Muhammad Yunus, ‘banker to the poor,’ now Bangladeshi government leader

Muhammad Yunus, known as the “banker to the poor,” rose to lead Bangladesh’s interim government amidst a popular revolution. His journey began in the 1970s when he founded the Grameen Bank, providing microcredit to the needy to alleviate poverty. Yunus, inspired after a devastating famine in 1974, aimed to empower the poor to improve their lives through entrepreneurship.

Despite facing skepticism from traditional bankers, Yunus persisted and created a financial model where nearly anyone, especially women, could access loans to start businesses. The Grameen Bank’s success popularized the concept of “social business,” transforming the lives of many in Bangladesh.

Yunus’ vision and dedication to empowering the poor through microcredit and social business have been instrumental in uplifting communities in Bangladesh and changing the face of traditional banking.