March 18, 2011
Honorable ShiekhHasina
Prime Minister
People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Prime Minister’s Office Dhaka
Reference: Grameen Bank and its 8 million women clients
Honorable Prime Minister,
We are writing to you in support of the phenomenal work that Dr Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank have been undertaking in the field of poverty alleviation and women’s economic empowerment in Bangladesh. Dr Yunus and the Grameen Bank are today global icons and torch bearers for the mission to eradicate poverty and to provide sustainable choices to poor households across the world. The work of Grameen has been replicated in over a 100 countries and has benefited over 170 million poor women globally.
As South Asians, we are all extremely proud that DrYunus and the Grameen Bank were awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 2006, a veritable honour that highlights the pioneering role that Bangladesh has played in the field of poverty alleviation. We have always viewed the Bangladeshi government and in particular your government as a supporter of microfinance programmes and it is through the active support of the government that Grameen and other MF programmes have burgeoned across the country.
I myself have had the honour of visiting your beautiful country and have been treated to the generosity and the majesty of your culture and your people. I have lived and spent time with Bangladeshi women from Rangpur to Patuakhali and seen the positive impact that Grameen has had on their lives. As a result of Grameen’s successes similar programmes have been established in Pakistan, including the organizations that I represent, Kashf Foundation and Kashf Microfinance Bank.
I write to you on behalf of the millions of women across the globe, and in particular, the women of Bangladesh who work with Dr Yunus and his team at the Grameen Bank and to ensure that the Dr Yunus continues at the helm of the Grameen Bank.
We would urge the Bangladeshi government and request you to resolve this issue so that the work of Grameen, Dr Yunus and that of millions of women across Bangladesh continues to go from strength to strength.
Thanking you in advance.
Sincerely,
Roshaneh Zafar & the entire Staff of Kashf
Foundation and our female clients from across Pakistan
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