Prof. Muhammad Yunus Optimistic About Finding Common Ground with Trump

Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus expressed confidence in his ability to find “common ground” with President-elect Donald Trump, despite their differing worldviews, as reported by TIME Magazine. Yunus emphasized that their shared focus on business could serve as a foundation for collaboration.

“Trump is a businessman; we are in business,” he stated, underscoring his desire for a partnership rather than seeking financial handouts. “We are not asking for free money to help us out of some crisis; we want a business partner,” he added.

In his remarks, Yunus reassured global companies that Bangladesh remains committed to being open for business, although he acknowledged that the slow pace of reforms has led to lingering doubts among investors.

The political landscape, however, is fraught with challenges. On October 31, Trump condemned what he described as “barbaric violence” against minorities in Bangladesh, highlighting the chaos in the country. Yunus’s relationship with Trump is further complicated by his close ties to Hillary Clinton, as he publicly lamented her 2016 election defeat, stating, “Trump’s win has hit us so hard that this morning I could hardly speak. I lost all strength.”

Amidst this turmoil, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in a military helicopter as protesters surrounded her residence in Dhaka. Yunus revealed plans to seek Hasina’s extradition following a warrant issued for her alleged involvement in recent violence, though he noted skepticism about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s willingness to comply. “Not only is she being hosted by India, but the worst part is also that she’s talking, which causes a lot of problems for us. It makes people very unhappy to hear that voice. So, this is something that we have to resolve,” Yunus remarked.

Despite the political challenges, Yunus remains hopeful about the future, highlighting the ambitions of Bangladesh’s youth. “They depicted their future in those murals, and it’s something much greater than Bangladesh has ever seen,” he said, reflecting a vision of progress and potential amidst the current turmoil.