Dr Yunus receives Congressional Award Wednesday

Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, will receive the US Congressional Gold Medal award on Wednesday.Prof Yunus is already in the USA to attend the historic award-giving ceremony to be held in Washington, an official at the Yunus Centre told UNB on Monday.

Earlier, the House of Representatives of the US unanimously passed a bill to award Prof Muhammad Yunus the Congressional Gold Medal.

The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress and is along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Citizens Medal the highest civilian award in the United States.

Since the American Revolution, Congress has commissioned gold medals as its highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. Each medal honors a particular individual, institution,
or event.

Democrat Senator Richard Durbin from Illinois and Republican Senator Robert Bennett from Utah introduced this in the Senate and Representatives Rush Holt (D), John Carter (R) and Jim Moran (D) introduced the Bill in the House of Representatives.

Professor Yunus has previously received the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize and 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.

Only 7 individuals have received all three distinctions. They are Martin Luther King Jr., Elie Wiesel, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Norman Borlaug, Aung San Suu Kyi and now Muhammad Yunus. UNB

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