Biography of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

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Biography of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, a pioneer in microfinance. It is a method of banking where small loans are given to the poor, without collateral, mostly women, for income-generating activities, to help them rise out of poverty.

Early Biography of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus was born on June 28, 1940. in Bathua village of Chittagong in Bangladesh. The third of nine children, His father was a Haji Muhammad Dula Mia Shawdagar, a jeweler, and his mother was a Sophia Khatun housewife. In 1944, his family moved to Chittagong city and he studied at Lamabazar Primary School. Later he passed the matriculation Examination from Chittagong Collegiate School.

Education Life of Yunus

During his school years, he was an active Scout Boy and traveled to West Pakistan and India in 1952, to Europe, the United States, and Canada in 1955, and to the Philippines and Japan in 1959 to join jamborees. In 1957, he joined Dhaka University in the Department of Economics and completed BA in 1960 and MA in 1961.

Work-Life of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

After graduation, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus joined the Economics Bureau of Dhaka University. Later he was appointed as a Lecturer in Economics in Chittagong College in 1961. In 1965 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study in the United States. He received his PhD in Economics from Vanderbilt University, USA in 1969. From 1969 to 1972 he was assistant professor of economics at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN.

After graduation, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus joined the Economics Bureau of Dhaka University

Contribution to Freedom of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

During the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus established a civic committee in Nashville, TN, and published a newsletter called Bangladesh. newsletter, and with other Bangladeshis living in the United States operated the Bangladesh Information Center in Washington DC, lobbying the US Congress to garner support for the liberation of East Pakistan and to end military aid to Pakistan. Inspired by the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, Professor Yunus returned to the country in 1972 and joined the Department of Economics, University of Chittagong for a short stint in the Planning Commission.

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Joining Rural Economics of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

He became actively involved in poverty alleviation after observing the 1974 famine and established the Rural Economics Program as part of the department’s academic program. In 1975, he organized the Navyuga (New Era) Tevaga Khamar (Three Share Farm), which the government later adopted as the Packaged Input Programme.

Social Service of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

In 1976, while visiting extremely poor families in Jobra village near Chittagong University, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus discovered that a very small loan can make a big difference in a poor person’s life. Jobra women who made bamboo furniture had to take loans at interest rates to buy bamboo and leave their profits to the moneylenders. Shocked by this reality, he lent 42 villagers $27.00 out of his own pocket to help them pay off their debt to the loan sharks and break free.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus strongly believed that

When he approaches traditional banks to offer loans to the poor, he finds that they are not interested because the poor are not considered creditworthy. Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus strongly believed that, given the opportunity, the poor would repay the borrowed money and this would help them rise out of poverty. After many attempts, he finally succeeded in securing a line of credit from Janata Bank for his scheme to provide loans to the poor in Jobra in December 1976, offering himself as guarantor.

A Full-fledged Bank Called Grameen Bank

On October 2, 1983, the project was transformed into a full-fledged bank called Grameen Bank (Village Bank), which specialized in providing small loans to the poor. As of May 2008, Grameen Bank (GB) has 7.5 million borrowers, 97% of whom are women. With 2,515 branches, GB serves 82,072 villages, covering more than 97% of Bangladesh’s villages. It has lent more than $7 billion
Poor people and debt repayment rates have been close to 100% since inception.

Established Several Companies of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus

All its money comes from bank depositors. Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has also established several companies in Bangladesh to address various issues of poverty and development. These include Grameen Phone (a mobile telephone company), Grameen Shakti (an energy company), Grameen Fund (a social venture capital company), Grameen Textiles, Grameen Knitwear, Grameen Education, Grameen Agriculture, Grameen Fisheries and Livestock, Grameen Business Promotion, Grameen Danone Foods Limited, and Grameen Healthcare Services. He is also the founder of Grameen Trust, which expands rural microfinance across the world.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel Peace Prize

In October 2006, Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for his efforts with Grameen Bank for economic and social development. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said: Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus has shown himself to be a leader who has been able to translate vision into practical action for the benefit of millions of people not only in Bangladesh but also in many other countries. Giving loans to poor people without any financial security seemed an impossible idea. From modest beginnings three decades ago, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, first through Grameen Bank, has made microfinance a more important tool in the fight against poverty.

The honor he received from Bangladesh

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus became the first Bangladeshi and the third Bengali to receive the Nobel Prize. He has won many other awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the World Food Prize, and the Sydney Peace Prize. In Bangladesh, he received the President’s Award (1978), the Central Bank Award (1985), and the Independence Day Award (1987), the highest national award. The Government of Bangladesh issued a commemorative postage stamp for his Nobel Prize.

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The honor he received from the World

Professor Yunus was inducted as a member of the Legion d’honneur by French President Chirac. In January 2008, Houston, Texas declared January 14 as Muhammad Yunus Day. He is one of the founding members of Global Elders, chaired by Nelson Mandela. He was the commencement speaker at MIT on June 6, 2008.

All the achievements of Dr. Muhammad Yunus

  • In 1978
    President Award.
  • In 1984
    Ramon Magsaysay Award.
  • In 1985
    Central Bank Award.
  • In 1987
    Freedom Award.
  • In 1989
    Aga Khan Award.
  • In 1993
    The Care Award
    Philanthropy Award, USA
    Muhammad Sahebuddin Science (Socioeconomics) Award, Sri Lanka.
    Royal Admiral MA Khan Memorial Medal, Bangladesh.
  • In 1994
    World Food Prize, USA.
    Pfeiffer Peace Prize, USA.
    Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Memorial Gold Medal, Bangladesh.
  • In 1995
    Max Sachmidheini Foundation Freedom Prize, Switzerland.
    Dhaka Metropolitan Rotary Club Foundation Award, Bangladesh.
  • In 1996
    International Simon Bolivar Award.
    Vanderbilt University Distinguished Alumni Award, USA.
  • In 1997
    Professor Yunus, One Young World Conference, Zurich, 2011
    International Activist Award, USA.
    Planetary Consciousness Business Innovation Award, Germany.
    Help for Self Help Award, Norway (Strømme Foundation, Norway)
    Man for Peace Award, Italy.
    World Forum Award, USA.
  • In 1998
    One World Broadcasting Trust Media Award.
    The Prince of Austria Award for Concord, Spain.
    Sydney Peace Prize, Australia.
    Azaki (Gakudo) Award, Japan.
    Indira Gandhi Award, India.
    Juste of the Year Award, France (Les Justes D’or)
    Rathindra Award, India.
    Rotary Award for World Understanding, USA.
  • In 1999
    Golden Pegasus Award, Italy.
    Roma Award for Peace and Humanitarian, Italy.
  • In 2000
    Omega Award of Excellence for Life Time Achievement, Switzerland.
    Award of the Medal of the Presidency, Italy.
    King Hussein Humanitarian Leadership Award, Jordan.
    IDEB Gold Medal Award, Bangladesh.
  • In 2001
    Artusi Prize, Italy.
    Grand Prize of the Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize, Japan.
    Ho Chi Minh Prize, Vietnam.
    International Cooperation Award ‘Caja de Granada, Spain.
    Navarre International Aid Award, Spain.
  • In 2002
    Mahatma Gandhi Award, USA.
  • In 2003
    World Technology Network Award, UK.
    The Volvo Environment Prize, Sweden (The Volvo Environment Prize).
    National Merit Award, Columbia.
    The Medal of the Painter Oswald Guayasmin Prize, France.
  • In 2004
    Telichenko Prize, Spain.
    City of Orvieto Award, Italy.
    The Economist Innovation Award, USA.
    World Affairs Council Award, USA.
    Leadership in Social Entrepreneur Award, USA.
    Premio Galilean 2000 Special Prize for Peace, Italy.
    Nikkei Asia Award, Japan.
  • In 2005
    Golden Cross of the Civil Order of the Social Solidarity, Spain.
    Freedom Award, USA.
    Bangladesh Computer Society Gold Medal, Bangladesh.
    Prize 2 Ponte, Italy.
    Foundation of Justice, Spain.
  • In 2006
    Professor Muhammad Yunus, Grand Hotel, Oslo, Norway, 2006.
    Nobel Prize (Peace).
    Harvard University Neustadt Award, USA.
    Globe Citizen of the Year Award, United States.
    Franklin D. Roosevelt Freedom Award, Netherlands.
    ETU World Information Organization Award, Switzerland.
    Seoul Peace Prize, South Korea.
    Convivencia (Best Cooperation) Ceuta Prize, Spain.
    Disaster Relief Award, India.
    Best Bengali, India.
  • In 2007
    Global Trailblazer Award, USA.
    ABCC Award for Leadership in Global Trade, USA.
    Social Entrepreneurship Award, USA.
    Global Entrepreneurship Leadership Award, USA.
    Red Cross Gold Medal, Spain.
    Rabindranath Tagore Birth Centenary Memorial, India.
    EFR Trade Week Award, Netherlands.
    Nichols Chancellor Medal, USA.
    Vision Award, Germany.
    Buffy Global Achievement Award, USA.
    Rubin Museum Mandala Award, USA.
    SAKAAL PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AWARD, INDIA.
    1st AHPADA Global Award, Philippines.
    Medal of Honor, Brazil.
    United Nations South-South Cooperation Award, USA.
  • In 2008
    Professor Yunus with Brazilian President Lula da Silva, 2008.
    Project Initiative Award, USA.
    International Women’s Health Mission Award, New York.
    Kitakyushu Environmental Prize, Japan.
    Chancellor’s Medal, USA.
    President’s Medal, United States.
    Human Security Award, USA.
    Annual Development Award, Ostia.
    Human Service Award, USA.
    Children’s Friend Award, Spain.
    AGI International Science Prize, Germany.
    Karini International Book Award, Germany.
    Two Wings Prize, Germany.
    World Humanitarian Award, California.
    World Affairs Council Award, California.
  • In 2009
    Estoril Global Issues’ Distinguished Book Prize, Portugal.
    Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service, USA.
    Golden Biatec Award, Slovakia.
    Gold Medal of Honor Award, USA.
    Presidential Medal of Freedom, USA.
    PICMET Awards, Portland.
    Beirut Leadership Award.
  • In 2010
    SolarWorld Einstein Award.
    Congressional Gold Medal.
  • In 2011
    St. Vincent de Paul Award by DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois.
    Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership, USA.
  • In 2012
    Jean Mayer Global Citizen Award by the Institute for Global.
  • In 2016
    Leadership Women Deliver Award.
    George Washington University President’s Medal.
  • In 2017
    Gold Medal of India.
  • In 2018
    The Ford Family Notre Dame Award for International Development and Solidarity in the United States.
    India’s KISS Humanitarian Award.
    Italy’s Nuovo Renaissance or New Renaissance Award.
  • In 2019
    Switzerland’s Global Women’s Leadership Award.
  • In 2020
    India’s fifth Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Award.
  • In 2015
    The Peace Prize from Slovakia
    India’s Dr. Thomas Kangon Management Leadership Award.
  • In 2021
    Olympic Laurel Award.
    United Nations Foundation ‘Champion of Global Change’ Award – 2021
    Germany’s Opinion Maker Award- Die Bleu Junge’2021
  • In 2023
    World Football Summit Award.
  • In 2024
    UNESCO ‘Tree of Peace’ Award of Tufts University, USA.
    Outstanding Entrepreneur of Our Time and The Best Humanitarian of the Year by OFC Venture Challenge, USA.
    Transformational Leadership Award, USA.
    International Freedom Award by the National Civil Rights Museum, USA.
  • In 2013
    Salute to Greatness Award 2013 by Martin Luther King Center, USA.
    Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Award 2013 by Quinnipiac University, USA.
    Global Treasure Award by Skoll Foundation, Oxford, UK.
    Forbes 400 Philanthropy Forum Lifetime Achievement Award for Social Entrepreneurship by Forbes Magazine, USA.
    Asian American/ Asian Research Leadership Award, USA.
  • In 2014
    Westmont Leadership Award.
    Lotus Leadership Award.
    Prince Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Global Entrepreneurship Award.
    Albania Excellence Award.
  • In 2015
    International Humanitarian Award.
    Distinguished Professorship from YNU.
  • In 2016
    Women Deliver Award.
    George Washington University President’s Medal.
  • In 2017
    Gold Medal of India.
  • In 2018
    The Ford Family Notre Dame Award for International Development and Solidarity in the United States.
    India’s KISS Humanitarian Award.
    Italy’s Nuovo Renaissance or New Renaissance Award.
  • In 2019
    Switzerland’s Global Women’s Leadership Award.
  • In 2020
    India’s fifth Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial Award.
  • In 2015
    The Peace Prize from Slovakia.
    India’s Dr. Thomas Kangon Management Leadership Award.
  • In 2021
    Olympic Laurel Award.
    United Nations Foundation ‘Champion of Global Change’ Award-2021
    Germany’s Opinion Maker Award- Die Bleu Junge-2021
  • In 2023
    World Football Summit Award.
  • In 2024
    UNESCO ‘Tree of Peace’ Award.
    Honorary Doctorate.
    Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has received honorary doctorate degrees from 48 universities.
  • In 2024
  • Currently, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been appointed interim head of the government of Bangladesh, and he is the mediator for most of the people of Bangladesh. Although this time is quite challenging work for him.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has been awarded 28 honorary doctorates and serves on the boards of many national and international organizations. He is the author of two New York Times bestsellers – Bankers to the Poor (1997) and Creating a World Without Poverty, Social Business and the Future of Capitalism (2008). Muhammad Yunus is married to Dr. Afrozi Yunus and has two daughters Monica and Dina.

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