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Published : 14 May 2025, 08:44 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has received an honorary Doctor of Literature (D Litt) degree from Chittagong University for his “extraordinary contribution” to poverty alleviation through microcredit and fostering global peace.
On Wednesday, Yunus was conferred the honour at the university’s fifth convocation where he called on students to dream of building a new world, according to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS).
"We have the capacity to build the new world we want,” the BSS quoted the interim prime minister as saying.
Vice-Chancellor Muhammad Yeahia Akhter presented the certificate to the Nobel laureate.
Originally from Chittagong, Yunus taught at the university between 1972 and 1989, also serving as the head of the economics department.
He led Grameen Bank as its managing director for 28 years, since its inception in 1983.
In 2006, Yunus and the bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to combat poverty through microcredit.
Following the fall of the Awami League government in the July 2024 uprising, student leaders leading the movement proposed that Yunus take charge of the country.
Responding to their call, he assumed the role of chief advisor of the interim government on Aug 8 last year.
Addressing the convocation held at the central playground of the university, Yunus said: "We will be able to build the world the way we want to build.”
But everyone has to have a dream about what kind of environment and society he or she wants to establish, he added.
Recalling how Grameen Bank was established, Yunus said the current civilisation is one of a “destructive economy”.
"The economy we established is an economy of business, not of people," he said, adding that the business-oriented civilisation is a “suicidal” one, which will “not sustain”.
Sharing personal memories, Yunus said he joined Chittagong University as a teacher in 1972 and was delighted to return after so long.
He highlighted the 1974 famine that hit the country and how Grameen Bank was formed to help the famine-hit people in Chattogram.
