Today, Saturday, marks the 85th birthday of Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate renowned for his pioneering work in microfinance and social business. Born on June 28, 1940, in Bathua village of Hathazari upazila in Chattogram, Yunus has become a globally celebrated figure for his efforts to combat poverty through innovative financial models.
For over a decade and a half, his birthday has been observed as Social Business Day, a global event promoting social entrepreneurship. However, according to his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, there will be no official celebrations at the government level this year. He stated that there are no plans to mark the occasion through any formal programs.
Meanwhile, the two-day Social Business Day event was inaugurated at Zirabo Social Convention Centre in Savar, Dhaka, on Friday, with Yunus serving as the chief guest. Despite his presence, there was no specific celebration of his birthday during the event.
Yunus is Bangladesh’s only Nobel laureate, recognized worldwide for his innovative approach to poverty alleviation through microfinance without collateral. The bank he founded, Grameen Bank, also received the Nobel Peace Prize.
His relationship with the government has been complex. After Sheikh Hasina’s government came to power in 2009, Yunus was removed from his position at Grameen Bank amid criticism and legal challenges. Recently, during the student and people’s uprising on August 5 last year, Yunus played a role in forming an interim government led by himself on August 8, 2025.
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