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Today, June 28, marks the birthday of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Born in 1940 in Bathua village, Hathazari Upazila, Chittagong, Dr. Yunus is globally renowned for his pioneering work in microfinance and poverty alleviation.
Dr. Yunus, along with his brainchild, Grameen Bank, was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006, making him the first Bangladeshi to receive this prestigious honor. His innovative microcredit model has transformed lives in Bangladesh and inspired similar initiatives in over 40 countries, including the United States. In addition to the Nobel Prize, Dr. Yunus has received numerous national and international accolades, including the World Food Prize, Bangladesh’s Independence Award (1987), the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal.
Born to Dula Mia Sawdagor and Sufia Khatun, Dr. Yunus showed academic brilliance from an early age. He secured the 16th position among 39,000 students in the matriculation exam from Chittagong Collegiate School. He pursued higher education at Chittagong College and Dhaka University, later earning a PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 1971 on a Fulbright Scholarship. During Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, he played a key role in mobilizing support for the cause in the U.S. through the Bangladesh Information Center.
Dr. Yunus initiated the Grameen Bank project in 1976 in Jobra village, which formally became Grameen Bank in 1983. This institution has since expanded across most of Bangladesh’s villages, empowering millions through microfinance. His contributions extend beyond economics, as he has been a vocal advocate for social justice and reform.
In July 2024, Dr. Yunus emerged as a pivotal figure during the student-led quota reform movement, which evolved into a broader demand for the resignation of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Following her departure to India, Dr. Yunus assumed leadership of the interim government on August 8, 2024, as Chief Adviser, guiding the nation through a critical transitional period.
