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Guests give standing ovation as Dr Yunus receives US award
Published : Friday, 16 October, 2026 at 3:16 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, former Chief Adviser to the interim government, received the prestigious Hillary Rodham Clinton Award in Washington DC.
Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented the award to the Grameen Bank founder at a ceremony held at Georgetown University on Thursday (October 15) local time.
According to a press release issued on Friday, nearly 400 guests, including ambassadors from around 25 countries, entrepreneurs, teachers, and researchers, attended the event at the university's Gaston Hall. As Dr Yunus's name was announced, the audience stood up and offered a long standing ovation.
Dr Yunus was among four recipients of the award this year. The other three honorees are Reema Nanavaty, Director of Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) in India; Tory Burch, fashion designer and founder of the Tory Burch Foundation; and Muna Sukhtian, Board Chair of Microfund for Women in Jordan. Muna Sukhtian received the special Georgetown Ambassador's Award.
Praising Dr Yunus at the event, Hillary Clinton said she personally observed Grameen Bank's activities and witnessed how women achieved self-reliance, security, and empowerment. She noted that Dr Yunus spread his work across the globe beyond Bangladesh.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Yunus marked 50 years of his work, stating that the recognition will send a strong message to Bangladesh and inspire the Grameen family.
Highlighting Grameen Bank's role in poverty alleviation and women's empowerment, he said microcredit helped people in extreme poverty stand on their own feet, with a focus on women to build financial independence.
Dr Yunus criticized the current education system for training youth merely as job seekers rather than fostering creativity and entrepreneurship. He said the role of universities should be to create entrepreneurs.
To realize this vision, Dr Yunus expressed hope to launch 'Grameen University' by the end of this year. He said the university will lead the path toward building a 'world of three zeros' and encourage students to become entrepreneurs rather than chasing academic certificates, assuring that the institution will provide necessary business funding.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
