Meet Muhammad Yunus, the nobel laureate protesters want to lead Bangladesh: Video
Amid political upheaval in Bangladesh, one name has emerged as a ray of hope and leadership, Muhammad Yunus.
Known globally as the "banker to the poor," Yunus is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate celebrated for his pioneering work in microfinance and social business.
Born in 1940 in Chittagong, British India (now Bangladesh), Muhammad Yunus has dedicated his life to combating poverty.
He founded the Grameen Bank in 1983, introducing the concept of microcredit small loans given to impoverished entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional banking services.
In 2006, Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to create economic and social development from below. The Nobel Committee recognised their work as a powerful tool for achieving lasting peace by addressing the root causes of poverty.
Recent protests in Bangladesh, sparked by discontent with the government and demands for reform, have led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Amidst the turmoil, protesters have called for Yunus to head an interim government.
Yunus has expressed his willingness to take on this role, viewing it as an opportunity to further his lifelong social and economic justice mission.
Nahid Islam, a 26-year-old sociology student who led the protest against government job quotas, confirmed Yunus's acceptance in a social media video.
“We want to see the process rolling by the morning,” Islam said late Monday, August 5. “We urge the president to take steps as soon as possible to form an interim government headed by Dr. Yunus.”
Islam added that the student protesters would soon announce additional names for the government, posing a significant challenge for the current leadership to disregard their selections.
