Yunus Urges Islamic NGOs to Embrace Social Business

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday called on Islamic NGOs to adopt social business models as a sustainable way to support communities across the Muslim world.

He made the appeal during a meeting with leaders of non-governmental organisations from various Muslim-majority countries at the state guest house Jamuna.

"In our work, we focus on women and healthcare, because poverty and lack of access to healthcare go hand in hand," said Prof Yunus. "We approached healthcare as a means to support the poor. Social business offers a powerful way to deliver this support."

He stressed that social business is not charity but a sustainable model that empowers people to solve problems while remaining financially self-sufficient. He added that he is encouraging youth globally to embrace social business and become entrepreneurs driving positive change.

The visiting NGO leaders praised Prof Yunus for his global campaign to promote social business, saying it had inspired them to adopt similar initiatives in their own countries.

The foreign delegates included Eyüp Akbal, Secretary General of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW) from Turkey; Muhammed Hüseyin Akta from the Assembly of Turkish American Associations; Fauwaz Bin Hasbullah from Malaysia's WADAH and UNIW; Muhammad Abdus Shakoor, President of Pakistan’s Alkhidmat Foundation; and Dr. Salamun Bashri from Indonesia.

Among the Bangladeshi participants were Prof Mahbub Ahmed, Retired Professor of Dhaka University and President of BIIT; S M Rasheduzzman, Chairman of SAWAB and Member of UNIW High Advisory Board; Dr. Ali Afzal, Council Member of UNIW and Managing Director of Krishibid Group; and Dr. M. Abdul Aziz, Director General of BIIT and Country Representative of IIIT.

Prof Yunus emphasised the importance of collaboration among Islamic NGOs to build inclusive, socially driven enterprises that address poverty, healthcare, and education challenges in their communities.