DHAKA, Sept 6, 2023 (BSS) - A total of 196 leading American citizens representing Bangladeshi diaspora communities around the United States (US) have expressed their deep concern about the statement issued by some prominent figures, including President Barack Obama, regarding the ongoing trial of Dr Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh.

In a statement signed by American citizens representing Bangladeshi diaspora communities around the US, today said: "We firmly believe that this statement (open letter of world leaders) 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."

They said the 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, they added. 

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, said Bangladeshi-Americans.

"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," they added. 

"However, we, as US citizens, never complained about it," they said, adding: "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 into election processes, rule of law and many other issues not related to the case in point, Bangladeshi-Americans mentioned.

Parts of the statement (of the signatories of the open letter) 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," the Bangladeshi-Americans said, adding that in the past, the so-called "major parties" have showed utter disregard to the democratic process in Bangladesh.

"It's 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," they added.

"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," they continued.

In terms of development, democracy and human rights in Bangladesh, it is far better now than 15 or 20 years ago, the Bangladeshi-Americans said.

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, they mentioned.

"It is recognized around the world, and more specifically by the developed west," they added.

The leading American-citizens representing Bangladeshi-diaspora communities around the United States urged the signatories to retract their statement, either in a group or individually, to show respect to the 170 million Bangladeshis.

The leading American-citizens representing Bangladeshi-diaspora communities around the United States are:
 
1. Dr. Nuran Nabi, councilman of New Jersey (NJ)
2. Prof. ABM Nasir, professor of North Carolina (NC)
3. Abu Ahmed Musa, councilman of Michigan (MI)
4. Rana Hasan Mahmud, engineer of California (CA)
5. Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, professor of Pennsylvania (PA)
6. Shikrithy Barua, IT engineer of New York (NY)
7. Abul Khan, State Representative of New Hampshire (NH)
8. Mahbubul Tayub Alam, Millbourne City Mayor of PA
9. Md. Nurul Hassan, councilman of Milbourne City, PA
10. Dr. Sufian A Khandakar, scientist of NY
11. Dr. Ashraf Ahmed, scientist and writer of Washington DC
12. Dr. Joti Prakash Dutta, writer of Florida (FL)
13. Prof. Abu Naser Rajib, CA
14. Morshed Alam, activist of NY
15. Ahad Ahmed, Engineer, MI
16. Dr. Baman Das Basu, scientist of Massachusetts (MA)
17. Safeda Basu, activist of MA
18. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, community leader of NY
19. Dr. Mohshin Patowari, professor of NY
20. Jamal Uddin Hossain, cultural personality of Alabama (AL)
21. Dr. Mohshin Ali, writer of NY
22. Dastagir Jahangir, journalist of Virginia (VA)
23. Fahim Reza Noor, activist of NY
24. Dr. Zeenat Nabi, scientist of NJ 
25. Hassan Ferdous, columnist and writer of NY
26. Maj (retd.) Manzur Ahmed, community leader of NY
27. Dr. Pradip Kar, scientist of NY
28. Dr. Protap Das, physician of NY
29. Kowshik Ahmed, editor of NY
30. Lovlu Ansar, editor of NY
31. Rafayet Choudhury, activist of NY
32. Abu Taher, activist of PA
33. Soud Choudhury, activist of NY
34. Dr. Mizan R Miah, professor of Illinois (IL)
35. Dr. Jamil Talukdar, professor of Wisconsin (WI)
36. Dr. Shahadat Hossain, professor of NY
37. Dr. Hasan Mahmud, professor of NJ
38. Dr. Khandakar Monsur, scientist of Maryland (MD)
39. Dr. Syed Abu Hasnat, teacher of MA
40. Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan, businessman of Georgia (GA)
41. Tajul Imam, artist of NY
42. Abdur Rahim Badsha, businessman of NY
43. Dr. Mizanur Rahman, scientist
44. Abdul Qader Mia, community leader of NY
45. Zakaria Choudhury, community leader of NY
46. Bedarul Islam Babla, community leader of NY
47. Mintu Rahman, community leader of GA
48. Nadira Rahman, community leader of GA
49. Arefin Babul, community leader of GA
50. Dr. Shahab Siddique, scientist of GA
51. Mohammed Ali Babul, lawyer of NY
52. Mohammad Mowla, community leader of GA
53. Jharna Choudhury, theater artist of NY
54. Lutfun Nahar Lata, artist of NY
55. Dr. Faruk Azam, physician of NJ
56. Mian Helal, businessman of NJ
57. Shamsun Nahar Helen, technologist of NJ
58. Iqbal Yousuf, community leader of MA
59. Atiqur Rahman, community leader of FL
60. Rumi Kabir, writer of GA
61. Ali Ahmad Farish, businessman of MI
62. Rashed Ahmed, community leader of NY
63. Sitangshu Guha, journalist of NY
64. Dr. Dilip Nath, IT consultant of NY
65. MA Salam, community leader of NJ
66. Fakir Ilias, poet of NY
67. Mishuk Selim, poet of NY
68. Khaled Sharifuddin, poet of NY
69. Abu Sayeed Ratan, poet of NY
70. Hassan Al Abdullah, poet of NY
71. Mithun Ahmed, cultural activist of NY
72. Minhaj Ahmed, cultural activist of NY
73. Shakawat Ali, community leader of NY
74. Dr. Abdul Baten, scientist of NY
75. Dr. Hasan Masud, teacher of NY
76. Shahid Hasan, artist of NY
77. Rathindra Nath Roy, artist of NY
78. Istiaq Rupu, poet of NY
79. Gopal Syannal, community leader of NY
80. Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Tuku, businessman of NY
81. Dr. Nahid Banu, scientist of NJ
82. Mahbub Reza Rahim, community leader of Arizona (AZ)
83. Dr. Monowar Hossain, scientist of NJ
84. Golam Faruk Bhuyan, businessman of NJ
85. Rehan Reza, community leader of Kansas (KS)
86. Dr. Hasan Mamun, teacher of NJ
87. Zahedul Mahmud Zami, community leader of CA
88. Towfik Solaiman Khan, community leader of CA
89. Nazrul Alam, community leader of CA
90. Saifur Rahman Osmani, broadcaster of CA
91. Dr. Golam Mostofa, professor of PA
92. Rabiul Karim Belal, businessman of PA
93. Dr. Ahsan Choudhury, engineer of Texas (TX)
94. Hashmot Mobin, community leader of TX
95. Dr. Anisul Aslam, physician of CA
96. Mohammad Billah Rana, businessman of CA
97. Hadi Billah Roba, businessman of Nevada (NV)
98. Quazi Shahraiar Rahman, engineer of CA
99. Karimul Haque Chowdhury, businessman of CA
100. Bashir Ather, scientist of CA
101. Tapan Mondol, social worker of CA
102. Shah Alam, community leader of CA
103. Maminul Haque Bachchu, sr. community leader of CA
104. Tasnim Salam Aslam, engineer of CA
105. Abed Mansur, community leader of CA
106. Habib Ahmed Tia, community leader of CA
107. Mofazzal Hussain, community leader of CA
108. Mohammad Hossain Rana, community leader of CA
109. Abul Hasnat Rayhan, community leader of CA
110. Asaduzzaman Bachchu, businessman of MI
111. Dewan Zamir, engineer of CA
112. Belal Beg, columnist of NY
113. Nini Wahed, journalist of NY
114. Dr. Farjahan Rahman Shawon, professor of NC
115. Dr. Khondoker Mansur, community leader of NY
116. Khurshid Anowar Bablu, community leader of NY
117. Hassan Al Abdullah, writer of NY
118. Syed Abu Hasnat, professor of MA
119. Dr. Delwar Arif, professor of AL
120. Iqbal Yusuf, director of International Sustainable Development
121. Atiqur Rahman, businessman of FL
122. Hassan Jahangir, businessman of FL
123. Junaid Akhter, community leader of FL
124. Dr. Hemayet Ullah, professor
125. Dr. Mahbub Pramanik
126. Dr. Purobi Bosu, writer of FL
127. Farhana Iliyas Tuli, poet of NY
128. Syed Mamunur Rashid, poet of NY
129. Swapnil Firoze, poet of NY
130. Liton Ahmed, activist of NY
131. Golam Mohiuddin, musician of GA
132. Nazrul Islam, community leader of GA
133. Farque Ahmed, community leader of GA
134. Mohin, community leader of FA
135. Abul Hassan, community leader of GA
136. Ahmadhur Parvez, community leader of GA
137. Dr. Mohammed Nasim, community leader of GA
138. Mahmud Abbas, community leader of GA
139. Mohammad Akbar Khan, community leader of GA
140. Reza Karim, community leader of GA
141. Ali Hosen, community leader of GA
142. Pintu Yusuf, community leader of GA
143. Nurul Kabir Nahid, community leader of GA
144. Mojammel, community leader of GA
145. Moshiur Rahman, businessman of GA
146. Russel Bhuiyan, businessman of GA
147. Arefin Pial, teacher of GA
148. Mahrufur Bhuiyan, businessman of GA
149. Borhan Uddin, community leader of GA
150. Rashedul Karim, businessman of GA
151. Bindu Hossen, singer of GA
152. Rezaul Bari, activist of NY
153. Abul Bashar Chunnu, activist of NY
154. Nabendu Dutta, professor of NY
155. Siraj Ahmed Sohag, community leader of NY
156. Shyamal Chakraborti, community leader of NY
157. Pranobondhu Chakraborti, engineer of NY
158. Mohammad Fazlul Haque, community leader of NY
159. Parimal Karmakar, community leader of NY
160. Jhorna Chowhdury, artist of NY
161. Syed Rashid Ahmed Karmani, businessman of NY
162. Ruksana Karmani, NY
163. Farque Ahmed, businessman of NY
164. Dilara Ahmed, activist of NY
165. Touqid Chowdhury, activist of NY
166. Saniyet Ahmed Chowdhury, engineer of NY
167. Toujiat Chowdhury, PhD student of NY
168. Alim Khan Akash, businessman of NY
169. Sabita Das, activist of NY
170. Abul Bhashar Bhuiyan, NY
171. Shareb Ahmed, NY
172. Rontu Lal Das, NY
173. Harun Chowdhury, VA
174. Santosh Barua, poet of VA
175. Nupur Chowdhury, VA
176. Gourab Golpo, artist of VA
177. Nasrin Ahmed Munna, artist of VA
178. Dr. Monowar Hossain, scientist of NJ
179. Nahid Chowdhury, businessman of NJ
180. Mir Chowdhury, community leader of NJ
181. Dr. Niru Kamrun Nahar, Ohio (OH)
182. Engineer Jalil Khan
183. Mizanul Kabir, P.O., CA
184. Ruhul Amin, businessman of MI
185. Abdul Muhit Mukta, businessman of MI
186. Mohoshin Uddin Tipu, businessman of MI
187. Md. Sirajuddin Tipu, community leader of MI
188. Dr. Adnan Morshed, professor of Washington (WA)
189. Dr. Atiar Rahman, FDA statistics of VA
190. Dr. Sadek Chowdhury, VA
191. Alauddin Ahmed, community leader of VA
192. Dr. Zahed Chowdhury, software engineer of VA
193. Nizamuddin Ahmed, CEO of Huge Network, VA
194. Saleh Ahmed, activist of VA
195. Swapnik Khan, activist of TX
196. Redwan Chowdhury, community leader, D.C.