Dr.Mohammad Yunus

For other people with similar names, see Mohammad Yunus (disambiguation).

The Honourable Muhammad Yunus
মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস
Yunus in 2024
5th Chief Adviser of Bangladesh
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 August 2024
President	Mohammed Shahabuddin
Preceded by	Sheikh Hasina (as Prime Minister)
Personal details
Born	28 June 1940 (age 84) Hathazari, Bengal, British India
Citizenship	British Raj (1940–1947) Pakistan (1947–1971) Bangladesh (since 1971)
Political party	Independent (2007–present)
Other political affiliations	Nagorik Shakti (2007)
Spouses	Vera Forostenko ​ ​ (m. 1970; div. 1979)​ Afrozi Yunus   ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	Monica Deena
Relatives	Muhammad Ibrahim (brother)
Residence(s)	Jamuna State House, Dhaka
Education	University of Dhaka (BA, MA) Vanderbilt University (PhD)
Occupation	Economist Entrepreneur Civil society leader
Awards	Olympic Laurel (2020) Congressional Gold Medal (2010)  Presidential Medal of Freedom (2009) Nobel Peace Prize (2006)  Independence Award (1987) (Full list)
Signature
Website	muhammadyunus.org
Academic work
Discipline	Economics
School or tradition	Microcredit Social business
Institutions	Chittagong Government High School Chattogram Collegiate School Chittagong College University of Dhaka University of Chittagong Middle Tennessee State University Glasgow Caledonian University
Notable works	Grameen Bank Microcredit Social business

Muhammad Yunus^[a] (born 28 June 1940) is a Bangladeshi economist, entrepreneur, politician, and civil society leader, who has been serving as the 5th chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh since 8 August 2024.^[1] Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance.^[2] Yunus has received several other national and international honors, including the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.^[3]

In 2012, Yunus became Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland, a position he held until 2018.^[4][5] Previously, he was a professor of economics at Chittagong University in Bangladesh.^[6] He published several books related to his finance work. He is a founding board member of Grameen America and Grameen Foundation, which support microcredit.^[7] Yunus also served on the board of directors of the United Nations Foundation, a public charity to support UN causes, from 1998 to 2021.^[8] In 2022, he partnered with Global Esports Federation to build esports for the development movement.^[9]

After dissolving the parliament on 6 August 2024, Bangladeshi president Mohammed Shahabuddin nominated Yunus to serve as the head of the interim government of Bangladesh, acceding to student demands following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.^[10] The main pledge of his ministry is organize a constituent assembly to draft and adopt a new, democratic and inclusive constitution, ensuring the inviolability of human dignity.^[11] His acquittal on appeal the following day of charges of labour code violations, which were viewed as politically motivated, facilitated his return to the country and appointment.^[12] His name was listed in The 500 Most Influential Muslims in 2024.^[13]