In Conversation: Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Social Business and Bangladesh's Future

In this landmark episode of the BanglaChronicles Podcast, we sit down with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus for a rare, wide-ranging conversation that spans five decades of social innovation, the birth of microcredit and his vision for Bangladesh in 2041.

On Microcredit and Poverty

"When I lent $27 to 42 women in Jobra village in 1976, I did not have a theory. I had a problem — and a human being standing in front of me who needed a solution. The theory came from the practice." Professor Yunus recounts the founding of Grameen Bank and how the idea of lending to the poorest, without collateral, challenged every assumption of conventional banking.

On Social Business

"A social business is not charity and it is not profit-maximising capitalism. It is a new kind of business that has a social objective built into its DNA. The profit stays in the business to expand its social mission. It is capitalism without the selfishness." He explains how social business models have now been adopted in 40 countries.

On Bangladesh's Promise

"Bangladesh has defied every prediction ever made about it. We were called a basket case — we proved them wrong. Now people are calling us a development miracle. But a miracle without institutional foundations will not last. We need strong governance, creative education and an ecosystem where young people can become job creators, not job seekers."

Listen Now

The full episode is available on all major podcast platforms and as a video episode on BanglaChronicles' YouTube channel.