Even before Prof Muhammad Yunus became the chief adviser to the interim government, he became famous across the globe as a Nobel laureate Bangladeshi. He is the only ‘global celebrity’ born in Bangladesh. The greatest quality of the multifaceted genius who is still full of youthful vigor is that he applies in the field level his research findings.
Many of his philosophies and thoughts are taking the world ahead with regards to microcredit, social business, carbon emission reduction, poverty alleviation, and innovative and leadership power of the youths.
He took the responsibility for leading the country in a critical situation that arose following the student-led mass uprising last year. He called on the nation to get united even before took office. Immediately after arriving at the Dhaka airport from Paris, he talked about the whole Bangladesh becoming a family. He has been working as the chief adviser since he took oath at the Bangabhaban on 8 August 2024.
He emphasises unity during any crisis. When conspiracies for counterrevolution were lurking at home and abroad, he sat with all the stakeholders regardless of their identity and kept everyone united. He did not become boastful after assuming government office.
He is a genius who started with the microcredit system and then left his mark of brilliance in every sector, which has brought him numerous recognitions.
Nation Builder: He achieved the accolade as ‘Nation Builder’ soon after assuming office as the chief adviser to develop a discrimination-free Bangladesh. Prestigious scientific journal Nature gave him the recognition on 7 December last year. Prof Yunus was at number seven on the list of ten personalities who made outstanding contributions to science.
According to the article, students who led the mass uprising invited Prof Yunus to take the responsibility of the interim government’s chief. Since then, work to reform the state and make a turnaround is going on. The Nature article also said that Dr Yunus has established himself by testing his idea of alleviating poverty. Taking decisions through research and solving problems by understanding the situation is the foundation of Dr Yunus’s work.
Influential Muslim Personality: Recently, Dr Yunus has secured a position among the influential Muslims of the world. He was ranked 50th on ‘The Muslim 500: The World’s 500 Most Influential Muslims’ list published every year.
World Football Summit Award: In 2023, Dr Yunus received the World Football Summit’s Lifetime Achievement Award in Jeddah for his spectacular contribution to sports and making significant achievements in other fields.
Champion of Global Change: Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dr Muhammad Yunus received the UN Foundation’s ‘Champion of Global Change’ award on 9 December 2021. He was given recognition at the ‘We the Peoples’ programme organised in New York. He was given the award as recognition for his enlightened leadership to improve human dignity, equality, and justice and innovation.
Olympic Laurel: Dr Yunus received the Olympic Laurel in 2021 for his special contribution to education, culture and peace. He received the award at the inauguration ceremony of the Summer Olympics at Tokyo.
Global Women Leadership Award: Dr Yunus received the Global Women Leadership Award in 2019 for empowering women and alleviating poverty through microcredit and social businesses.
Presidential Medal of Freedom: Dr Yunus received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and Congressional Gold Medal in 2010 from the United States.
Nobel Peace Prize: Dr Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank established by him jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. He was the first Bangladeshi to win the award.
Pfeffer Peace Prize, USA: Dr Yunus was awarded the 1994 Pfeffer Peace Prize by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA for his vision of non-collateral lending through the Grameen Bank and the courage of persevere in the concept that credit is a human right.
CARE Humanitarian Award: Dr Yunus received the 1993 Humanitarian Award by the CARE, USA in recognition of his role in providing a uniquely pragmatic and effective method of empowering poor women and men to embark on income generating activities.
Mohamed Shabdeen Award for Science, Sri Lanka: Dr Yunus Received the Mohamed Shabdeen Award for Science, Sri Lanka in 1993 for contributing to socio-economic development.
Aga Khan Award: Dr Yunus was awarded Aga Khan Award for Architecture, 1989 by Geneva based Aga Khan Foundation for designing and operating Grameen Bank Housing Programme for the poor, which helped poor members of Grameen Bank to construct 60,000 housing units by 1989, each costing on an average $300.
Independence Day Award: Dr Yunus was awarded the Independence Day Award, 1987 by the President for the outstanding contribution in rural development. This is the highest civilian national award of Bangladesh.
Central Bank Award: Dr Yunus was awarded the Bangladesh Bank Award 1985 in recognition of the contribution in devising a new banking mechanism to extend credit to the rural landless population, thereby creating self-employment and socio economic development for them.
Ramon Magsaysay Award: Dr Yunus was awarded Ramon Magsaysay Award in the Field of “Community Leadership” in 1984 for “Enabling the neediest rural men and women to make themselves productive with sound group managed credit.”
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
