SAVAR : The 15th edition of Social Business Day officially commenced on the 27th of June 2025 at the Samajik Convention Centre in Zirabo, Savar, Dhaka. Organized by the Yunus Centre in collaboration with Grameen Group, the annual gathering brought together an extraordinary coalition of global changemakers, anchored by H.E. Professor Muhammad Yunus Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, and joined by global health leaders, young social entrepreneurs, athletes, changemakers, policymakers, investors, and social business pioneers from across 37+ countries. Themed “Social Business is the most efficient path to ensure healthcare for all,” this year’s event focuses on how social innovation can redefine healthcare systems to be more inclusive, accessible, and equitable, according to a press release.
The day began with a cultural segment that reflected the beauty of Bangladesh’s land, the spirit of its people, and the legacy of its culture. The Opening Session featured eminent voices including Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Co-Chair Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC); Vice President of the World Bank 1992-2000, who emphasized that real development happens when the poor become the developers of their own bounty. Gwyn Lewis, UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh sharing the impact of Social Business around the world. Mitsuru Izumo, Founder of Euglena, spoke of the power of social business to reshape the world. Kady Kanoute Tounkara, Olympian and changemaker, called for empowering more youth and social entrepreneurs “with zero excuses.”
A defining keynote was delivered by the Chief Guest H.E. Professor Muhammad Yunus, whose vision framed the entire day:
“Ideas spark more ideas. And when innovation is driven by purpose, it creates lasting change.
Healthcare must not be a commodity for profit or a handout for charity. It must be redefined as a Social Business — a purposeful, sustainable model that addresses systemic challenges and ensures healthcare for all.”
This vision lies at the heart of Social Business Day 2025, where global changemakers unite under the theme:
“Social Business is the most efficient path to ensure healthcare for all.”
A special Spotlight Session on Revolutionizing Healthcare was delivered by globally renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, who underscored the need for preventive care and population-wide health screening. “Fitness is a feeling. Health is a fact. And facts need proof,” he said, urging a shift from reactive sick-care to proactive systems that save lives through early diagnostics.
This fed into Plenary 1: The 3Ds Transforming Healthcare — Democracy, Demographics, and Digitization, which explored the intersection of policy, participation, and technology. Moderated by Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui, CEO and Board Member, Grameen HealthTech Limited and Acting CEO, Shamadhan Services Ltd, Plenary 1 titled “The 3Ds Transforming Healthcare — Democracy, Demographics, and Digitization” explored how inclusive policy, active citizen participation, and technology are reshaping global healthcare. In his opening remarks, Dr. Armaan emphasized the need to reimagine healthcare as a fundamental right driven by equitable access, evolving population needs, and digital innovation. The session featured Professor Dr. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Interim Government of Bangladesh, on participatory governance in health, Dr. Halida Hanum Akhter on digital health as a democratic equalizer, Dr. Tobias Silberzahn, CEO of A Healthier Future GmbH, Germany, on hybrid care models blending digital and physical services, Professor Rajendra Pratap Gupta, Chairman – Internet Governance Forum’s DC – Digital Health & Chairman- Commonwealth AI Consortium for Capacity Building, India, on India’s nationwide digital health rollout, Dr. Scott Leckman contrasting charity with social business, Dr. Scott Leckman , General Surgeon, Former Chairman of the Board of Directors, RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund, USA, on the importance of digitizing healthcare to improve accessibility, and Md. Ashraful Hassan, Chairman of Grameen Group, shared how Grameen’s telemedicine platform has already touched millions of lives. Together, they offered powerful insights on how the 3Ds are transforming healthcare into a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable system.
The event then transitioned to lunch and a Marketplace Experience, where dozens of social businesses and participants of the Nobin Udyokta (Young Entrepreneur) initiative showcased innovations in health, agriculture, education, finance, and sustainability. In the afternoon, powerful Spotlight Sessions followed—“Youth, Purpose and the Power of Voice,” featuring Father Enzo Fortunato, President of the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, and “Sports for Solidarity,” led by Thomas Bach, Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These were followed by a special message from Pau Gasol, Spanish basketball legend, six-time NBA All-Star, and President of the Gasol Foundation. Each session explored how platforms like Yunus Sports Hub are nurturing a new generation of social impact athletes and leaders.
Plenary 2: Youth in Action – Meet Your Everyday Heroes, led by Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals Affairs, Interim Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, featured bold, grounded storytelling from global youth. Kady Kanoute Tounkara spoke of life skills as the backbone of entrepreneurship. Tanzeel Rashid, founder of Ogrograhi, shared how climate justice, mental health, and menstrual equity are being addressed by youth movements in Bangladesh. Yoan Noguier of Yunus Sports Hub discussed container-based social business stadium models and Olympic procurement reform. Aysha Siddika Tithi, Youth Activist, reflected on women’s leadership post-revolution and the mental health support systems emerging from grassroots movements.
A major highlight of Day 1 was the powerful showcase of Grameen’s integrated healthcare ecosystem—spanning grassroots delivery to digital innovation. A.K.M. Moinuddin Chowdhury, Managing Director of Grameen Kalyan, shared how 143 health centers across 32 districts have served over 750,000 patients and reached more than 8 million people with health awareness. Shamsul Haque Ahmed, Managing Director of Grameen Healthcare Services, outlined the impact of their eye care services: over 3 million patients served, 172,000+ surgeries completed, and a growing network of green, AI-enabled clinics—driven by a 61% female workforce—with a bold 2032 vision to build Bangladesh’s largest eye care chain.
Crowning the momentum was the global launch of Shukhee, Grameen HealthTech’s inclusive digital health platform. “From smartphone users to feature phone users via their shortcode 10657, and rural patients supported by trained ambassadors—Shukhee is care without boundaries,” said Dr. Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui, CEO of Grameen HealthTech. With 2.8 million users and 68,000+ video consultations already completed, the platform was further recognized through the official launch of Bangladesh’s first national health ecosystem under ECHAlliance. The day also saw a landmark MoU with Nepal’s Centre for Self-help Development (CSD), marking Nepal as the first international adopter of the Shukhee model. “This is just the beginning of our global journey,” said Dr. Armaan. “A cross-border collaboration built on trust, technology, and shared purpose,” echoed CSD Chairperson Shankar Man Shrestha.
Also spotlighted during the day was the 80th United Nations General Assembly High-Level Event on Social Business, Youth, and Technology, with contributions from Alex Wang, Managing Director of the Global Committee on Social Business for the SDGs (China), and Dominique V. Dauster, Executive Director of Yunus + You – The YY Foundation (Germany), who reflected on the global momentum around youth-led innovation for social impact.
The day concluded with a series of high-energy breakout sessions, each tackling urgent global challenges through the lens of social business. From youth-led entrepreneurship to sustainable agriculture, from inclusive education to financial access, participants collaborated to co-create bold new pathways toward the 3-Zero goals.
One session explored how we can accelerate momentum toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with James Chau, President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for SDGs, urging collective urgency and innovation in the final stretch to 2030.
In the health and wellbeing breakout, Mohammad Abdul Matin Emon, CEO of Praava Health, outlined the evolving architecture of healthcare—emphasizing tech-enabled care, prevention, and patient empowerment.
The conversation on inclusive education was enriched by Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Chairman and Director of Grameen Bank and Vice Chancellor of North South University (NSU), who called for embedding social business into academic curricula to future-proof leadership and impact.
The financial inclusion breakout brought together sector leaders from across Asia: Sarder Akhter Hamed (Managing Director, Grameen Bank), Ali Ahmmed (CCO, bKash), Dr. Dolores M. Torres (Vice Chairperson, CARD Bank Inc., Philippines), and Shankar Man Shrestha (Chairperson, CSD, Nepal). The group discussed transformative approaches to ending poverty through equitable financial access, digital tools, and community-first design.
These sessions were not just dialogues—they were launchpads. Each generated actionable roadmaps, strategic alliances, and community-led commitments to take the social business movement deeper into policy, practice, and local innovation.
A vibrant networking dinner capped off the day, where changemakers mingled, exchanged ideas, and celebrated bold new directions in social innovation. Day 1 reaffirmed that Social Business is not just a theory—it is a growing global movement, with Bangladesh at the helm, offering scalable, sustainable, and inclusive models for healthcare, education, and social transformation.
