrufur Bhuiyan, Businessman, GA

151. Borhan Uddin, Community Leader, GA

152. Rashedul Karim, Businessman, GA

153. Bindu Hossen, Singer, GA

154. Rezaul Bari, Activist, NY

155. Abul Bashar Chunnu, Activist, NY

156. Nabendu Dutta, Professor, NY

157. Siraj Ahmed Sohag, Community Leader, NY

158. Shyamal Chakraborti, Community Leader, NY

159. Pranobondhu Chakraborti, Engineer, NY

160. Mohammad Fazlul Haque, Community Leader, NY

161. Parimal Karmakar, Community Leader, NY

162. Jhorna Chowhdury, Artist, NY

163. Syed Rashid Ahmed Karmani, Businessman, NY

164. Ruksana Karmani, NY

165. Farque Ahmed, Businessman, NY

166. Dilara Ahmed, Activist, NY

167. Touqid Chowdhury, Activist, NY

168. Saniyet Ahmed Chowdhury, Engineer, NY

169. Toujiat Chowdhury, PhD student, NY

170. Alim Khan Akash, Businessman, NY

171. Sabita Das, Activist, NY

172. Abul Bhashar Bhuiyan, NY

173. Shareb Ahmed, NY

174. Rontu Lal Das, NY

175. Harun Chowdhury, VA

176. Santosh Barua, Poet, VA

177. Nupur Chowdhury, VA

178. Gourab Golpo, Artist, VA

179. Nasrin Ahmed Munna, Artist, VA

180. Dr. Monowar Hossain, Scientist, NJ

181. Nahid Chowdhury, Businessman, NJ

182. Mir Chowdhury, Community Leader, NJ

183. Dr. Niru Kamrun Nahar, OH

184. Engineer Jalil Khan

185. Mizanul Kabir, P.O., CA

186. Ruhul Amin, Businessman, MI

187. Abdul Muhit Mukta, Businessman, MI

188. Mohoshin Uddin Tipu, Businessman, MI

189. Md. Sirajuddin Tipu, Community Leader, MI

190. Dr. Adnan Morshed, Professor, WA

191. Dr. Atiar Rahman, FDA statistics, VA

192. Dr. Sadek Chowdhury, VA

193. Alauddin Ahmed, Community Leader, VA

194. Dr. Zahed Chowdhury, Software Engineer, VA

195. Nizamuddin Ahmed, CEO, Huge Network, VA

196. Saleh Ahmed, Activist, VA

197. Swapnik Khan, Activist, TX

198. Redwan Chowdhury, Community Leader, D.C.