Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, has been named among Time magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2025.
The list, published by the New York-based weekly today, also features notable global figures such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, US President Donald Trump, and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
In a tribute article on Prof Yunus written by Hillary Clinton — former US Secretary of State, Senator, and First Lady — Yunus is praised not only for his lifelong commitment to poverty alleviation, but also for his current leadership during Bangladesh’s political transition.
“After a student-led uprising toppled Bangladesh’s authoritarian prime minister last year, a known leader stepped up to guide the nation toward democracy: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus,” Clinton wrote.
“Decades earlier, Yunus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh to empower the most marginalised communities through small loans — helping millions, 97 percent of them women, to build businesses, support their families, and reclaim their dignity,” she added.
Clinton reflected on her long-standing relationship with Yunus, saying, “I first met him when he travelled to Arkansas to help then-Governor Bill Clinton and me establish similar microfinance programs in the United States. Since then, wherever I’ve travelled in the world, I’ve seen the extraordinary impact of his work — lives transformed, communities uplifted, and hope reborn.”
“Now, Yunus has answered his country’s call once more. As he shepherds Bangladesh out of the shadows of oppression, he is restoring human rights, demanding accountability, and laying the foundations for a just and free society,” Clinton concluded.