Historical Figure
Muhammad Yunus
b. 1940
Bangladeshi economist and statesman (born 1940)
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Biography
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist and social business entrepreneur. He led Bangladesh’s transition to democratic governance after the July Uprising in 2024, which resulted in the ouster of its former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. During the transition period he served as the 5th Chief Adviser of Bangladesh from 2024 to 2026. Yunus pioneered the modern concept of microcredit and microfinance, for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. He is the founder of Grameen Bank and the first Bangladeshi to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
In Their Own Words (5)
You cannot change the world in a day...if you want to change, start from your village.
3 April 2025, in BIMSTEC conference Bangkok , 2025
I will not spend the money for myself. I will rather spend it in special business on a no-profit-no-loss policy. We will also establish an eye hospital where even beggars will be given treatment at the cost of Taka 10-20.
The Daily Star (14 October 2006) , 2006
Making money from business is happiness, but making other people happy is super happiness.
10 April 2025, in Bangladesh Investment Summit-2025 at Hotel Intercontinental , 2025
When my footprints would not fall in the Jamuna (residence of chief adviser of Interim government of Bangladesh), I would neither stay, I would neither stay in that government's chair anymore, dear.. When my footprints would not fall in the Jamuna, I will pay off all the statements and settle them, dear. I will settle the debts, wandering will be stopped of this mob. Then you might let not have to put me in drone (show). Looking into the mirror, you let not have to call me. When my footprints would not fall in the Jamuna.
An AI song about Yunus, mimicrying a song "Jokhon porbe na mor payer chinho" of Rabindranath Tagore published by earki.com, a Bangladeshi satire social media page, with a funny cartoon made with AI, which Yunus and his advisors enjoyed watching in the last cabinet, (14 February 2026) , 2026
If you are born into a poor family, if you are a woman you have seen the worst of poverty. In a cultural way in the families in Bangladesh it's the women who eats last. So if you have a scarcity in the family … she misses out so everything comes in the raw deal for her. So, given a chance she works very hard to make a change to improve her life. And by training she is the most efficient manager of scarce resources. Because with the little resource she has, she has to stretch it as much as she can to look after the children, look after the family and everything else..unlike men - men want to enjoy right away. Whatever he got, whatever tiny bit of thing he got he doesn't care for much what's coming up.
"Interview with Prof. Muhammad Yunus" Australian Broadcasting Corporation (25 March 1997) , 1997
Timeline
The story of Muhammad Yunus, told in moments.
Lends $27 of his own money to 42 women in the village of Jobra who make bamboo furniture. They'd been trapped by moneylenders charging 10% per week. His $27 breaks the cycle. All 42 repay him. The idea hits.
Founds Grameen Bank. Microcredit. Tiny loans to the poorest people, mostly women, with no collateral. Traditional bankers say it can't work. Repayment rates exceed 97%. By 2006, the bank has lent over $6 billion to 7 million borrowers.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Grameen Bank. The committee cites their work creating economic and social development from below. He's 66. The bamboo stool makers from Jobra are 30 years behind him. The model operates in over 100 countries.
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