Ex. BNP Member of Bangladesh Parliament Professor Yunus USA visit

USAnews: The Ex. BNP Member of Bangladesh Parliament Professor Md. Yunus and Lutfunnessa Yunus came to visit their elder son Engineer Nazmul Hassan Shahin, daughter-in-law Farzana Ferdous and grand children Samin and Safaat in Michigan on April 17th, 2010. Mr. and Mrs. Yunus stayed in the USA for about three and half months. They left for Bangladesh on Ittehad Airways on Friday, July 30th, 2010. Professor Yunus conveyed his gratitude and thanks to all Bangladeshis in the USA, the BNP activists, and the News media (electronic and print) for their generosity and great hospitality during his stay in the USA. Professor Yunus asked all to pray for his well-being and good health. [nggallery id=5]

During his visit to the United States, Professor Yunus met US Senator Carl Levin, US Senator Debbie Stabenow, US Congressman John Conyers, US Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick, Michigan State Speaker Andy Dillon, State Senator Martha Scott, Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer and Treasure Ramesh Verma, Michigan Democratic Party Secretary of State candidate Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General candidate David Layton.

• Professor Yunus met US Congresswoman Carolyn Kilpatrick at the International Banquet Center in Detroit on May 14th, 2010. The Congressional District 13th Committee invited Professor Md. Yunus to join the Birthday Gala of the Congresswoman. Congresswoman Kilpatrick serves in the powerful Appropriation Committee in the United States Congress.
• Professor Yunus met Michigan State House Speaker and the 2010 Democratic Party leading Governor candidate Andy Dillon on May 15th, 2010 at the COBO Hall in Detroit, Michigan. He also met State Senator Martha Scott at the COBO Hall in the same day and received a recognition letter from James Slaughter of the 13th District Congressional Committee.
• Professor Yunus met the US Senator Carl Levin on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010 at his Detroit Federal Building office. Senator Levin is the Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, serving as the most senior Democrats in the US Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Senator Levin is also a senior member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
• Professor Yunus received a greeting letter from Barb McLahlan (Communication and Community Outreach Director of US Senator Debbie Stabenow) on June 6th, 2010 at the Middle East Historic Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.
• Professor Yunus met Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer at the Ethnic Coordinating Council Dinner on June 7th, 2010 at the Westin Hotel in Southfield, Michigan. He also met MDP Treasurer Ramesh Verma, MDP Secretary of State candidate Jocelyn Benson, MDP Attorney General candidate David Layton at the dinner and spoke about mutual interest. He exchanged organizational information with the Michigan state leaders.
• Professor Yunus met US Senator Debbie Stabenow on Saturday, June 19th, 2010 at the Strawberry Festival parade in Belleville, Michigan. Later, Professor Yunus joined the Senator in the paraded. Senator Stabenow serves in the US Senate Committees: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Committee on Finance, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee on the Budget, and Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.
• Professor Yunus and Mrs. Lutfunnesa Yunus met US Congressman John Conyers in Detroit at the Organizing for America (OFA) event on Saturday July 17th, 2010. Congressman Conyers handed over a Recognition Letter in appreciation of Prof. Md. Yunus for his long political career and Public services to the people of Bangladesh. Congressman Conyers is the Chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee.

During his meeting with the US Senators and Congressman, Professor Yunus shared the greetings of his Party Chairman Begum Khaleda Zia. He said, “I am conveying the greetings of the Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Leader of the Opposition, and the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, and the people of Bangladesh to you, to your Party Leadership, and to your Government.” He hoped that the Senators, Congressman, and Democratic Party leaders would help further strengthening the US-Bangladesh bi-lateral and diplomatic relationship. He said,

• I hope that the USA and Bangladesh will continue to work together against terrorism to ensure world peace and stability.
• I hope the USA will increase it’s support in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, specially, in the filed of Trade and Commerce. I hope Bangladeshi manufacturing products will receive tax-free entrance to the USA market and many more US investors will invest in Bangladesh in the filed of energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, and agriculture.
• I hope the USA will continue its support to strengthen the democratic process in Bangladesh ensuring Human and Political Rights of the people as well as the opposition Leadership and Activists.
• I hope Bangladesh will receive assistance from the USA in addressing the environmental and climate change issue.

In reply, the Senators and Congressman thanked Professor Yunus for his 40 long years of political service most of it as the Member of Parliament in Bangladesh. They appreciated his contribution in the development of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh as a Public Servant (Parliament Member), an Educator, and as a Freedom Fighter in the 1971 Liberation War.

At the end of each meeting, Professor Yunus thanked the respective Senator, Congressman, and the Michigan Democratic Party leader for their time and consideration in meeting him in person. He also invited them to visit Bangladesh at the earliest convenience on behalf of his Party Chairman and the peoples of Bangladesh.