Prof Yunus does'nt seek ‘national reformer’ title: CA press wing

The Chief Adviser’s (CA) press wing on Tuesday clarified that Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus does not wish to be declared as a “national reformer,” nor does the government have any plan to bestow such a title on him.

“It has come to the attention of the government that a bench of the High Court Division has issued a rule, following a writ petition, asking why Professor Muhammad Yunus should not be declared a ‘national reformer’,” read a statement issued by the CA’s press wing.

“The government will respond to the rule in due course upon receiving a copy of the order. Meanwhile, it is important to state that Professor Yunus does not intend to be declared as such, and the government also does not plan to confer any such title on him,” it added.

The statement noted that the writ petition appears to have been filed independently by the petitioner, and it is unclear on what grounds the direction was sought. The office of the Attorney General will handle the matter, it said.

On Sunday, a High Court division bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Sayed Jahed Mansur issued the rule after hearing the writ petition moved by Advocate Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Assistant Attorney General Ekramul Kabir represented the state.

The court sought explanations as to why Professor Yunus should not be declared the “National Reformer of New Bangladesh,” why martyrs of the July-August mass uprising — such as Abu Sayed and Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho — should not be declared national heroes, and why a complete list of the uprising’s martyrs should not be prepared and published in an official gazette.

The cabinet secretary, law secretary, and other relevant officials have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks.