The Chittagong University campus was awash with emotion and pride as graduates and teachers warmly welcomed Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus upon his arrival who attended its 5th Convocation as the chief guest on Wednesday.

As he made his way towards the podium, a wave of cheers erupted from both sides.

Graduates, their faces lit with excitement and pride, expressed heartfelt gratitude and admiration.

A former faculty member of CU’s Economics Department and a Nobel Laureate, Prof Yunus' return to the campus was hailed as a historic moment.

In recognition of his contributions, the Chittagong University conferred upon him an honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt) degree.

In an emotionally driven historic reunion, Chief Adviser Professor Yunus delivered his convocation speech revisiting his days in the University and shared how he began the journey of microcredit.

"It's a historic reunion. A big chapter has ended while a new chapter begins," he told the graduates.

Prof Yunus said it is a matter of great joy for him to return to this campus again after many years.

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The Nobel Peace Laureate encouraged the graduates to dream big and fulfill their desires and contribute to the country. "We have the capacity to build a new world that we want. We will be able to build the world the way we want to build."

But everyone has to have a dream about what kind of environment and society he or she wants to establish, Prof Yunus said.

Recalling the background of the establishment of Grameen Bank, the Chief Adviser said the ongoing civilisation is a civilisation of a destructive economy.

"The economy we established is an economy of business, not of people," he said, adding that the business-oriented civilisation is a suicidal one, which will not sustain.

Prof Yunus said he is delighted to be here in Chittagong University after a long time, recalling that he joined the CU as a teacher in 1972.

He highlighted the 1974 famine that hit the country and how Grameen Bank was formed to help the famine-hit people in Chattogram.

The Chief Adviser said the birth of Grameen Bank took place in the Economics Department of the CU.

Education Adviser Dr CR Abrar, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof Dr SMA Faiz and CU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Yeahia Akhter, among others, spoke at the programme.

Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam, Energy Adviser Dr Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum and Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present.

Prof Yunus began the visit to his home district of Chattogram this morning— his first since taking office — with a series of engagements scheduled during his roughly 12-hour stay.

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Following the convocation, Prof Yunus visited his ancestral home in Bathua village, located at Shikarpur union of Hathazari upazila.

This convocation is the largest of its kind in the country's history, with the university conferring degrees on 22,586 students.

In addition to undergraduate and postgraduate degree recipients, the university honoured 42 PhD awardees and 33 MPhil scholars.

CU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Yeahia Akhter described the convocation as “an academic celebration—an apex moment for any student,” noting that CU students have been deprived of this experience for nearly a decade.

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The Chief Adviser offered prayers at the graves of his ancestors at Bathua village in Hathazari.

He visited the first branch of Grameen Bank and Zobra museum in Chittagong.

The branch was first set up near Chittagong University campus and later relocated at a building in Hathazari.