Muhammad Yunus was born on 28 June, 1940 in the village of Bathua, in Hathazari, Chittagong, the business centre of what was then Eastern Bengal. He was the third of 14 children, of whom five died in infancy. His father was a successful goldsmith who always encouraged his sons to seek higher education. But his biggest influence was his mother, Sufia Khatun, who always helped any poor person or relative who knocked on their door. This inspired him to commit himself to eradication of poverty. His early childhood years were spent in the village. In 1947, his family moved to the city of Chittagong, where his father had the jewelery business.

In 1974, Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist from Chittagong University, led his students on a field trip to a poor village. They interviewed a woman who made bamboo stools, and learnt that she had to borrow the equivalent of 15p to buy raw bamboo for each stool made. After repaying the middleman, sometimes at rates as high as 10% a week, she was left with a penny profit margin. Had she been able to borrow at more advantageous rates, she would have been able to amass an economic cushion and raise herself above subsistence level.

Realizing that there must be something terribly wrong with the economics he was teaching, Yunus took matters into his own hands, and from his own pocket lent the equivalent of ? 17 to 42 basket-weavers. He found that it was possible with this tiny amount not only to help them survive, but also to create the spark of personal initiative and enterprise necessary to pull themselves out of poverty.

Against the advice of banks and government, Yunus carried on giving out ‘micro-loans’, and in 1983 formed the Grameen Bank, meaning ‘village bank’ founded on principles of trust and solidarity. In Bangladesh by 2015, Grameen has 2,568 branches, with 21,751 staff serving 8.81 million borrowers in 81,392 villages. On any working day Grameen collects an average of $1.5 million in weekly installments. Of the borrowers, 97% are women and over 97% of the loans are paid back, a recovery rate higher than any other banking system. Grameen methods are applied in projects in 58 countries, including the US, Canada, France, The Netherlands and Norway.

Ms. Nurjahan Begum was one of the earliest associates of Professor Muhammad Yunus during the establishment of Grameen Bank. She served as the Acting Managing Director of Grameen Bank soon after the bank’s founder Professor Muhammad Yunus left the bank in 2011.She worked as General Manager, Administration, Training &International Program of Grameen Bank for more than a decade and served as Principal of the bank’s Central Training Institute. She has also worked as consultant, trainer and evaluator of microcredit programs around the world.

Ms. Nujahan was awarded Susan M.Davis Lifetime Achievement Award 2008 by Grameen Foundation , World Summit Millennium Development Goals Award 2009, and Vision Award 2009.

M. Shahjahan served as the Acting Managing Director of Grameen Bank from the period of August 2011 to October 2014. Previously he was the Deputy Managing Director and General Manager of the bank and worded as the head of Accounts, Finance, Planing, Monitoring & Evaluation Division. He was also the chief of Operation of Eastern Region of Grameen Bank. Earlier he held the position of a Zonal Manager of Grameen Bank. At the beginning of his Grameen career, he was given the responsibility of establishing and designing the Internal Audit Department.

He participated at various national and international seminars, symposiums, conferences, workshops, dialogue programs and meetings of different issues as key note speaker, main speaker, moderator, resource person at home and abroad.

Mr. A.S.M. Mohiuddin served as the Acting Managing Director of Grameen Bank from the period of November 2014 to October 2015. Previously he was the Deputy Managing Director and General Manager of the bank and worded as the head of Administration Division. He was also the chief of Operation and Co-operation of Eastern Region of Grameen Bank. Earlier he held the position of a Zonal Manager and Zonal Audit Office of Grameen Bank.

He participated at various national and international seminars, symposiums, conferences, workshops, dialogue programs and meetings of different issues as key note speaker, main speaker, moderator, and resource person at home and abroad.

Mr. Ratan Kumar Nag, Acting Managing Director of Grameen Bank-(the pioneer of microcredit bank in the world) is one of the earliest associates of Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus during the project period of Grameen Bank. He has been appointed as the Acting Managing Director of Grameen Bank from 29 th October,2015

Mr. Ratan Kumar Nag has been serving the bank as field manager, branch manager, program officer, faculty member of the training institute, Zonal Audit officer, Zonal Manager, as departmental chief of International Program Department, Training & Special Program Department, Services Department, Administration Department and Deputy Managing Director.

Mr. Nag also worked with CASHPOR Malaysia (a microcredit organization) on deputation from 1997 until 1999. Where he supervised Grameen replication projects in Asia-Pacific region.

He participated at various national and international seminars, symposiums, conference, workshops, dialogue programs and meetings on financial inclusion, rural financiering, women empowerment, sustainable development, delinquency management, micro insurance, disaster policy, internal audit and many more issues as a keynote speaker, resource person, panel speaker and moderator.   Mr. Nag is a member of the Board of Director of Grameen Shakti, Grameen Fisheries & Livestock and is a member of the management committee of Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing. He completed his masters in Management from the University of Dhaka. He was also a member of the delegation of Prof. Muhammad Yunus at Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, USA.

Mr. Babul Saha, Deputy Managing Director of Grameen Bank recently appointed as the Managing Director. He joined Grameen Bank in 1983 and worked in various vital positions for the last 35 years. Before appointed as the Deputy Managing Director, he worked as a General Manager, Accounts and Finance Department. Mr. Saha did his Honours and Masters degree in Marketing from the University of Dhaka.

Jahangir Hossen Howlader has worked extensively in the field of Rural Development in Bangladesh. He has an exclusive experience in Microfinance and poverty alleviation programs with different capacities for more than 35 years. Throughout his career he devoted his energy, talent and hard work for the poverty elimination in Bangladesh. Hailed from Barishal and born in 1962, he obtained a Master Degree in Management from Dhaka University in 1982.

Mr. Md. Mosleh Uddin has been appointed as the Managing Director (Acting)  by the Board of Directors of Grameen Bank in its 140th Board Meeting. Prior this appointment he served as a Deputy Managing Director ( Human Resource and Service Management ) of the Bank. He has  34 years long experience in microfinance and poverty elevation with deferent capacities. His efficiency, hard work, dedication and honesty throughout his career have brought him in this top position from grass root level. He began his career in Grameen Bank in 1988 and during his glittering career at the Bank, he went through every single executive position. Started  as a Branch Manager, he promoted to Program Officer, Area Manager, Zonal Audit Officer, Zonal Manager at this Bank. He also worked as the Department Chief of Human Resource Management Department and International department at the Head Office.  Hailed from Barisal and born in 1964, he obtained his Master Degree in Marketing from University of Dhaka in 1984.

Mr. Nur Mohammad has been appointed as the Managing Director by the Board of Directors of Grameen Bank in its 153th Board Meeting. Prior this appointment he served as a Deputy Managing Director (Human Resource and Service Management) of the Bank. He has 35 years long experience in microfinance and poverty elevation with different capacities. His efficiency, hard work, dedication and honesty throughout his career have brought him in this top position from grass root level. He began his career in Grameen Bank in 1989 and during his glittering career at the Bank; he went through every single executive position. Started as a Branch Manager, he promoted to Program Officer, Area Manager, Zonal Audit Officer, and Zonal Manager at this Bank. He also worked as the Department Chief of Monitoring and Evaluation Department at the Head Office. Hailed from Rajshahi and born in 1965, he obtained his Master Degree in Islamic History and Culture from University of Rajshahi in 1985.