Here’s an extensive and engaging blog post based on the powerful speech delivered by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to the interim government, at the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025:
Table of Contents
From Famine to Fortune
On a warm 9th April in 2025, at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka, the Bangladesh Investment Summit unfolded as more than just a business gathering—it became a stage for reflection, inspiration, and a call to action. The summit’s highlight? A heartfelt, visionary address by Nobel Laureate and Grameen Bank founder, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Dr. Yunus, known for revolutionizing microcredit and for championing social business, took the audience on a soul-stirring journey—one that connected the darkest days of Bangladesh’s past to its shining future. Here are the key themes and transformative ideas from his speech that left the entire hall teary-eyed and standing in ovation.
A Journey of Pain and Triumph: From 1971 to 2025
Yunus began his speech welcoming the honorary Bangladesh citizen Kihak Sung and acknowledging the heroes of Bangladesh—entrepreneurs, innovators, and everyday citizens who have driven the country’s progress. He took the audience back to 1971, when Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation after a brutal war.
Dr. Yunus began by paying homage to the heroes of Bangladesh’s long struggle. With visible emotion, he recalled the euphoria of independence in 1971—a time of hope after immense sacrifice. But that hope was soon followed by the tragedy of 1974’s famine, where 1.5 million people died of hunger.
That year, the country was synonymous with the term “dirt poor.” Farmers dominated the population, but three-quarters were landless. Life was fragile, survival a daily struggle.
Fast forward to 2025, and the transformation is astounding.
“We were once a country of landless farmers, now we talk of tech, factories, and startups,” said Dr. Yunus. “Bangladesh has come a long way—fueled by courage, compassion, and crazy ideas.”
From Microcredit to Global Impact
One such “crazy idea” was microcredit—a small act of lending tiny amounts to impoverished women. What started in a small village as a humble initiative became Grameen Bank, now a global symbol of financial inclusion.
“Every country has its own Bangladesh of 1974 inside,” Dr. Yunus noted. “The solution isn’t charity. It’s creating structures that unleash human energy.”
How Bangladesh Changed the Telecom World
Another audacious leap was into mobile phones. At a time when Bangladesh had barely any working telephone lines, Dr. Yunus applied for a mobile telecom license—not to profit, but to empower women. Everyone laughed.
But he persisted, partnering with Norway’s Telenor to launch GrameenPhone, which revolutionized rural connectivity through “Telephone Ladies”—poor, often illiterate women who sold mobile services in villages.
“They had never even seen a phone. We trained them. And soon, 100,000 women were in business, connecting families, growing incomes, and changing perceptions.”
The global mobile industry took notice. Bangladesh had rewritten the rules—and changed the game.
From Garments to Global Startups
Bangladesh is now the world’s second-largest garment exporter, but Yunus emphasized that the future lies beyond textiles.
He celebrated ShopUp, a Bangladeshi startup that recently secured $110 million from Saudi Arabia’s PIF and Peter Thiel’s Valor Ventures, signaling the rise of a tech-driven economy.
Business with a Soul: Profit + Purpose
Dr. Yunus reminded the audience—comprising investors, CEOs, policymakers, and changemakers—that profit alone is not the ultimate goal. The new path is business with social purpose.
“Making money is happiness. But making others happy is super happiness.”
He urged entrepreneurs to dream bigger: to build companies that solve real problems, empower people, and reshape society.
Three Zeros: The Blueprint for a New Civilization
Dr. Yunus presented his bold vision: a civilization built on Three Zeros:
- Zero Carbon Emissions – “A self-destructive world must stop burning itself. Businesses must lead the innovation.”
- Zero Wealth Concentration – “Extreme wealth inequality is the most dangerous thing to humanity.”
- Zero Unemployment – “Everyone can be an entrepreneur. Young people don’t want jobs—they want to create!”
This isn’t a government-led revolution, he emphasized. It’s up to individuals and businesses to bring this world into reality.
The Next Generations: Time to Pass the Baton
Dr. Yunus acknowledged the trailblazing first-generation entrepreneurs who defied odds in the 60s and 70s. Today, the second generation—and soon, the third—are ready to build on that legacy.
“Are we preparing the third generation? The young girls and boys with ideas and technology, who are not bound by the old ways?”
He stressed the importance of involving women in entrepreneurship, calling them equally creative and vital to economic and social progress.
Bangladesh: A Seedbed of Global Ideas
Bangladesh, according to Dr. Yunus, isn’t just a developing economy—it’s a fertile ground for global transformation.
Microcredit, born in a small Bangladeshi village, now flourishes in the United States. Through Grameen America, millions of women receive loans—some as little as $500—and build better lives.
“We planted a small seed in Bangladesh. Today, it’s growing worldwide. Your business could be next.”
A Call to Investors: Build Here, Grow Globally
The summit wasn’t just a reflection. It was an invitation.
“If you want to build businesses with purpose, come to Bangladesh. You’ll find happiness and super happiness. This isn’t just about Bangladesh—it’s about creating a better world.”
Bangladesh 2035: A Regional Manufacturing & Logistics Hub
Yunus outlined a bold vision for 2035, where Bangladesh will be:
A regional manufacturing powerhouse
A bridge connecting the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal
A global logistics hub (with Chittagong Port’s capacity tripling)
Why Invest in Bangladesh?
✔ 180 Million Consumers – A young, dynamic population (half under 25)
✔ Rising Middle Class – 35 million people (equivalent to Malaysia’s entire population)
✔ Proven High Returns – Companies operating in Bangladesh for 100+ years have seen exceptional profits
✔ Strategic Location – A gateway to South and Southeast Asia
Create the World We Want
Dr. Yunus concluded with a message for all who dream of changing the world:
“We don’t need to wait for governments. We, the people, can change the world. Business gives us the most powerful tool in our hands. Let’s use it to build a civilization of Three Zeros.”
His words echoed in the hall long after he left the stage. Hope, vision, courage—these were not just ideals. They were blueprints. And Bangladesh, once a symbol of famine, now stands as a beacon of possibility.
Let’s not just do business in Bangladesh. Let’s build a new world—from here.