Dr. Yunus in TIME Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Laureate and Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, has been named one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2025 by TIME magazine.

He has been recognized under “Leaders” category, alongside global figures such as US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

In a special tribute published by TIME, former US Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton praised Dr. Yunus for stepping up during a critical moment in Bangladesh’s political history.

“After a student-led uprising toppled Bangladesh’s authoritarian Prime Minister last year, a familiar figure, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, stepped forward to help steer the nation back toward democracy,” Clinton wrote.

Highlighting his legacy, Clinton recalled how Dr. Yunus founded Grameen Bank decades ago to empower marginalized communities through microcredit.

This revolutionary model enabled hundreds of thousands to start small businesses, support their families, and reclaim dignity; 97% of the recipients being women.

She also shared a personal memory of working with him, “I first met Dr. Yunus when he visited Arkansas to help Governor Bill Clinton and me start a similar microcredit initiative. Since then, everywhere I’ve travelled, I’ve seen the extraordinary reach of his work.”

Now, once again, Clinton noted, Dr. Yunus has responded to his country’s call in a time of crisis. “He is leading Bangladesh out of oppression, working to restore human rights, demand accountability, and lay the foundation for a just and free society.”

Dr. Yunus’s inclusion in TIME’s prestigious list reflects not only his historic contributions to social and economic development but also his renewed role as a beacon of hope in Bangladesh’s journey toward democracy.