Today, June 28, marks the 85th birthday of Dr.Muhammad Yunus, the globally acclaimed Nobel Laureate, pioneer of microcredit, and the current Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s Interim Government. Born in 1940 in Hatazari, Chattogram (then British India), Dr. Yunus is not only a national pride of Bangladesh but also a living legend in the global fight against poverty.

Dr. Yunus began his academic journey at Chattogram College, followed by a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Dhaka. In 1965, he went to the United States on a Fulbright Scholarship and earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 1971.

During Bangladesh’s War of Independence in 1971, he played a vital role in building global opinion by publishing the Bangladesh Newsletter from the U.S. Upon returning to Bangladesh, he briefly served in the Planning Commission but soon transitioned to academia, becoming the Head of the Economics Department at Chittagong University from 1972 to 1989.

The 1974 famine profoundly impacted his worldview. He began experimenting with microloans, offering small loans to poor villagers without collateral. In 1976, he initiated a microcredit project in Jobra village, which led to the establishment of the Grameen Bank in 1983. This innovative institution went on to empower millions of impoverished families—97% of its borrowers being women.

In recognition of his groundbreaking work in poverty alleviation through microfinance, Dr. Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. He remains one of only seven people in the world to have received all three of the following prestigious honors: the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009), and the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal (2010).

Dr. Yunus has received more than 145 national and international awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1984), the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize (1998), and the King Charles III Harmony Award (2025). Over 71 universities worldwide have awarded him honorary doctorate degrees, including Peking University (2025) and the University of Chittagong (2025). He also served as Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University from 2012 to 2018.

An accomplished author, his major works include Banker to the Poor, Creating a World Without Poverty, and A World of Three Zeros. His philosophy centers around the idea: “Not charity, but opportunity.” He urges young people: “Don’t seek jobs—create jobs.”

In 2024, following a massive student-led civil disobedience movement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5 and Parliament was dissolved the next day. In a historic move, President Mohammad Shahabuddin appointed Dr. Yunus as the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government on August 8, 2024, to lead the country toward a free and fair election. It’s worth noting that Dr. Yunus previously served as an advisor during the 1996 caretaker government.

Internationally, Dr. Yunus has been deeply involved with several global initiatives. He was a Board Member of the UN Foundation from 1998 to 2021, partnered with the Global Esports Federation in 2022, and participated in the UN Climate Summit 2024 in Azerbaijan, where he met with heads of state and world leaders. In 2025, TIME Magazine named him among the 100 most influential people in the world.

Following his Nobel Prize win, he used part of the prize money to establish the Yunus Science & Technology University, a low-cost nutritious food company, and an eye hospital to support underprivileged communities in Bangladesh.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus is more than a Nobel laureate—he is a global architect of social innovation, economic empowerment, and ethical capitalism. His life’s work in microcredit has inspired over 50 countries to replicate similar models. Today, as Bangladesh and the world celebrate his 84th birthday, he remains a guiding light for future generations committed to justice, dignity, and human development.