BRiTiSH novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott (17711832) looked at credit this way: "Credit is like a lookingclass, which, when once sullied by a breath, may be wiped clear again; but if once cracked can never be repaired". in financial term 'credit' is a synonym for 'loan'. By implication it relates also to the individual or organisational credibility of the borrower or the beneficiary of the credit. And when in default due to failure to fulfil the terms of repayment, the borrower turns into a defaulter. The debtor receiving the credit stands discredited till such time he can retrieve his earlier status effectively in terms of the contract with the creditor.

Away from the financial transactions the word 'credit' in social interaction, either between indi-

viduals or between organisations and individuals, wears a greater perspective. Someone given credit for his merit of performance in matters of overall social importance is apt to be hailed by his fellow men and women -- the ultimate beneficiary of the good deed felicitated or given credit. This is a very common and natural phenomenon in any civilised society. Taking credit is yet another queer obsession with many who are, by nature, very prone to self-adulation. This type of people do not, however, get universal appreciation and are often derided, if not openly, at least behind the scene. Between these two specific types there is yet another unassuming type who are genuinely averse to creditinfatuation. These selfless people are few and far between. in fact, they are the ones who are most radiant stars in the distant firma-

ment and in times of need of a nation they outshine all others. They are the silent workers dedicating their lives to build the destiny of the nation they belong. They refuse to be pampered by the earthly inducement of 'credit'. instead they seek divine blessings to be able to deploy fullest strength, physical, mental and intellectual, towards salvaging the suffering humanity.

The word 'discredit', on the other hand, is out and out a negative handle used freely by some people who are, by nature, averse to giving credit to others even though they (the credit-worthy ones) are genuinely good achievers. This term applies to an otherwise respectable person in the society who, by a sudden departure from his usual behavioural pattern, does or says something as would discredit him. We come across yet another type of people

who are so very careless in their public utterance which comes as a boomerang on them instantly. An example readily at hand: A week before the 4-party alliance went out of power, the finance minister Saifur Rahman was heard telling his listeners in a meeting on october 20, 2006, sarcastically, "it is not correct to say that the country has been developed in consequence of two/three thousand taka micro credit and mobile phone given to pauper women. i do not believe that anybody can be rich if given a number of goats and ducks "

Such an awfully uncouth and terribly offending remark came off from his lips when the whole nation at home and the world at large were in jubilation on the news of the Nobel Peace Prize award to Prof Muhammad Yunus. Such a coincidence was indeed very unfortunate, a direct asper-

sion to discredit the principles of micro-credit and its diehard protagonist, Nobel laureate, our pride Dr Yunus. if he was so very sceptical about the strength of micro-credit, why then, at his instance Tk 800.00 crore was invested by his government in the same sector? How could he release funds from the public exchequer to finance the 'goat policy' of his government? it was just ridiculous on his part to speak contemptuously alluding to the have-not women as "fakirnee". Anyway, from that we have had a round about admission of failure of his government in real development of the country.

Micro-credit, the brain child of Professor Muhammad Yunus has been universally acknowledged and acclaimed as a most innovative and 99 percent successful intervention for poverty alleviation. Even though some one at

home may not be wholly convinced, but the world community at large has no illusion about the miracle created by the microcredit programme. it is now being very rapidly replicated in many European countries besides the richest country of the world the United States of America. China, Japan, Russia, South Korea are also among others at the moment who have evinced keen interest in the micro-credit programme of Dr. Yunus. People's Republic of China, Japan and South Korea have already given him public felicitation at the respective government level in their capital cities.

Besides, many leading personalities of the world have made instant comments on news of Nobel Peace prize award to Professor Muhammad Yunus. Former US President Jimmy Carter observed: "Dr. Yunus has

afforded opportunity to the poor to build their own destiny. The price of this gift from him is far more than providing one single meal a day." The outgoing Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan remarked: "The microcredit programme of Yunus has proved its effectiveness in enabling the low-income population break through the invidious circle of poverty and move forward to prosperity."

Former first Lady of USA Hilary Clinton remarked: "The poor people of the whole world are today traversing ahead in the path of a brighter and more elevated future through micro-credit. Dr. Yunus is the great visionary of such an enlightened future."

And the citation of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize committee reads: "Dr. Yunus has proved himself as such a leader who is capable of transforming

philosophy into reality."

Bill Clinton, who is already a family friend to Dr. Yunus, observed in his autobiography My Life that "Muhammad Yunus should have received Nobel Prize few years earlier."

Prior to the Nobel Peace Prize he received many more national and international awards. it is a big list and certainly very very enviable. November 5 the President and the Head of the Caretaker Government Prof iazuddin Ahmed gave a reception to Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Bangabhaban on behalf of the whole nation. one certainly feels saying: Hail Professor

Muhammad Yunus, the great son of the soil, the God-sent saviour of the poor and the deprived! The nation salutes you in pride and reverence.

Kazi Alauddin Ahmed is a management consultant.'