Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday emphasised the transformative potential of social business to not only change Bangladesh but the entire world.

Speaking at the inauguration of the 15th edition of Social Business Day at the Samajik Convention Centre in Zirabo, Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Prof Yunus declared social business as the most effective way to ensure healthcare for all.

The two-day event, organised jointly by the Yunus Centre and the Grameen Group, has drawn over 1,400 participants from 38 countries, including advisers to the interim government, senior officials, diplomats and prominent global figures.

Addressing the gathering, the Nobel Laureate expressed hope for a brighter future founded on selflessness, imagination and collective action.

Prof Yunus criticised the current state of the world, describing it as gloomy due to the selfish actions of some, and urged global changemakers to pursue a world with three zeros: zero poverty, zero unemployment, and zero net carbon emissions.

Highlighting recent global conflicts and crises, including wars involving India, Pakistan, Ukraine, Iran, Israel and Palestine, Prof Yunus stressed the urgency of change.

He pointed out the universal challenge of providing healthcare for all, noting that no country has yet fully succeeded in this regard.

Prof Yunus called for nations worldwide to join in a movement away from the current destructive path.

Praising the young people of Bangladesh for their activism and sacrifice, Prof Yunus said their efforts had moved the country ‘from extreme darkness to bright light.’

He viewed this as a model for youth worldwide to demand change and build a new civilisation based on hope and imagination.

The event featured speeches from prominent figures including Professor Md Saidur Rahman, Health and Family Welfare assistant to the Chief Adviser; Omar Ishrak, former CEO and Chairman of Medtronic and Intel Corporation; Ismail Serageldin, former Vice President of the World Bank and Erik Solheim, former Executive Director of UN Environment and Norwegian Environment Minister.

Chairman of Grameen Group Md Ashraful Hassan chaired the opening session, setting the stage for what promises to be an impactful global convergence of knowledge, experience, and innovation.