Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus known as the “banker to the poor” has been asked to head the interim government in Bangladesh in the wake of the political crisis and weeks of anti-government protests.
Yunus is a Bangladeshi economist, and founder of the Grameen Bank, the world’s first dedicated microcredit institutioni. He won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering microfinance work that helped alleviate poverty in Bangladesh and was widely adopted around the world. He is also the founder of the Yunus Centre, a Dhaka-based think tank that helps develop new social businesses. Yunus is expected to bring back peace, revive the economy and pave way for free and fair elections.
Professor Muhammad Yunus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh in 1983, fueled by the belief that credit is a fundamental human right. His objective was to help poor people escape from poverty by providing loans on terms suitable to them and by teaching them a few sound financial principles so they could help themselves.
Widely regarded as the creator of social business, Professor Yunus has published four books about micro-lending and social business: “Banker to the Poor” (2003), “A World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism” (2008) and “Building Social Business” (2010) and “A World of Three Zeros” (2017).
Professor Yunus is the recipient of numerous international awards for his ideas and endeavors. In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, he has received all three highest US Civilian awards (Presidential Citizens Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal). He is one of only seven people in history that has received these awards, along with recipients Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela. In 2009, Forbes named Professor Yunus one of its “10 Most Influential Business Gurus.”
Statement from Professor Muhammad Yunus, 7 August 2024
“I congratulate the brave students who took the lead in making our Second Victory Day possible and to the people for giving your total support to them. Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes. I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. I appeal to all students, members of all political parties and non-political people to stay calm. This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities. We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and for our future generations.”
“Our youth is ready to give this leadership in creating a new world. Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please don’t create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country.”
“If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm.”
Source: Yunus Centre, 7 August 2024