Together We Stand With Our International Living Legend Reformist Dr Muhammad Yunus
If building a better Bangladesh is truly what we want, then patience is not a sacrifice — it’s an investment. A future shaped under the vision of Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus is a future worth waiting for. His leadership, marked by integrity, foresight, and a rare absence of self-interest, offers us a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Let’s brush aside the election for some more times. We saw elections time and again but yet to see the reform that our beloved country deserves.
In a Bangladesh guided by Yunus, our reserves are strengthening, yet we see no signs of elite looters bleeding the system dry. Corruption has become a common symptom of governance, but not under his watch. Critics are free to speak, without the chilling fear of reprisal. There are no shadows like Hawa Bhaban or Ayna Ghor. Instead, the political air is clear — focused on development, innovation, and inclusivity.
Isn’t that the Bangladesh we all want? A nation that thrives not on political slogans but on meaningful reform? Then why the rush for another quick election — one that may just return us to the same vicious cycle of nepotism and exploitation?
Under the Awami League, we witnessed unprecedented looting of banks and public assets. But can the return of the BNP guarantee anything better? Our political history suggests otherwise. In contrast, Yunus has no political dynasty to defend, no corrupt cronies to protect. He doesn’t need our vote to stand on red carpets at the White House, Buckingham Palace or the Japanese Imperial Palace. Those doors are already open to him, because of who he is — a global icon of human development and economic innovation.
But here we are, letting him go — immaturely, imprudently, and tragically. Visionaries like Dr Yunus are rare. They come once in a long while. The wise among us understand that a true patriot doesn’t always wear a party badge; sometimes, he carries a vision too vast for small politics.
So why aren’t we utilising this extraordinary talent to fix our deeply wounded political and economic systems? Why are we still buying the illusion of democracy, when most of our major parties operate as family-run dynasties? Take away the family names, and ask yourself — how many would still support Tareq Zia or Joy? Very few. Our people are not fools. We know the difference between merit and inheritance.
Yet, somehow, we keep allowing these inherited figures to dominate national life. Our neighbours — India and Pakistan — have started moving beyond dynastic rule. It’s high time we did the same. If not for the sake of fairness, then at least for our survival in the AI-led digital global village.
A reformed, corruption-resistant Bangladesh under Yunus’s leadership wouldn’t just look better — it would work better. It would unlock vast opportunity, particularly for our youth. With over 65% of Bangladesh’s population under the age of 35, we have one of the largest young workforces in the world. Dr Yunus’s vision directly empowers this demographic. Under his model, Bangladesh can lead in remote digital employment, tech-enabled social business, and green innovation. Imagine millions of young Bangladeshis working remotely for companies in Europe, the US, and East Asia — no visa queues, no brain drain. Just skill, internet, and opportunity.
Yunus has already built systems to make this happen. His Grameen initiatives — from social businesses in healthcare to education and energy — can be scaled to support AI literacy, coding bootcamps, and micro-entrepreneurship. His advocacy for universal basic digital infrastructure is not a pipe dream. It’s a real, actionable strategy. Under his leadership, even rural youth could be trained to join the global digital economy — working as freelance designers, developers, data analysts, and virtual assistants from their homes in Sylhet, Barisal or Bogura.
He understands the urgency. The world is not waiting. AI, automation, and remote work are changing the global economy at lightning speed. While traditional political parties bicker over elections and legacy, Yunus is focused on the future.
We, the people, let’s get our acts together to rise above the family banners and celebrity politics. Let’s love the country like it deserves and vote for substance. For reform. For intelligent governance. That means backing people like Dr Yunus — not because he is famous, but because he is functional. Because he has the integrity, the brainpower, and the international credibility to take Bangladesh to its next chapter.
Let’s not squander this moment. Let’s stand together — with our living legend, our reformist, our own Dr Muhammad Yunus. Bangladesh needs him now more than ever.
Shofi Ahmed is a writer, poet and journalist.
The opinions expressed within the content of this article are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the views and beliefs of this publication or its affiliates.
