Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, social entrepreneur, and banking innovator who founded the and pioneered lending to the poor without traditional collateral, earning the in 2006 jointly with the bank for fostering economic and social development among impoverished communities. In August 2024, following student-led protests that ousted longtime , Yunus was appointed Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, tasked with stabilizing the country and preparing for elections. Born in to a family of jewelers, Yunus studied economics at University before obtaining a Fulbright scholarship to pursue a PhD at in the United States, where he taught briefly after graduation. Returning to in 1972 during a devastating , he joined University and initiated small-scale lending experiments to bamboo stool makers trapped by moneylenders' debt cycles, formalizing these into in 1983, which emphasized group accountability and loans primarily to women. The institution grew to serve millions, promoting and reportedly achieving high repayment rates, though empirical evaluations have shown mixed results on sustainable escape, with critiques highlighting interest rates around 20% annually and risks of over-indebtedness in replicated models. Yunus's work extended to social businesses addressing issues like nutrition and , and he advocated for "" as a non-profit alternative to traditional . However, his career faced significant hurdles under Hasina's administration, including a 2011 forced removal from over age limits, multiple prosecutions for alleged labor violations and fund misuse—resulting in a 2013 conviction upheld on appeal—and ongoing cases perceived by supporters as retaliation for his perceived opposition to the ruling party, many of which were halted after his 2024 appointment.

Early Life and Education

Family Background and Childhood

Muhammad Yunus was born on June 28, 1940, in the village of Bathua, situated in near , which was then part of British India and is now in . He grew up in a Muslim family of traders known as Saudagars. Yunus was the third of nine children; his father, Haji Muhammad Dula Mia (also spelled Dula Meah), worked as a jeweler, while his mother was . The family's residence in the commercial hub of exposed Yunus to business activities from an early age, within a modest yet entrepreneurial environment. Details of his childhood emphasize a focus on amid the economic realities of a trading , though specific anecdotes remain limited in primary accounts.

Academic Training and Early Influences

Muhammad Yunus pursued his undergraduate and graduate studies in economics at the , earning a degree followed by a degree in the early . After completing his master's, he briefly lectured at before securing a Fulbright scholarship to study . This opportunity enabled him to enroll in the PhD program in economics at , where he focused on theoretical economic modeling, including work on dynamic programming approaches to economic problems. Yunus completed his in from in 1969. During his time in the , he served as an assistant professor of at from 1969 to 1972, gaining practical teaching experience in American academia. His exposure to Western economic theories, particularly neoclassical frameworks prevalent in graduate programs, provided a foundation that contrasted with the developmental challenges he later encountered in . Early influences on Yunus included the socio-political context of , where widespread and the 1971 Liberation War against highlighted systemic economic failures and galvanized his interest in for social upliftment. While teaching in , he founded the Citizens' Committee to aid the independence struggle, reflecting an emerging commitment to his homeland's development issues that influenced his decision to return in 1972 and assume the headship of the economics department at Chittagong University. This period marked a shift from pure academic pursuits toward addressing real-world through economic intervention, though specific mentors from his training remain undocumented in primary accounts.

Academic and Early Professional Career

Teaching and Research Positions

Upon completing his in from the in 1961, Yunus joined as a in . In 1965, he received a Fulbright Fellowship to study in the United States, where he pursued doctoral studies at , holding and fellowships from 1966 to 1969 while earning his Ph.D. in in 1969. Following his doctorate, Yunus accepted an appointment as assistant professor of economics at in 1970, a position he held until 1972. Motivated by Bangladesh's independence in 1971 and the ensuing national challenges, he returned to his home country in 1972 and joined the as professor of economics and head of the Department of Economics. In this role, he advanced to associate professor while retaining departmental leadership responsibilities into the mid-1970s, later serving as full professor of economics from 1975 to 1989. Yunus continued to oversee academic and research activities in economics at Chittagong University amid Bangladesh's post-independence economic crises, including the 1974 famine, which influenced his shift toward applied poverty alleviation efforts.

Economic Analysis in Bangladesh

Upon returning to Bangladesh in 1972 following completion of his PhD in economics from , Yunus assumed the role of chairman of the Economics Department at the , where he focused on applying economic principles to the challenges of the newly independent nation's rural economy. His early work emphasized empirical observation over abstract theory, particularly in response to the severe of 1974-1975, which killed an estimated 1.5 million people and exposed structural failures in agricultural credit and systems. Yunus organized field trips with students to nearby villages, critiquing conventional economic models for overlooking how subsistence producers, such as bamboo stool makers, generated profits but remained trapped in due to reliance on high-interest informal lenders who captured up to 90% of earnings through daily interest and forced sales at low prices. In 1976, Yunus initiated in Jobra village, adjacent to the university campus, conducting household surveys that revealed a pervasive poverty trap rooted in capital scarcity rather than lack of entrepreneurial skill or labor. The identified that landless households required minimal —averaging $27 across 42 families—to purchase raw materials for crafts like stool-making or husking, enabling self-sufficiency and profit retention, yet formal banking institutions excluded them due to requirements and perceived risk. Moneylenders dominated rural markets, charging effective annual rates exceeding 100% through exploitative terms that perpetuated cycles and discouraged in productive assets. This empirical assessment highlighted causal links between restricted access to affordable and persistent , challenging neoclassical assumptions of efficient markets by demonstrating how asymmetries and biases marginalized the poorest, who comprised over 50% of rural Bangladesh's population at the time. Yunus's findings underscored broader systemic issues in Bangladesh's post-independence , including import-dependent systems vulnerable to global price shocks and inadequate rural that amplified impacts. By quantifying how small capital infusions could yield repayment rates near 100% when tied to group accountability—contrasting with moneylender defaults—he argued for rethinking as a human right rather than a commercial transaction, laying analytical groundwork for decentralized financial interventions. These insights, derived from direct village-level rather than macroeconomic aggregates, revealed that persisted not from laziness or market absence, but from institutional barriers that funneled surplus to intermediaries, informing subsequent policy debates on in agrarian economies.

Microfinance Initiatives

Origins of Microcredit Concept

In the mid-1970s, following Bangladesh's 1974 famine, Muhammad Yunus, an economics professor at the , observed exacerbated by high-interest moneylenders who captured most profits from poor artisans' output. In 1976, during fieldwork in Jobra village adjacent to the campus, Yunus surveyed destitute bamboo-stool makers and other micro-entrepreneurs, discovering that the cumulative debt of 42 households amounted to just US$27, which prevented them from retaining earnings from their labor. Yunus personally provided this $27 as collateral-free loans to the group, primarily women, enabling them to purchase raw materials directly and repay the principal plus modest interest from subsequent sales. The borrowers successfully repaid within months, demonstrating the viability of small-scale lending to the impoverished without traditional banking requirements like or paperwork, which Yunus attributed to the borrowers' inherent discipline when trusted with capital for . This experiment challenged conventional economic theory positing the poor as uncreditworthy, positing instead that access to tiny sums could catalyze productive activities and break cycles of by informal lenders charging rates often exceeding 10% per week. Building on this, Yunus expanded the approach using his own funds and later securing loans for a pilot program, lending to over 50,000 borrowers across villages by through group-based mechanisms where peers guaranteed repayments. These early initiatives formalized the concept: provision of microloans (typically under $100) at affordable rates to the poorest, emphasizing women's participation for household stability and leveraging social collateral over assets, which Yunus framed as a tool for alleviation via rather than . While historical lending to the poor existed elsewhere, Yunus's model innovated by scaling it systematically to the masses in a developing context, prioritizing empirical testing over theoretical assumptions.

Founding and Expansion of Grameen Bank

Muhammad Yunus initiated informal microloan experiments in 1974 during the famine, personally lending about $27 to 42 impoverished families in Jobra village who lacked capital to purchase for stool-making. This experience highlighted the potential of small credits to break traps without collateral, prompting Yunus to formalize the approach. In , as head of the Program at the , he launched an action research pilot project in Jobra village adjacent to the campus, partnering with a local branch to test credit delivery to landless villagers, emphasizing women borrowers for income-generating activities like or rearing. The Jobra pilot succeeded with near-perfect repayment rates, leading to replication in neighboring villages from 1976 to 1979, where group lending—five-person units with joint liability—and weekly center meetings enforced discipline without traditional collateral. In 1979, the project scaled to Tangail district under Janata Bank's management, backed by Bangladesh's central bank and other nationalized commercial banks, expanding to hundreds of borrowers. However, tensions arose over Yunus's innovative methods conflicting with conventional banking practices, prompting the government's passage of the Grameen Bank Ordinance in October 1983, which established it as an independent statutory public bank focused exclusively on the poor. At inception, Grameen operated 86 branches serving around 58,000 borrowers. Post-1983, prioritized rapid rural penetration, opening new branches in underserved areas and refining its model with 16 decisions recited at centers to instill savings, , and habits alongside loans starting at about $100, escalating with repayment history. By the early , it had surpassed 500 branches and 2 million borrowers, achieving financial self-sufficiency through high recovery rates (over 97%) and borrower deposits funding 70% of operations. Expansion continued aggressively, reaching over 1,100 branches by 2000 with 2.3 million members, primarily women (94-97%). As of September 2025, the bank maintains 2,568 branches across 81,678 villages—covering 94% of Bangladesh's villages—serving 10.77 million borrowers (97% women), with cumulative loan disbursements exceeding $40.8 billion and outstanding loans at $1.38 billion. Borrower ownership constitutes 95% of shares, with the government holding 5%.

Global Dissemination of the Model

The Grameen microcredit model, characterized by collateral-free group lending to the poor, particularly women, began disseminating internationally in the 1990s through training programs, partnerships, and Yunus's advocacy. By the early 2000s, replications emerged in over 40 countries, including adaptations by institutions in the United States, , , , and parts of and , benefiting an estimated 16.88 million low-income households as of 2020. The 2006 awarded to Yunus and Grameen Bank accelerated this spread by enhancing credibility and attracting funding from international donors, leading to widespread adoption of core elements like weekly meetings and peer accountability. Grameen Foundation, founded in 1997 to export the model, established operations in 27 countries across , , , the , providing technical assistance and replicating group-based lending to reach underserved borrowers. In , organizations such as BancoSol in and FINCA drew directly from Grameen principles, scaling microloans to rural and urban poor populations. Grameen America, launched in 2008, adapted the model for the U.S. urban context, serving over 100,000 low-income entrepreneurs by emphasizing 100% female borrowers and mandatory savings. Yunus extended dissemination beyond microcredit via the social business framework, promoting non-dividend-paying enterprises addressing poverty and sustainability. Yunus Social Business, active globally since the 2010s, has financed over 500 ventures, creating thousands of jobs and impacting more than 17 million people through sectors like healthcare, clean energy, and agriculture in regions including Uganda and East Africa. The Yunus Centre in Dhaka serves as a hub, training international delegations and fostering partnerships that embedded Grameen-inspired practices in over 60 countries by the 2020s.

Evaluation of Microfinance Impact

Yunus theorized that arises primarily from the lack of access to , which prevents capable individuals from engaging in productive , and posited that extending small, collateral-free loans—termed —would enable the poor to harness their inherent entrepreneurial potential and break free from exploitative moneylenders. He argued that should be recognized as a fundamental human right, allowing borrowers to invest in income-generating activities such as crafting stools or raising , thereby fostering without creating dependency on . This approach emphasized group lending, where borrowers form self-selected groups of five to provide peer and mutual guarantee, substituting social collateral for traditional assets and achieving repayment rates exceeding 98% through trust and community pressure rather than legal enforcement. In promoting microfinance, Yunus highlighted Grameen Bank's establishment in 1983 as a transformative institution that extended loans averaging $27 to the poorest rural populations, primarily landless women, enabling them to launch microenterprises and accumulate savings. He claimed this model had disbursed billions in loans to over 7 million borrowers by the mid-2000s, with 97% being women, resulting in widespread alleviation as families graduated from subsistence to surplus-generating activities. Yunus further asserted that Grameen demonstrated the viability of blending profit-oriented banking with social objectives, inspiring a global replication of institutions across more than 60 countries and contributing to the ' recognition of as a tool for the . These outcomes, he maintained, validated the theory by proving the poor's bankability and capacity for disciplined repayment, ultimately positioning as a scalable path to eradicating worldwide.

Empirical Evidence from Studies

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted since the mid-2000s have provided causal evidence on 's impacts, revealing modest effects rather than transformative . A seminal study across six countries, including evaluations akin to Grameen Bank's group-lending model, found that expanded access to led to increased investments and profits for some but no significant changes in average household consumption, health, education, or metrics. Similarly, a of seven RCTs indicated negligible overall impacts on consumption, income, or assets for households new to , with benefits primarily accruing to entrepreneurial subsets rather than the general poor population. Early non-randomized evaluations of reported correlations between borrowing and poverty declines, such as reduced rates from 75% to lower levels among borrowers compared to non-borrowers, attributed to cumulative loan effects. However, these studies suffered from , as Grameen targeted relatively advantaged poor women, inflating apparent outcomes. Rigorous audits and RCTs later highlighted limited causal links; for instance, Grameen America's RCT showed boosts in business activity but no gains in total income or after 18 months. Meta-analyses underscore heterogeneity: positively affects performance and client-level development indicators like income diversification in some contexts, but effects on broader alleviation are small or insignificant, particularly without complementary interventions like . High interest rates (often 20-40% annually in Grameen-like models) and repayment pressures via group liability have been linked in empirical reviews to over-indebtedness risks, with no net in saturated s. These findings challenge early claims of as a , emphasizing that while it expands financial access, sustainable impacts require addressing causal barriers like gaps and constraints.

Criticisms Including Financial Practices

Critics have accused Grameen Bank of charging excessively high interest rates on microloans, with effective annual rates reportedly reaching 20-30% or more when including administrative fees and compulsory savings, which some analyses equate to predatory lending practices targeting vulnerable borrowers. A 2011 investigation by MFTransparency highlighted discrepancies in Grameen Bank's disclosed rates, verifying claims of up to 30% interest plus an additional 10% in forced savings, arguing that such structures burden the poor despite the bank's high repayment rates exceeding 98%. Yunus and Grameen defenders counter that these rates are necessary to cover operational costs in rural areas without subsidies and that borrowers benefit from access to capital otherwise unavailable, though empirical studies on microfinance broadly indicate limited poverty alleviation and risks of over-indebtedness from multiple overlapping loans. In 1996-1997, transferred approximately $100 million in donor funds, primarily Norwegian aid intended for the bank's operations, to its sister nonprofit Grameen Kalyan without explicit donor approval, prompting a Norwegian probe and contributing to Yunus's 2011 ouster as managing director. While Norway's investigation ultimately cleared Yunus and Grameen of intentional wrongdoing, concluding the funds were retransferred after complaints and used for legitimate social purposes, a Bangladeshi deemed the transfer "" as exceeding the bank's legal authority. This incident, amid broader allegations of financial irregularities like unauthorized fund allocations, fueled claims of mismanagement, though subsequent audits in 2011 found no evidence of systemic at Grameen. Additional scrutiny has focused on aggressive tactics at Grameen, including group pressure on defaulters and public shaming, which a 2010 alleged exploited and misallocated aid, exacerbating cycles of debt rather than fostering . Reports from and analysts have linked such practices to rising indebtedness, with case studies showing households trapped in repayment loops despite high recovery rates, challenging the model's sustainability for the poorest demographics. These criticisms, often amplified by political opponents like former who accused Yunus of siphoning profits from the poor, intersect with empirical findings that microcredit's poverty impacts are modest at best, with randomized trials revealing no significant long-term income gains for recipients. Yunus has denied , attributing high rates and collections to field realities, but the controversies underscore tensions between Grameen's innovative structure and accountability in nonprofit finance.

Political Involvement

Initial Advisory and Civil Society Roles

In 1996, Muhammad Yunus served as an advisor in Bangladesh's , a non-partisan interim administration led by Muhammad Habibur Rahman from April to June, tasked with overseeing the transition to national elections following the end of the previous government's term. This role positioned Yunus among a small group of technocrats and experts appointed to ensure administrative neutrality and facilitate fair electoral processes amid political tensions between the ruling and opposition forces. His involvement marked an early foray into advisory capacities outside his primary focus on , leveraging his reputation as an to support governance stability during the 90-day constitutional mandate for such governments. Beyond formal advisory duties, Yunus emerged as a key figure in Bangladeshi through advocacy for innovative poverty solutions and institutional reforms. He promoted "social business" models—enterprises designed to address social issues like and without profit maximization as the primary goal—establishing frameworks that influenced dozens of initiatives under the Grameen umbrella and beyond. By the mid-1990s, these efforts had expanded to include sister organizations tackling health, technology, and environmental challenges, positioning Yunus as a bridge between activism and policy discourse. Yunus's civil society engagement also extended to international platforms with domestic implications, such as his membership in the International Advisory Group for the ' Fourth World Conference on Women from 1993 to 1995, where he contributed insights on economic empowerment in developing contexts. In , he critiqued systemic and inefficiencies in public institutions, advocating for citizen-led oversight mechanisms, though these positions occasionally drew scrutiny from political establishments wary of non-partisan influencers. His emphasis on empirical, bottom-up interventions—rooted in data from field experiments showing credit's role in breaking cycles—distinguished his civil society work from ideological activism, prioritizing measurable outcomes over partisan alignment.

Formation of Nagorik Shakti Party

In the context of Bangladesh's 2006-2007 , marked by a , allegations of , and deadlock between the and , Muhammad Yunus resigned as chief adviser of government on February 11, 2007, after a brief tenure aimed at stabilizing the country. Shortly thereafter, Yunus shifted toward direct political engagement, announcing on February 18, 2007, his intention to form a new party named Nagorik Shakti, translating to "Citizens' Power," to contest upcoming elections. He described the move as a response to pervasive and governance failures, stating that he could no longer remain detached from despite prior reluctance. Yunus positioned Nagorik Shakti as a platform to empower ordinary citizens, drawing on his experience to advocate for poverty alleviation, ethical governance, and non-partisan reform, explicitly rejecting alliances with established parties tainted by scandal. The announcement garnered initial support from figures and youth, who viewed Yunus's Nobel credentials and outsider status as assets against , though it faced skepticism from military and political incumbents wary of his rising influence. Formal registration and organizational buildup were planned for later that month, with Yunus pledging to field candidates nationwide. However, the initiative stalled amid external pressures, including reported interventions from army chief , who urged Yunus to prioritize national stability over partisanship. By May 2007, Yunus publicly withdrew from active political formation, dissolving the nascent party's structure and redirecting efforts toward advisory and social roles, citing the need to avoid further division during the caretaker regime's anti-corruption drive. No elections were contested under the Nagorik banner, rendering it a short-lived proposal rather than a sustained entity.

Appointment as Chief Adviser (2024)

Following the resignation of on August 5, 2024, amid widespread student-led protests against her government's quota system and broader authoritarian practices, Bangladesh's military chief, , met with student representatives to discuss forming an interim administration. The protesters, organized under platforms like the Students Against , rejected initial proposals for a military-backed or technocratic government led by figures close to the establishment, insisting instead on an apolitical interim leader with international credibility to oversee reforms and elections. Muhammad Yunus, a laureate known for his work and prior criticisms of Hasina's administration—which had included legal actions against him—was proposed by the student leaders as chief adviser due to his perceived neutrality and global stature. On August 6, 2024, President formally invited Yunus, then aged 84 and residing abroad, to return and assume the role, which he accepted after consulting with protesters. Yunus arrived in on August 8 and was sworn in that evening at the by Shahabuddin, heading a 17-member interim council comprising students, figures most of whom are related to different NGOs, and technocrats, with no military representatives. In his oath-taking speech, Yunus pledged to "uphold, support, and protect the " while prioritizing national unity, healing from the violence that killed over 300 during the unrest, and preparing for free elections within months. The appointment drew international support from figures like UN Secretary-General , who urged stability, though it faced skepticism from Hasina's supporters regarding Yunus's ability to manage the power vacuum.

Governance as Interim Leader

Key Reforms and Policies Implemented

Upon assuming the role of Chief Adviser on August 8, 2024, Muhammad Yunus prioritized institutional reforms to facilitate free and fair elections, forming six commissions on , 2024, tasked with recommending changes to the , , police administration, , anti-corruption mechanisms, and . These bodies, led by figures and former officials, submitted reports by mid-2025, contributing to the drafting of the "July Charter" for comprehensive state reform, which secured endorsements from over 30 by October 17, 2025, excluding some student and leftist groups. By September 19, 2025, ministries under the had enacted 24 self-initiated reform proposals alongside inputs, with Yunus directing dissemination of these achievements to build . Notable implementations included the approval of the Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, aimed at enhancing operational independence; the Election Officer (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025, streamlining personnel management; and the second amendment to several financial laws via ordinance in 2025, targeting regulatory efficiencies. In media policy, the government introduced reforms on August 17, 2025, repealing restrictive laws from the prior administration, such as the Digital Security Act remnants, to foster press freedom and replace censorship mechanisms with accountability-focused regulations. For the judiciary, a dedicated reform commission established in October 2024 recommended structural changes, leading to in-principle approval of a standalone judiciary secretariat on October 23, 2025, to reduce executive interference in judicial appointments and budgeting. These steps aligned with broader pledges for security sector inquiries into past abuses and constitutional revisions, though full enactment remained tied to consensus-building ahead of elections projected for late 2025 or early 2026.

Economic and Judicial Initiatives

The interim government under Muhammad Yunus launched drives as a core economic initiative to recover assets siphoned from the national economy during the prior administration. Soon after assuming power in August 2024, Yunus commissioned an independent 12-member commission to investigate systemic graft, which had drained billions of dollars abroad over the previous 15 years. In September 2025, at the UN General Assembly, Yunus advocated for international cooperation to repatriate these illicit funds, emphasizing their return to rightful owners as essential for economic recovery. These measures aimed to bolster fiscal stability amid inherited challenges like depleted foreign reserves and high . Macroeconomic stabilization efforts included targeted reforms to curb and restore , yielding in key indicators during the government's first nine months. The administration also sustained support for the garment sector, Bangladesh's primary export driver, while pledging continuity in that indirectly underpins economic resilience through refugee management. Broader economic transition strategies involved leveraging Yunus's global networks to assemble international support for recovery, though specific policy implementations remained focused on short-term stabilization rather than sweeping structural overhauls. On the judicial front, Yunus's government formed a Commission in October 2024 as part of six specialized reform bodies announced on September 11, 2024, to address institutional weaknesses exposed by the July uprising. The commission, expanded to eight members by August 2025, prioritized restoring and public trust through recommendations such as establishing a separate for the to insulate it from interference. This proposal received in-principle approval on October 23, 2025. Additional initiatives included directives to review and dismiss politically motivated cases filed before and after August 2024, irrespective of affiliation, to prevent abuse of legal processes. These steps sought to realign the with constitutional principles of , though implementation faced delays amid ongoing transitional pressures.

Security and Electoral Challenges

The interim government under Muhammad Yunus encountered significant security challenges, marked by unreformed security forces that showed limited cooperation in addressing past abuses and ongoing threats. reported in July 2025 that the security sector remained largely unchanged a year after Sheikh Hasina's flight, with forces failing to fully engage in investigations into enforced disappearances and other violations from the prior regime. Persistent violence targeted affiliates and religious minorities, including Hindus, amid rising risks of sectarian clashes fueled by political retribution following the July 2024 uprising. In May 2025, the government imposed a temporary ban on the under new ordinances, which critics argued exacerbated tensions without curbing attacks on its members. Religious hardliners and vigilante groups contributed to instability, with reports of violent protests and assaults on perceived Hasina loyalists persisting into late 2024 and 2025. The interim administration's handling of these issues drew criticism for inadequate police reforms and arbitrary arrests, including of journalists, amid broader concerns over press freedom and extrajudicial actions. Political transitions like Bangladesh's created fertile conditions for such unrest, as noted in analyses highlighting the interim period's vulnerability to exploitation by extremists. Electorally, Yunus prioritized reforms over immediate polls, leading to repeated delays that strained stability. In December 2024, he outlined elections for late 2025 or early 2026, citing the need for comprehensive electoral changes, but by August 2025, the timeline shifted to February 2026. The warned in March 2025 that postponements beyond that year risked heightened instability, echoing broader calls for inclusive voting to resolve factional clashes. This "reform-first" strategy faced accusations of constitutional overreach, as it extended unelected rule while student-led groups refused coalitions and violence erupted around reform charters. Delays compounded challenges in and institutional overhaul, with no firm roadmap by mid-2025 to mitigate opposition boycotts or ensure fair participation.

Financial Irregularities and Grameen Scandals

In late 2010, a Norwegian state broadcaster alleged that Grameen Bank, under Muhammad Yunus's leadership, had diverted approximately $100 million in donor aid—primarily from Norway's NORAD—intended for the bank's equity capital to Grameen Kalyan, one of its sister non-governmental organizations, without explicit donor consent. Grameen Bank rejected the claims as a "total fabrication," asserting that the transfers constituted repayable loans or equity contributions approved by internal governance and that no funds were misappropriated for personal gain. A subsequent investigation by NORAD concluded in 2011 that while procedural lapses occurred, there was no evidence of fraud or personal enrichment by Yunus, though it recommended stricter oversight of fund usage. A Bangladeshi government-appointed review committee, formed in response to the allegations, examined Grameen Bank's operations in 2011 and identified violations of banking regulations, including unauthorized transfers totaling around 4.47 billion (approximately $60 million at the time) to Grameen Kalyan and smaller amounts to entities like , without approval. The committee found no instances of or but criticized the bank's for lacking in handling donor funds across its network of 34 sister organizations, some of which operated as for-profits partially funded by non-profit reserves. These irregularities contributed to Bank's decision in March 2011 to remove Yunus as managing director, citing his age exceeding the mandatory retirement limit of 60 and non-compliance with regulatory norms, a move upheld by the courts despite appeals. Further scrutiny emerged in 2016 when Bangladesh's National Board of Revenue initiated a tax audit of Yunus, Grameen Bank, and associated entities over alleged undeclared income and irregularities in financial reporting spanning prior years. No convictions resulted from this probe, but it fueled perceptions among critics of selective enforcement amid political tensions between Yunus and the Awami League government. In May 2024, Grameen Bank's board, now under government-appointed leadership, lodged a formal graft complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), accusing Yunus of money laundering, illegally disbursing a 9.5 crore taka loan (about $800,000) to a family-linked firm, and benefiting relatives through undue allocations during his tenure. Yunus's Yunus Centre dismissed the accusations as baseless and politically driven, noting that prior audits by Bangladesh Bank had uncovered no personal financial misconduct. As of October 2025, the ACC investigation remains ongoing without charges filed against Yunus on these specific financial claims. In 2011, the Central Bank of Bangladesh removed Yunus from his position as managing director of , citing that he had exceeded the mandatory retirement age of 60 stipulated in the bank's ordinance, a decision Yunus contested in court but which was upheld by the in 2013. This removal was accompanied by government allegations of financial irregularities, including the unauthorized diversion of approximately $100 million from to affiliated entities between 1996 and 2010, prompting investigations and the eventual restructuring of the bank's governance to grant the state majority control by 2013. Yunus maintained these actions were politically motivated by Sheikh Hasina's administration, which viewed his independent influence as a , though official probes cited non-compliance with regulatory statutes. Further legal scrutiny intensified in 2013 when Yunus was tried for allegedly receiving salary payments and funds from without government authorization, charges that stemmed from audits revealing discrepancies in and to sister organizations. These proceedings, part of over a dozen cases accumulated by the mid-2010s, focused on claims of and lapses but resulted in no convictions at the time, with Yunus attributing them to efforts to undermine 's autonomy. A prominent case emerged in September 2021 when the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments filed charges against Yunus and three executives for violating labor laws by failing to establish a mandatory workers' fund and deposit 5% of the company's distributable profits into it, as required under the Labour Act of 2006. Proceedings advanced through 2022 and , including witness testimonies and appeals; in August , the Division rejected a petition to quash the case, affirming its continuation despite Yunus's arguments that , as a non-profit entity, was exempt from such profit-sharing obligations. By late , the labor court had recorded evidence from over 50 witnesses, setting a date for January 2024, amid Yunus's claims of prosecutorial overreach and compared to similar entities. Parallel to this, tax authorities initiated probes in 2022-2023 into alleged evasions totaling millions of taka by Grameen entities under Yunus's oversight, though these yielded fines rather than criminal convictions pre-2024. Overall, by the end of , Yunus faced approximately 150-170 pending cases, predominantly related to financial and labor compliance in his affiliated organizations, which critics described as a pattern of judicial harassment by the Hasina regime to neutralize his opposition role. Following Yunus's appointment as Chief Adviser on August 8, 2024, several major pre-2024 legal charges against him were resolved in his favor, including the overturning of a labor law conviction by the Labour Appellate Tribunal on August 7, 2024; acquittal in an Anti-Corruption Commission graft case on August 11, 2024; quashing of money laundering proceedings by the Supreme Court in April 2025; and upholding of a High Court decision scrapping five labor law cases by the Supreme Court in December 2024.

Post-2024 Governance Criticisms

Yunus's interim administration has faced accusations of prolonging its rule without delivering on promised democratic reforms, with elections delayed until mid-2026 despite initial pledges for quicker transitions following Hasina's ouster on August 5, 2024. Opposition parties, including the (), and military leaders have criticized the government for stalling electoral processes to favor newly formed student-led entities like the National Citizen Party, arguing that such delays undermine stability and risk renewed unrest. In May 2025, Yunus threatened to resign if political factions failed to support reforms, highlighting internal frustrations over stalled progress in electoral and economic restructuring. Tensions between the interim government and the have escalated, with army chief General demanding elections by December 2024 to restore order, while Yunus prioritized reforms over immediate polls. Critics point to policy clashes, including army opposition to initiatives like satellite access and foreign port management deals perceived as sovereignty threats, as evidence of a deepening "" that hampers governance. By September 2025, trials of 15 serving military officers for alleged crimes under the prior regime further strained relations, with former army chief Ikbal Karim characterizing the proceedings as sparking a that erodes military loyalty to the civilian-led interim setup. Economic performance has deteriorated under Yunus's leadership, with GDP growth recording its weakest rate in 36 years by mid-2025, attributed to lapses, disruptions, and failure to address inherited effectively. Exports to key markets like the declined by 4.6% to $3.62 billion in September 2025, exacerbating fiscal pressures amid stalled tax reforms resisted by bureaucratic inertia. Observers have noted a broader regression, including unfulfilled promises to overhaul revenue collection systems, leaving Bangladesh in deepening crisis with rising and not mitigated by microfinance-focused interventions. Security breakdowns have intensified criticisms, particularly regarding a surge in targeting , with approximately 2,010 incidents reported nationwide between August 4 and 20, 2024, including attacks on temples and homes amid the power vacuum post-Hasina. The government's inability to restore functionality—many officers remain absent or unwilling to serve—has led to persistent gang violence and reliance on army deployments, while Yunus dismissed international reports of minority in October 2025 as exaggerated or fabricated. documented ongoing risks from collapsed law enforcement, linking the interim period's instability to heightened Islamist influences and failures in prosecuting attackers. Internal divisions within the , including rifts over appointments and loyalties, have compounded perceptions of incompetence, with reports in October 2025 highlighting disputes that test Yunus's leadership ahead of planned 2026 elections. Critics from exiled figures argue that suspending their party's registration and excluding them from polls violates inclusivity, potentially entrenching unelected rule and fostering radical elements. Overall, these issues have led to warnings of democratic , with the interim government's extended tenure—potentially 18 months by February 2026—viewed by detractors as prioritizing elite reforms over public accountability.

Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Muhammad Yunus was born on June 28, 1940, as the third of nine children to Haji Muhammad Dula Meah, a jeweler, and Sufia Khatun in Bathua village near , . Yunus's first was to Forostenko, a woman of Russian descent, around 1970 while he was in the United States; the couple had one daughter, , born in 1977 in . The ended in divorce shortly after Monica's birth, with Forostenko returning to amid reported frustrations with life in . Monica, an opera singer based in , has maintained contact with her father. In 1980, Yunus married Afrozi Yunus, a and later ; they had one , Deena Afroz Yunus, born approximately six years later. The couple resides in , though no public details indicate separation or . Yunus has two daughters in total, with no other marriages or children documented in reliable accounts.

Health and Residences

Yunus was born on June 28, 1940, in , , and maintains family ties to a village home in Najumia Haat, , , which was visited by authorities in September 2023 for verification of personal details. For much of his professional life, he resided in a modest of two or three small rooms within the compound in , shared with his daughter and wife during the period when associates worked closely with him. Following his appointment as Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government in August 2024, Yunus relocated to the Jamuna on Minto Road in , which serves as both his official residence and office, equipped with enhanced security measures including armored vehicles. At age 85, Yunus has no publicly documented conditions, though he underwent a minor in in early August 2024 before returning to to assume leadership duties. In October 2024, he had another minor procedure at the Combined Military Hospital in to remove a skin lesion. These interventions appear routine and non-debilitating, with no reported impact on his public engagements or governance role as of late 2024.

Publications and Intellectual Contributions

Major Books and Writings

Yunus's most prominent book, Banker to the Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty, co-authored with Alan Jolis and first published in 1999 by PublicAffairs, provides an autobiographical account of his experiments with in during the 1970s and the establishment of in 1983, emphasizing small loans to the impoverished without to foster . In Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism, published in 2007 by PublicAffairs, Yunus introduces the framework of "social business"—enterprises structured to solve social problems while reinvesting profits rather than distributing them to shareholders—as an extension of microfinance principles to tackle broader issues like health and education. Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism That Serves Humanity's Most Pressing Needs, released on May 11, 2010, by PublicAffairs, elaborates practical strategies for implementing social businesses, including partnerships with corporations like Danone and Veolia to address malnutrition and sanitation in developing regions. His later work, A World of Three Zeros: The New Economics of Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Carbon Emissions, co-authored with Karl Weber and published on September 26, 2017, by PublicAffairs, advocates for systemic economic reforms aiming to eliminate , joblessness, and through youth-led social enterprises and technology-driven innovations. Yunus has also contributed essays and forewords to various publications on microfinance and sustainable development, though his major writings center on these core texts promoting non-profit-driven capitalism.

Social Business Philosophy

Muhammad Yunus introduced the concept of social business in his 2007 book Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism, positing it as a non-dividend-paying enterprise designed to address social problems while achieving financial sustainability without losses. In this framework, investors recover their initial capital but forgo ongoing financial returns, with any surplus revenue reinvested to expand operations or further the social mission, such as improving nutrition, healthcare access, or environmental conditions in underserved communities. Yunus argued that traditional capitalism, driven solely by profit maximization, overlooks humanity's multifaceted motivations, including a "selfless" drive to contribute to societal good, which social business harnesses by prioritizing social returns over personal financial gain. The philosophy rests on seven principles outlined by Yunus, including the business's objective to overcome a specific social issue like poverty or malnutrition, its requirement to be financially viable without relying on donations, and the complete reinvestment of profits to sustain and scale impact. He expanded these ideas in his 2010 book Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism That Serves Humanity's Most Pressing Needs, advocating for hybrid models where corporations partner with social businesses—such as the 2006 joint venture between Grameen Bank and Danone to produce affordable fortified yogurt for malnourished children in Bangladesh, which aimed to generate revenue while combating micronutrient deficiencies. Yunus contended that this approach could eradicate poverty by unleashing entrepreneurial energy among the poor, distinct from charity or microcredit, as it treats social problems as marketable opportunities solvable through innovative, self-sustaining enterprises. Critics have challenged the model's practicality, arguing its on dividends deters scalable , potentially limiting growth beyond subsidized or niche projects, as traditional investors seek financial returns to justify risk. Others contend the rigid non-profit-distribution rule ignores real-world incentives, risking mission drift or inefficiency, and question its alignment with of sustained impact, given that many businesses require ongoing external support despite claims of self-sufficiency. Yunus maintained that the philosophy's strength lies in redefining success metrics beyond monetary profit, fostering a "third kind of " complementary to profit-maximizing and nonprofit entities, though has remained limited globally, with over 100 businesses reported under Grameen auspices by 2010 but scant independent verification of widespread alleviation.

Awards and Recognitions

Nobel Peace Prize and Context

On October 13, 2006, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank, dividing the prize equally between them. The official citation praised their efforts "to create economic and social development from below," highlighting Yunus's pioneering of microcredit as a tool to empower the impoverished by providing small, collateral-free loans primarily to women for income-generating activities. This recognition positioned microfinance as a non-violent mechanism for fostering peace through poverty alleviation, with the Committee arguing that lasting peace requires addressing economic disenfranchisement alongside political solutions. Yunus's work with Grameen Bank, founded in 1983, involved lending minuscule sums—often starting at $27—to borrowers excluded from traditional banking, enforcing repayment through group accountability rather than legal enforcement. By 2006, Grameen had disbursed billions in loans to millions of clients, mostly rural women in Bangladesh, achieving reported repayment rates above 95%, which fueled global acclaim for the model as a scalable antidote to poverty. The award amplified microfinance's spread worldwide, inspiring replications and attracting investment under the assumption that access to credit inherently spurs entrepreneurship and self-reliance. Subsequent empirical research, however, has tempered enthusiasm for microfinance's poverty-reducing efficacy, revealing mixed outcomes that challenge the Nobel rationale's optimism. Randomized controlled trials, such as those conducted in India and Morocco, found no significant long-term increases in household income, consumption, or assets from microloans, with benefits often limited to short-term smoothing of expenditures rather than transformative growth. High interest rates—frequently exceeding 20% at Grameen—coupled with group pressure, have been linked to over-indebtedness and social coercion in some cases, potentially exacerbating vulnerability rather than alleviating it, a phenomenon termed "immiserizing credit." While proponents credit microfinance with empowering women through financial inclusion, critics argue the Nobel endorsement overstated causal links between tiny loans and broad socioeconomic peace, ignoring structural barriers like market failures and limited entrepreneurial opportunities among the poor. These findings underscore that microcredit's peace dividend remains empirically contested, with impact varying by context rather than universally assured.

Other Honors and Critiques

Yunus received the , the highest civilian honor in the United States, from President on September 10, 2009, recognizing his innovative model for empowering the poor. In 2010, the U.S. Congress awarded him the for his contributions to alleviating global poverty through . Other significant recognitions include Bangladesh's Independence Day Award in 1987, the nation's highest civilian honor, for his rural development work; the for Community Leadership in 1984; and the in 1994 for creating a sustainable lending system for the impoverished. He has also been conferred over 60 honorary degrees from universities across more than 20 countries. Critics have questioned the efficacy of Yunus's model, with randomized controlled trials showing that access to increases borrowing but yields limited impacts on household income, consumption, or long-term . Grameen Bank's interest rates, effective at approximately 20% annually after accounting for compulsory savings and fees, have drawn accusations of burdening borrowers despite being lower than informal lenders' rates exceeding 50%. Yunus's 2011 removal from by Bangladesh's government, citing age and regulatory issues, was viewed by observers as politically driven due to his perceived threat to the ruling , rather than substantive governance failures. Further critiques highlight the absence of a robust succession strategy at Grameen, raising concerns about institutional vulnerability to founder-centric . Some analyses argue emphasizes individual entrepreneurship over addressing structural inequalities, potentially diverting attention from broader policy reforms needed for poverty alleviation.

References

  1. [1]
    Muhammad Yunus – Facts - NobelPrize.org
    Muhammad Yunus Nobel Peace Prize 2006. Born: 28 June 1940, Chittagong, British India (now Bangladesh). Residence at the time of the award: Bangladesh.
  2. [2]
    Grameen Bank – Facts - NobelPrize.org
    By establishing Grameen Bank in 1983, Muhammad Yunus sought to realise his vision of self-support for the very poorest people by means of loans on easy terms.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  3. [3]
    Muhammad Yunus takes oath as head of Bangladesh's interim ...
    Aug 8, 2024 · The Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as the head of Bangladesh's interim government.
  4. [4]
    Bangladesh - Chief Adviser of the interim Government… - UN Web TV
    Sep 27, 2024 · Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, addresses the general debate of the 79th Session of the General ...
  5. [5]
    Muhammad Yunus – Biographical - NobelPrize.org
    Born in 1940 in the seaport city of Chittagong, Professor Yunus studied at Dhaka University in Bangladesh, then received a Fulbright scholarship to study ...
  6. [6]
    Grameen Bank Founder
    Dr. Muhammad Yunus, a distinguished Bangladeshi entrepreneur, banker, economist, and civil society leader, remains a prominent global figure.
  7. [7]
    Muhammad Yunus • Founding Member of Board
    Professor Yunus successfully melded capitalism with social responsibility to create the Grameen Bank, a microcredit institution committed to providing small ...
  8. [8]
    From 'Banker' to 'Bloodsucker': The Trials of Muhammad Yunus | TIME
    Jun 24, 2024 · While teaching in Tennessee, Yunus founded a citizen's committee, ran the Bangladesh Information Center and published a newsletter to raise ...
  9. [9]
    Bangladesh court indicts Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and ...
    Jun 12, 2024 · The prosecution has accused Yunus and the others of embezzling 250 million takas (about $2 million) from the workers welfare fund of Grameen ...Missing: microfinance | Show results with:microfinance
  10. [10]
    Managing Directors - Grameen Bank
    Muhammad Yunus was born on 28 June, 1940 in the village of Bathua, in Hathazari, Chittagong, the business centre of what was then Eastern Bengal.
  11. [11]
    [PDF] Biography of Professor Muhammad Yunus
    Professor Muhammad Yunus was born on June 28, 1940. He is the founder and managing director of Grameen Bank, which pioneered microcredit. This is a method of ...
  12. [12]
    About Professor Yunus :: Family
    Name, PROFESSOR MUHAMMAD YUNUS. Wife, Afrozi Yunus. Eldest Daughter, Monica Yunus. Youngest Daughter, Deena Yunus. Father, Haji Muhammad Dula Meah.Missing: birthplace | Show results with:birthplace
  13. [13]
    Muhammad Yunus Biography - life, family, children, name, story ...
    Born June 28, 1940, in Chittagong, Bangladesh; son of Hazi Dula Mia Shoudagar (a jeweler) and Sufia Khatun Yunus; married Vera Forostenko (divorced); married ...Missing: parents | Show results with:parents
  14. [14]
    Prof. Muhammad Yunus - Premiere Speakers Bureau
    ... Muhammad Yunus ... Yunus was born in 28th June, 1940 in the village of Bathua, in Hathazari, Chittagong, the business centre of what was then Eastern Bengal.
  15. [15]
    Nobel Laureates - Department of Economics and Finance - MTSU
    Yunus studied economics at Dhaka University where he received bachelor's and master's degrees. In the mid 1960s he entered the Ph.D. program at Vanderbilt ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
  16. [16]
    Muhammad Yunus | Biography & Facts | Britannica Money
    Oct 12, 2025 · Grameen Bank, Bangladeshi bank founded by economist Muhammad Yunus as a means of providing small loans to poor individuals (see microcredit). In ...
  17. [17]
    [PDF] Muhammad Yunus - COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL
    A Dynamic Programming. Model, ” he had already moved on and was teaching ...
  18. [18]
    Muhammad Yunus | Vanderbilt Trailblazers
    Yunus earned his doctorate in economics from Vanderbilt in 1971. He taught at Middle Tennessee State University from 1969 to 1972 and returned to Bangladesh in ...
  19. [19]
    Banishing Poverty to Museums and History Books - BYU Magazine
    The ultimate goal of which, according to Muhammad Yunus, the movement's founder, is to “banish poverty to museum displays and history books.”
  20. [20]
  21. [21]
    CV of Professor Muhammad Yunus
    ... Muhammad Yunus, Founder of Grameen Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Personal Information. Name, PROFESSOR MUHAMMAD YUNUS. Date of Birth, June 28, 1940. Marital Status ...
  22. [22]
    Muhammad Yunus: History, Accomplishments, Criticism - Investopedia
    In the early 1970s, Yunus completed his PhD in economics at Vanderbilt University. Following his studies, Yunus returned to Bangladesh to become the head of ...
  23. [23]
    Alleviating Poverty Through Technology - Science
    Muhammad Yunus is ... In 1974 I began work as Chair of the Economics Department at Chittagong University in the newly independent country of Bangladesh.
  24. [24]
    The Good Banker
    Muhammad Yunus believes that he can eradicate world poverty ... Returning in 1972 to become the head of the economics department at Chittagong University ...
  25. [25]
    History of Grameen Bank | www.grameenresearch.org
    The origin of Grameen Bank can be traced back to 1976 when Professor Muhammad Yunus, Head of the Rural Economics Program at the University of Chittagong, ...
  26. [26]
    Introduction – Grameen Bank
    The Grameen Bank project started in 1976 as an action research pilot project in "Jobra" village in Chattogram district of Bangladesh. In 1983, the pilot project ...Missing: survey | Show results with:survey
  27. [27]
    [PDF] Grameen Bank: Taking Capitalism to the Poor
    Nov 8, 2003 · Yunus found 42 people in Jobra in the same poverty trap, and in 1976 he experimented by lending them small amounts of money at reasonable rates.
  28. [28]
    The Grameen Bank Experiment—Providing Affordable Credit To The ...
    Muhammad Yunus (MY): In 1976, when we first began giving loans to the landless in the village of Jobra in Bangladesh, we never imagined that within a few years ...Missing: survey | Show results with:survey
  29. [29]
    2.0 the case of grameen bank
    2.2 From action research project to bank. In 1976, Professor Muhammad Yunus launched an action research project in Jobra village near the university in ...Missing: survey | Show results with:survey
  30. [30]
    The Evolution of Microfinance - PBS
    Oct 31, 2006 · Yunus first came across the idea of microcredit while studying the lives of poor entrepreneurs in his native Bangladesh during the famine of ...
  31. [31]
    Profile: Muhammad Yunus, 'world's banker to the poor' - BBC News
    Mar 2, 2011 · The first loans he issued had a value of $27 (£14.50). Their recipients were 42 women from the village of Jobra, near the university.
  32. [32]
    Lending to the world's poorest: learning from the Grameen Bank
    Lifetime Achievement Award for founder of Grameen Bank​​ In 1976, in the village of Jobra in Bangladesh, a university lecturer called Muhammad Yunus made a list ...Missing: microcredit | Show results with:microcredit
  33. [33]
    GRAMEEN BANK AND MICROFINANCE - Facts and Details
    As of 1998, the Grameen Bank had 1,050 branches and had loaned more than $2 billion. It employed 10,000 university and high school graduates scattered ...Missing: timeline statistics
  34. [34]
    The Microcredit Business Model of Grameen Bank - AFCA
    Jul 2, 2020 · The Bangladeshi bank began as a microcredit research project launched by Professor Muhammad Yunus ... Professor Yunus believes the Grameen model ...
  35. [35]
    (PDF) The Grameen Bank Microfinance Model in the Global North
    Jul 3, 2023 · Muhammad Yunus in 1983, Grameen Bank has transformed the conventional banking system by offering collateral-free loans to marginalized ...
  36. [36]
    Microfinance and the Backlash - Stanford Social Innovation Review
    Nov 8, 2022 · This third edition includes updates covering Yunus being forced to resign by Bangladesh's Prime Minister from his post at Grameen Bank, and the backlash ...
  37. [37]
    Where We Work - Grameen Foundation
    Grameen Foundation has worked in 27 countries. Our work extends fro Sub-Saharan Africa to Asia to Latin America to the Middle East and North Africa.
  38. [38]
    Microfinance: Evolution at the crossroads of high tech and high touch
    Dec 12, 2023 · The model has been replicated in more than 60 countries, including the United States, where Grameen America was formed in 2008. ... Grameen model ...<|separator|>
  39. [39]
    About - Yunus Social Business
    Yunus Funds grows local social businesses that provide employment, education, healthcare, clean water and clean energy to over 17 million people.
  40. [40]
    Yunus Social Business Uganda's investment-readiness support and ...
    YSB Uganda (YSBU), a subsidiary of YSB Global, has been operating in Uganda since 2015. In January 2016, the Argidius Foundation entered into a four-year ...
  41. [41]
    Yunus Centre - Global Hub for Social Business
    The ultimate goal of Yunus Centre is to send poverty to museums. It strives to engage students, individuals and organizations in the social business movement.List of Yunus Social Business... · Social business · 15th Social Business Day...
  42. [42]
    Banker to the Poor - Yunus Centre
    His dream is the total eradication of poverty from the world. In 1983, against the advice of banking and government officials, Yunus established Grameen, a bank ...
  43. [43]
    How Grameen founder Muhammad Yunus fell from grace - BBC News
    Apr 5, 2011 · Prof Yunus's achievement, they argue, is the distribution of millions of small loans through the foundation of the first bank in the world which ...
  44. [44]
    Lessons from Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank
    Mar 15, 2011 · And he was the one whose work at Grameen provided the major model and the impetus for a worldwide microcredit movement. Yunus' achievements ...
  45. [45]
    Microcredit: Impacts and promising innovations - Poverty Action Lab
    May 1, 2023 · A meta-analysis of seven randomized evaluations similarly found that the impact of microcredit was negligible for households with no ...
  46. [46]
    [PDF] Evidence on the Social and Economic Impact of Grameen Bank and ...
    v These results indicate that poverty decreases as the borrowed amount (possibly in differ- ent instalments) increases. Further, the study shows that the ...
  47. [47]
    [PDF] Early Impacts of the Grameen America Program - MDRC
    This seminal study found no impacts on average consumption, human development outcomes, health, education, or women's decision-making, but it did find increases ...Missing: criticisms | Show results with:criticisms
  48. [48]
    Is microcredit a blessing for the poor? A meta-analysis examining ...
    Our findings reveal a positive impact of microcredit on key development outcomes at the level of the client entrepreneurs.
  49. [49]
    [PDF] What is the evidence of the impact of microfinance on the well-being ...
    Professor Yunus started Grameen Bank (GB) more than 30 years ago with ... Intervention studies including randomised controlled trials, controlled trials,.
  50. [50]
    Uncovering Grameen Banks interest rate riddle - MFTransparency.org
    Mar 31, 2011 · The MFTransparency report will verify that the allegations of charging 30 per cent interest on loans and an additional 10 percent in “forced ...
  51. [51]
    Microcredit pioneer in Grameen Bank survival battle - BBC News
    Mar 28, 2011 · There have been accusations that some microcredit agencies have been charging very high interest rates and adopting coercive debt collection ...
  52. [52]
    Grameen founder Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh aid probe - BBC
    Dec 2, 2010 · Norway says it is examining reports that Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus allegedly diverted millions of dollars of aid money from a bank.
  53. [53]
    Microcredit on Trial: The Sacking of Muhammad Yunus
    May 6, 2011 · It charged that Yunus had improperly redirected some $100 million in aid money from the Grameen Bank to a sister organization.Missing: financial scandals
  54. [54]
    Bangladesh: Microlender Cleared in Norwegian Case
    Apr 25, 2011 · An investigation into the transfer of Norwegian development funds by the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus from his Grameen Bank to another venture ...
  55. [55]
    Grameen fund transfer 'ultra vires': inquiry - bdnews24.com
    Apr 25, 2011 · Grameen Bank stepped beyond its legal authority to divert fund to another arm of the Grameen family in 1996, says an inquiry by a committee ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  56. [56]
    Bangladeshi Government Absolves Grameen Bank of Financial ...
    Apr 26, 2011 · A committee appointed by the Bangladeshi government found no evidence of financial irregularities in the operations of the Grameen Bank.Missing: scandal | Show results with:scandal
  57. [57]
    A rebuttal of the criticism of microfinance - Yunus Centre
    Worse, a few case studies have found increasing indebtedness, and the newspapers carry stories of distress among borrowers. Others report on how husbands would ...
  58. [58]
    The unfulfilled promises of microcredit: some new evidence - CADTM
    Aug 9, 2024 · First there were the scandals around the Grameen: in March 2011, Muhammad Yunus was dismissed by the Bangladeshi government from the chair of ...Missing: criticism | Show results with:criticism
  59. [59]
    'Banker to the poor' Muhammad Yunus faces jail in Bangladesh
    Mar 2, 2024 · ... Grameen Bank of charging them exorbitant interest rates. Yunus denied that his organization had engaged in abusive practices and said there ...
  60. [60]
    Dr Yunus: From teacher to head of Bangladesh govt
    In 1996, Dr Muhammad Yunus served as an advisor of the caretaker government led by former Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman. He was responsible for the ...
  61. [61]
    Muhammad Yunus - Environment - Ecology
    1996 (April-June), Cabinet Minister (Advisor) in the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh. Membership of Committees and Commissions (National). Was member ...
  62. [62]
    A look back at caretaker governments throughout the years
    Aug 8, 2024 · Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate now set to be the chief adviser, was selected in 1996 as well. Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed was a lawyer and ...
  63. [63]
    [PDF] Professor Muhammad Yunus Nobel Laureate
    Prior to his appointment at WHO he held academic and teaching positions at the Universities of Oxford and London. At the latter, he created the Unit on ...
  64. [64]
    Nobel winner starts political party to tackle corruption in Bangladesh
    Feb 22, 2007 · "Today I formally announce my party Nagarik Shakti [Citizens' Power]," Mr Yunus told reporters. "I can't keep myself away from politics. It's ...
  65. [65]
    Yunus names his political party Nagorik Shakti - bdnews24.com
    Feb 18, 2007 · Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus Sunday named his political party Nagorik Shakti.Yunus told reporters that his party would contest elections ...
  66. [66]
    Bangladesh Nobel winner names new political party | Reuters
    Aug 9, 2007 · DHAKA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh on Sunday announced the name of a political party he plans to form soon, ...Missing: Nagorik formation
  67. [67]
    Yunus Launches Party | Arab News
    Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus announced his entry into politics yesterday by formally launching his ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
  68. [68]
    Bangladesh Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus takes charge of ...
    Aug 8, 2024 · Bangladesh's Nobel Peace Prize winning economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of the country's caretaker government on Thursday, ...
  69. [69]
    Muhammad Yunus lands in Bangladesh to lead interim government
    Aug 8, 2024 · Yunus sworn in as interim Bangladesh leader. 8 August 2024.
  70. [70]
    Bangladesh Swears In Nobel Laureate Yunus After Days of Chaos
    Aug 8, 2024 · Bangladesh Swears In Nobel Laureate Yunus After Days of Chaos. Muhammad Yunus, as interim leader, faces the daunting task of restoring order in ...
  71. [71]
    A New Era in Bangladesh? The First Hundred Days of Reform
    Nov 14, 2024 · Led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the administration is expected to remain in office for another year and maybe longer. Why does it matter?
  72. [72]
    Yunus charts a path to reforms - The Daily Star
    Sep 12, 2024 · The interim government has decided to form six commissions to reform the judiciary, election system, administration, police, Anti-Corruption ...
  73. [73]
    Bangladesh parties sign reform charter, but student and leftist group ...
    Oct 17, 2025 · Bangladesh's ambitious "July Charter" for state reform, drafted after last year's deadly student-led uprising, was backed by the majority of ...
  74. [74]
    Interim govt marks one year in office with notable achievements - BSS
    Aug 8, 2025 · The government formed reform commissions, built national consensus across 30 plus parties and finalised the historic July Charter, ensuring ...
  75. [75]
    Bangladesh Chief Adviser Yunus directs ministries to publicise self ...
    Sep 19, 2025 · Bangladesh Chief Adviser Yunus directs ministries to publicise self-initiated reforms. 24 key reform proposals have already implemented, says ...
  76. [76]
    New Media Reforms in Bangladesh Introduced to Replace Hasina ...
    Aug 17, 2025 · Bangladesh's interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has launched ambitious media reforms to undo the legacy of Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule, ...
  77. [77]
  78. [78]
    Bangladesh plans to hold elections in late 2025 or early 2026
    Dec 16, 2024 · Interim leader Muhammad Yunus says implementing full list of electoral reforms could delay elections by a few months.
  79. [79]
    After the Monsoon Revolution - Human Rights Watch
    Jan 27, 2025 · The interim government has committed to holding free and fair elections after repairing the security sector, the justice system, and other core ...
  80. [80]
    Bangladesh's Reforms, Recovery, and Economic Transition
    Jun 18, 2025 · Yunus began his tenure with an ambitious mandate, including ensuring justice for the victims of the government-led crackdown, reforming key ...
  81. [81]
    Professor Yunus at UNGA: Return wealth to its rightful owners
    Sep 26, 2025 · In the past 15 years, he said, billions of dollars were siphoned off abroad through corruption. Also Read. Chief Adviser calls for global action ...
  82. [82]
    What Bangladesh has achieved in the year since its revolution
    Aug 13, 2025 · Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has fled Bangladesh, and Nobel Prize–winner Muhammad Yunus will lead an interim government. But several important ...<|separator|>
  83. [83]
    UN to Support Bangladesh Reforms Undertaken by Yunus-led ...
    Sep 23, 2024 · Yunus, 84, recently announced the formation of six commissions to reform the judiciary, election system, administration, police, anti-corruption ...
  84. [84]
    Judicial reform seeks to restore public trust - Dhaka Tribune
    Aug 5, 2025 · With the uprising still echoing in Dhaka's streets, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus notified the formal creation of an eight-member Judicial Reform ...
  85. [85]
  86. [86]
    Bangladesh: Year since Hasina Fled, Rights Challenges Abound
    Jul 30, 2025 · On August 27, 2024, the interim government formed a commission to investigate enforced disappearances during Hasina's rule, and on August 29, ...
  87. [87]
    Risks around sectarian violence are growing in Bangladesh
    Aug 12, 2024 · Violent protests have continued in Bangladesh, largely targeting members of the previously ruling Awami League (AL), as well as the country's religious ...
  88. [88]
    Bangladesh: Concerns around new ordinances, opposition ban and ...
    Sep 9, 2025 · On 12th May 2025, the interim government ordered a “temporary” ban on the Awami League, using newly introduced powers under a draconian ...
  89. [89]
  90. [90]
    Bangladesh in Transition: Testing Democratization in South Asia ...
    Sep 16, 2025 · The United States has key interests at stake in Bangladesh, as periods of political transition are fertile ground for violence and instability.
  91. [91]
    Bangladesh will hold February 2026 election, interim leader ... - BBC
    Aug 5, 2025 · Interim leader Muhammad Yunus confirmed the date as the country marked a year since former PM Sheikh Hasina fled.
  92. [92]
    Bangladesh's main opposition warns of instability if elections ...
    Mar 31, 2025 · The country's two biggest parties, Hasina's Awami League and rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party, had both wanted elections to be held last year, ...
  93. [93]
    From Hasina to Yunus: The Fragile Promises of Bangladesh's ...
    Aug 26, 2025 · Muhammad Yunus leads the interim government with a “reform-first, elections-later” approach, raising constitutional concerns. Elections delayed ...
  94. [94]
    Bangladesh's revolution is at a crossroads. Open elections are the ...
    Aug 4, 2025 · Amid this carnival of chaos, only a free, fair, and inclusive election can pull Bangladesh back from the brink. The interim government consists ...
  95. [95]
    Bangladesh's Tentative Election Timeline and Reform Challenges
    Dec 18, 2024 · Summary. In his recent national address, Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, outlined a tentative timeline for elections and ...
  96. [96]
    Bangladesh Grameen Bank denies diverting cash - BBC News
    Dec 3, 2010 · Grameen Bank's statement said allegations that about $100m had been transferred to another company, and that only $30m was returned to the bank, ...Missing: scandal | Show results with:scandal
  97. [97]
    Grameen Bank Founder Dr. Yunus Investigated For Impropriety In ...
    Yunus took $100 million in non-profit grant money and funneled it into his for-profit businesses, partly in order to keep the non-profit Grameen Bank afloat.
  98. [98]
    Bangladeshi probe finds Grameen Bank flouted rules
    The report found no money was stolen, and Ahmed said the irregularities are “still possible to correct.” The report, with findings and ...
  99. [99]
    Grameen Bank takes control of 7 sister concerns lawfully: Majid
    Feb 19, 2024 · Majid said Dr Yunus had taken Taka 447 crore from Grameen Bank to establish the Grameen Kalyan and Taka 24 crore to establish Grameen Telecom.
  100. [100]
    Nobel prize winner Muhammad Yunus ousted from Bangladesh ...
    Mar 2, 2011 · Bangladesh's central bank has removed the Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus from the post of managing director of the microfinance pioneer Grameen Bank.Missing: scandals | Show results with:scandals
  101. [101]
    Muhammad Yunus: Bangladesh probes Nobel laureate's tax
    Dec 8, 2016 · Yunus' family and micro-credit bank investigated for tax irregularities in a case some see as politically motivated.
  102. [102]
    Grameen Bank files graft complaint against Dr Yunus - Dhaka Tribune
    May 26, 2024 · The Grameen Bank authorities have submitted a written complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against the founder of the bank, Nobel laureate Dr ...
  103. [103]
    Grameen Bank requests ACC inquiry against Dr Yunus
    May 26, 2024 · The Grameen Bank authorities applied to the Anti-Corruption Commission to inquire into Dr Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of illegally giving a loan of Tk9.5 ...
  104. [104]
    Yunus Centre responds to allegations by Grameen Bank
    Feb 18, 2024 · The Yunus Centre protested the allegations made by Grameen Bank authorities, accusing Muhammad Yunus of money laundering during his tenure at the bank.
  105. [105]
    Grameen Bank submits graft allegation to ACC against Yunus | News
    May 26, 2024 · DHAKA, May 26, 2024 (BSS) - Grameen Bank has submitted an allegation to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against founder of the bank Dr ...
  106. [106]
    Judgment in labour law violation case against Dr Yunus tomorrow
    Dec 31, 2023 · Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) Inspector Arifuzzaman filed the case on 9 September 2021, and the court had ...
  107. [107]
    Labour code violation case against Dr Yunus will continue: HC | News
    Aug 8, 2023 · DHAKA, Aug 8, 2023 (BSS) ... labor law violation case against four, including Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.
  108. [108]
    Verdict in labour law violation case against Dr Yunus 1 Jan
    Dec 24, 2023 · He appealed the acquittal of four defendants including Dr Muhammad Yunus. DIFE filed the case against the four ...
  109. [109]
    Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus indicted in Bangladesh ... - Reuters
    Jun 12, 2024 · Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and 13 others were indicted by a Bangladesh court on Wednesday on charges of embezzlement of 252.2 million taka ($2 million)
  110. [110]
    Who Is Muhammad Yunus, the Next Leader of Bangladesh?
    Aug 6, 2024 · As of September, according to New Age, a Bangladeshi news outlet, he faced 174 court cases, including charges of corruption. However, for years ...Missing: proceedings | Show results with:proceedings
  111. [111]
    Bangladesh's Yunus could quit over lack of reform progress, student ...
    May 23, 2025 · DHAKA, May 23 (Reuters) - Bangladesh's de-facto prime minister has threatened to step down if political parties cannot agree on reforms that ...Missing: security | Show results with:security<|control11|><|separator|>
  112. [112]
    Why the future of Bangladesh's Muhammad Yunus administration is ...
    May 24, 2025 · Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, attends the 55th annual World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos ...
  113. [113]
    Ex-Bangladesh Army chief says trial of officers sparks rift between ...
    Sep 5, 2025 · Chief Adviser Yunus visited several alleged Ayna Ghar sites in February 2025, following public pressure and amid military concerns over who ...
  114. [114]
    One Year after the Revolution: Reform, Reconciliation, and the Road ...
    Aug 6, 2025 · In the wake of the uprising, governance has deteriorated across multiple fronts. The economy staggered under its weakest growth in 36 years, ...
  115. [115]
  116. [116]
    Plight of Hindus in Post-Hasina Bangladesh: Yunus Government ...
    Dec 16, 2024 · Nonetheless, about 2,010 incidents of communal violence have been reported between 4-20 August across the country. Despite instances of attack ...
  117. [117]
    Bangladesh: Are human rights eroding under Muhammad Yunus?
    Dec 30, 2024 · Rising violence and persecution of minorities · Yunus: reports of rights violations in Bangladesh exaggerated · Custodial deaths raise alarm.
  118. [118]
    Fake news is India's speciality: Yunus denies attacks on Hindus in ...
    Oct 12, 2025 · Muhammad Yunus dismissed several international reports of communal violence against Hindus in Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina ...
  119. [119]
    Bangladesh: Yunus-Led Interim Government Faces Internal Rift ...
    Oct 9, 2025 · The revolt toppled the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, forcing then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to resign and flee Dhaka. Yunus, ...
  120. [120]
  121. [121]
    Muhammad Yunus - Biography - IMDb
    He is married to Afrozi Yunus. They have one child. He was previously married to Vera Forostenko. Family. Spouses. Vera Forostenko(1970 - 1977) (divorced, 1 ...Missing: marriages | Show results with:marriages
  122. [122]
    Muhammad Yunus - divorce and second marriage, mother passes ...
    Oct 10, 2017 · Six years after their marriage, the couple had the first and only child - and Dr Yunus' second daughter - Deena Afroz Yunus. She [Afrozi] was ...
  123. [123]
    Who is Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate set to head ...
    Aug 8, 2024 · Muhammad Yunus' has a daughter - Monica Yunus, with his first wife Vera Forostenko. Monica is an opera singer based out of New York City.<|separator|>
  124. [124]
    Police visit Dr Yunus' village home seeking personal details
    Sep 7, 2023 · Police and District Special Branch (DSB) members separately visited the village home of Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus in Najumia Haat in Hathazari upazila ...
  125. [125]
    I Worked With Muhammad Yunus. It Was a Truly Eye-Opening ...
    Aug 30, 2024 · Yunus lived in a tiny apartment, which I believe had two or three small rooms, with his daughter and wife inside the Grameen compound. We weren ...Missing: residence | Show results with:residence<|separator|>
  126. [126]
    State Guest House Jamuna readied to serve as Dr Yunus's office ...
    Aug 8, 2024 · Dr Muhammad Yunus, who will head the government, will reside at Jamuna, located on Minto Road in Dhaka, after taking the oath, according to a reliable source.
  127. [127]
    Muhammad Yunus to return to Bangladesh after medical procedure ...
    Aug 7, 2024 · Yunus, currently in Paris for a minor medical procedure, will return to Bangladesh “immediately” after its completion, the organizers confirmed as reported by ...
  128. [128]
    Yunus undergoes minor medical procedure at CMH
    Oct 18, 2024 · Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus underwent a minor medical procedure to remove a skin lesion in the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka yesterday.
  129. [129]
    Yunus undergoes minor medical procedure at CMH in Dhaka
    Oct 18, 2024 · Bangladesh's interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus underwent a minor medical procedure to remove a skin lesion at the Combined Military ...Missing: issues | Show results with:issues
  130. [130]
    Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunus | Hachette Book Group
    In stock Free delivery over $35This is an inspiring story of one man's realization that access to even a small amount of credit can transform the lives of the poorest citizens of the world.
  131. [131]
    [PDF] BANKER TO THE POOR - MUHAMMAD YUNUS & A. Jolis - ia801303
    Muhammad Yunus set up the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh to lend tiny sums to the poorest of the poor, who were shunned by ordinary banks. The money would enable ...<|separator|>
  132. [132]
    Creating a World Without Poverty - Yunus Centre
    The story of Grameen Bank has been told in my earlier book: 'Banker to the Poor'. In this new book I have described the further evolution of Grameen System.
  133. [133]
    Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism That Serves ...
    Book details ; Print length. 256 pages ; Language. English ; Publisher. PublicAffairs ; Publication date. May 11, 2010 ; Dimensions. 6.5 x 1 x 10.25 inches.
  134. [134]
    A World of Three Zeros by Muhammad Yunus | Hachette Book Group
    From Nobel Prize winner and bestselling author of Banker to the Poor, a vision of an emerging new economic system that can save humankind and the planet.
  135. [135]
    A World of Three Zeros: The New Economics of Zero Poverty, Zero ...
    Book details ; Print length. 304 pages ; Language. English ; Publisher. PublicAffairs ; Publication date. September 26, 2017 ; Dimensions. 6.38 x 1 x 9.63 inches.
  136. [136]
    BookList - Yunus Centre
    BookList. Publications; 16th April 2018; YC. List of Books of Professor Muhammad Yunus published till date. SL, Book Title, Publisher Information, Country, Book ...
  137. [137]
    [PDF] CREATING A WORLD WITHOUT POVERTY: SOCIAL BUSINESS ...
    Nov 2, 2008 · Globalization, as a general business principle, can bring more benefits to the poor than any alternative. But without proper oversight and.<|separator|>
  138. [138]
    SOCIAL BUSINESS - Yunus Centre
    Social business is a cause-driven business. In a social business, the investors/owners can gradually recoup the money invested, but cannot take any dividend ...
  139. [139]
    Muhammad Yunus: Social Business - Forbes
    Jun 15, 2010 · I define social business as a non-loss, non-dividend company dedicated entirely to achieve a social goal. All profits, or “surplus revenue,” is ...Missing: philosophy | Show results with:philosophy
  140. [140]
    Building Social Business: The New Kind of Capitalism that Serves ...
    All that said, I was troubled by the book. One of Yunus's core ideas—his definition of a social business—is simply too rigid and dogmatic; it may cause ...
  141. [141]
    A Review and Critique of "Social Business" by Muhammad Yunus
    It is a difficult model to grasp – how can a business person not want profit for the money he invested? His experience with large corporations says otherwise.<|control11|><|separator|>
  142. [142]
    Critical Analysis of Muhammad Yunus' Building Social Business
    Aug 6, 2025 · This paper critical examine the overview of the idea, ongoing process of social business in Bangladesh as well contrast of social institutions paradigm.Missing: pre- | Show results with:pre-
  143. [143]
    The Nobel Peace Prize 2006 - Press release - NobelPrize.org
    Oct 13, 2006 · The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006, divided into two equal parts, to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank.
  144. [144]
    The Nobel Peace Prize 2006 - NobelPrize.org
    The Nobel Peace Prize 2006 was awarded jointly to Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below".
  145. [145]
    Pioneering economist wins Nobel prize - The Guardian
    Oct 13, 2006 · Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank today emerged as the surprise winners of the prestigious Nobel peace prize for their pioneering work in lending to the poor.<|separator|>
  146. [146]
    Does Microfinance Work? A Neoliberal Approach to Poverty Reduction
    Nov 2, 2020 · For most people, microfinance has led to no significant improvements in women's health, education, economic empowerment, and social outcomes.
  147. [147]
    Did Yunus Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize - jstor
    We have argued elsewhere that there is a high risk that many poor households lured into microfinance schemes may experience what we call "immiserizing credit" ( ...
  148. [148]
    1994 World Food Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus to receive ...
    Jul 30, 2009 · President Barack Obama has named former World Food Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus a recipient of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  149. [149]
    Muhammad Yunus, PhD'71, awarded George Washington ...
    Nov 11, 2016 · He is one of only seven people who have received the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the U.S. Congressional Gold ...
  150. [150]
    Muhammad Yunus | Nobel Peace Summit
    Other notable awards include the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1984), World Food Prize (1998), The Prince of Asturias Award for Concord (1998), Sydney Peace Prize ...
  151. [151]
    Muhammad Yunus - Event information - NobelPrize.org
    May 18, 2021 · He is one of only seven individuals to have received the Nobel Peace Prize, the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom and the United ...
  152. [152]
    [PDF] The miracle of microfinance? Evidence from a randomized evaluation
    This makes it different from Grameen Bank (Mohammed Yunus has explicitly and vigorously criticized for-profit MFIs after the IPO of Compartamos, a large.
  153. [153]
    The Ouster of Muhammad Yunus: Can Politics Destroy Grameen ...
    Apr 13, 2011 · “The fact that we see a lot of mixed messages in terms of microfinance and poverty alleviation, and the fact that we see a backlash about ...<|separator|>
  154. [154]
    Microfinance's Imagined Utopia - Boston Review
    Jan 30, 2023 · Microfinance's Imagined Utopia: Two new books critique poverty capital, but they don't ask what borrowers need.
  155. [155]
    Bangladesh court overturns Yunus' conviction in labour law case, lawyer says
    Reuters article reporting the overturning of Muhammad Yunus's labor law conviction by the Labour Appellate Tribunal on August 7, 2024.
  156. [156]
    Bangladesh interim govt's chief adviser Muhammad Yunus acquitted in graft case
    The Hindu article detailing Yunus's acquittal in the Anti-Corruption Commission graft case on August 11, 2024.
  157. [157]
    SC quashes money laundering proceedings against Professor Yunus
    New Age BD article on the Supreme Court quashing money laundering proceedings against Yunus in April 2025.
  158. [158]
    SC upholds HC verdict scrapping 5 cases against Yunus
    The Daily Star article reporting the Supreme Court upholding the scrapping of five cases against Yunus in December 2024.