<keyword id="19936600" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhaka" source="keywords">Dhaka</keyword> [Bangladesh], August 8 (ANI): <keyword id="19931890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nobel-Laureate" source="keywords">Nobel Laureate</keyword> <keyword id="20856675" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economist" source="keywords">economist</keyword> <keyword id="20024384" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Muhammad-Yunus" source="keywords">Muhammad Yunus</keyword> is expected to return to <keyword id="19919639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bangladesh" source="keywords">Bangladesh</keyword> on Thursday, Bangladesh-based Dhaka Tribune reported. Yunus will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on an <keyword id="21090062" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Emirates-flight" source="keywords">Emirates flight</keyword> from Dubai at 2.10 pm, subject to the flight being on time, Dhaka Tribune reported, quoting a statement from <keyword id="22708944" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Yunus-Centre" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Yunus Centre" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="Yunus Centre">Yunus Centre</keyword>. Yunus' return comes as he is set to take on a significant role as head of the <keyword id="21030472" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interim-government" source="keywords">interim government</keyword>, following a meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Nahid Islam, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said that the oath-taking ceremony for Yunus, proposed as head of the interim government during a meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, will take place the following day, Dhaka Tribune reported. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Yunus Centre congratulated the students who played a key role in achieving the Second Victory Day and urged the public to avoid violence. "I congratulate the brave students who took the lead in making our Second Victory Day possible and to the people for giving your total support to them. Let us make the best use of our new victory. Let us not let this slip away because of our mistakes. I fervently appeal to everybody to stay calm. Please refrain from all kinds of violence. I appeal to all students, members of all political parties and non-political people to stay calm," the statement read. The statement highlighted the country's potential and urged the population to focus on building a better future. "This is our beautiful country with lots of exciting possibilities. We must protect and make it a wonderful country for us and for our future generations," Yunus Centre added in its statement. Yunus Centre further said that violence is their enemy. "Our youth is ready to give this leadership in creating a new world. Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country. If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm," it added.

Muhammad Yunus to return to Bangladesh on Thursday, set to lead interim government

Amid the unrest in <keyword id="6354759" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bangladesh" source="Orion">Bangladesh</keyword>, which led to Prime Minister <keyword id="66026" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sheikh-Hasina" source="Orion">Sheikh Hasina</keyword> resigning and fleeing to India, all Indian visa application centres in Bangladesh have been closed until further notice. The online portal to apply for Indian visa now has a message, which reads: “All IVACs will remain closed till further notice, due to the unstable situation. Next application date will be informed through SMS &amp; It is requested to pick up the passport on the next working day.” This update arrives a day after India evacuated non-essential staff and their families from its High Commission and consulates in Bangladesh. However, Indian diplomats are still in the neighbouring country, with missions still operating, according to government sources. India has a High Commission in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and consulates in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. EAM. S. Jaishankar, discussing the situation in the Parliament on Tuesday, 6 August, said there are about 19,000 Indian nationals in Bangladesh—including 9,000 students, despite many returning to India after the protests began. He assured that the government is in close contact with the Indian community and is also monitoring the situation of minorities living there. As of Tuesday, the death toll in the anti-government protests rose to 440, with 100 more deaths reported after Sheikh Hasina fled the country, according to local media. The army is trying to control the situation in the violence-hit nation. However, in Dhaka, things were mostly calm on Tuesday, with public transport running and schools and shops open. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112289999" title="Bangladesh coup: A timeline of critical events that led to PM Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and alleged flight" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div> An interim government supported by the Army is being set up in Bangladesh. Nobel Peace Prize winner and Grameen Bank founder <keyword id="83501" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Muhammad-Yunus" source="Orion">Muhammad Yunus</keyword> will lead this caretaker government. He will be sworn in as the leader on Thursday. On Wednesday, the United States expressed confidence that Yunus's interim government will bring long-term peace and political stability to Bangladesh. "We think the interim government will play a vital role in establishing long-term peace and political stability in Bangladesh," US State Department spokesperson David Miller said that the US is ready to work with Bangladesh. To contextualise the overall situation, the protests in Bangladesh initially started because of a controversial quota system in government jobs. However, they quickly turned into a country-wide movement of sorts against the Awami League government, after Prime Minister Hasina's 'razakar' comments and the harsh police response. The initial protests calmed down after the Supreme Court reduced the quotas, but unrest resumed as many students demanded Hasina's resignation. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/bangladesh-protests-mob-continues-to-kill-arson-vandalise-and-storm-jails-even-after-pm-hasina-resignation/articleshow/112304482.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Bangladesh protests: Mob continues to kill, arson, vandalise and storm jails even after PM Hasina resignation</a>

Indian visa centres in Bangladesh closed till further notice; Muhammad Yunus to be sworn in today to lead interim govt

Dhaka: <keyword id="19919639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bangladesh" source="keywords">Bangladesh</keyword>'s garment industry, a vital economic pillar, is facing a severe crisis due to a volatile mix of <keyword id="20444027" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="political-unrest" source="keywords">political unrest</keyword>, including violent protests, and catastrophic flooding, threatening to unravel years of rapid growth and global prominence. The textile and garment industry, which accounts for over 80 per cent of Bangladesh's total export earnings and contributes approximately 11 per cent to the nation's GDP, has been hit hard. This industry contributes significantly to export earnings and employs millions. Following the unprecedented anti-government protests, which reached a crescendo on August 5, Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country. She landed in India on August 5 and is currently staying there. The two-month-long anti-quota protests have led to widespread demonstrations, curfews, and violence. This unrest has not only disrupted factory operations but has also caused significant economic losses. Factories were forced to close, and with the peak season for Christmas shipments and the booking of next season's orders upon us, the timing of the unrest has exacerbated the crisis. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (<keyword id="22930680" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BGMEA" source="keywords">BGMEA</keyword>) recently has reported substantial financial losses, estimating a shortfall of Tk 6,400 crore (approx Rs 4,500 crore) due to the shutdowns and communication breakdowns. Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, the newly elected president of the BGMEA, mentioned that the goal of reaching nearly USD 45 billion in exports this year may not be achieved. He attributed this to disruptions in both export activities and production. "I think this is a temporary crisis and we will tide over it. The exact magnitude of the losses will be known later, but yes, there has been an impact," he told PTI. Echoing similar sentiments, former cabinet minister and president of BGMEA, Gholam Sarwar Milon, said the garment industry has been badly hit by both the political unrest and the floods, as both production and the supply chain of raw materials have been severely affected. "The crisis in the garment industry is unprecedented. Production is nearly 15-20 per cent less than the corresponding period last year. Several orders have dried up as investors and order suppliers are wary about investing. Several small factories have either closed down or are working on sub-contracts for big factories," he told PTI. According to BGMEA sources, out of 3,000 major and small garment factories in Bangladesh, nearly 800-900 have closed since last year. "The big factories have survived, but the small and medium factories have borne the brunt. If the situation persists, it will worsen further," he said. Milon suggested that the garment industry needs to diversify into making jute bags and other high-end clothing and also look for new markets. The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association has projected losses of around USD 58 million. The impact on the industry is compounded by the recent flooding, which has further disrupted logistics and exacerbated the economic fallout. Bangladesh's main port, Chattogram, through which more than 90 per cent of the country's international trade transits, has become a focal point of the chaos. The port's operations were paralysed during the political unrest, leading to significant delays in shipments. Factories have struggled to maintain production schedules, and backlogs at ports and airports have stretched to a month in some cases. To mitigate the damage, factories have turned to air freight and extended working hours, but these measures have not fully alleviated the delays. The president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), Mohammad Hatem, said orders are down by 15-20 per cent. "The industry has incurred huge losses in the last few months. In 2014, during political unrest, we suffered a similar situation. It then took us three years to return to the previous state. We hope to tide over the situation soon as Chief Advisor <keyword id="20024384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="muhammad-yunus" source="keywords">Muhammad Yunus</keyword> is taking several steps to restore normalcy," he told PTI. Hatem feels that if the situation is not overcome soon, there is a growing perception that foreign investors might look at new markets in other South Asian nations. "However, other South Asian markets don't have the infrastructure like Bangladesh, which has such huge production capacity," he said. The garment industry's workforce, which employs over 4 million people directly and nearly 15 million indirectly, with a significant proportion of women, faces mounting uncertainty. The sector's remarkable growth over the past two decades-from USD 5 billion in exports in 2001 to nearly USD 40 billion in 2023-now stands at risk. The floods have compounded the challenges, causing damage to infrastructure and further complicating logistics. Monsoon rainfall-triggered floods in deltaic Bangladesh and upstream Indian regions have killed several people and marooned or affected nearly 3 million others in Bangladesh, posing a huge administrative challenge to the newly installed interim government amid a political transition. "Due to the floods, the supply chain has been badly affected. We reached a high in 2023-24 where our garment exports touched around USD 46 billion. This time it is likely to be much less," said former army major and owner of a woollen garment factory, Mahfuzur Rehman. The sector's growth from a small-scale operation in the early 1980s to becoming the world's second-largest apparel exporter, after China, underscores its strength. In the financial year 2009, Bangladesh's apparel exports were valued at USD 12 billion. By the financial year 2023-24, this figure had surged to over USD 46 billion, reflecting the industry's capacity for recovery and growth even amid adversity. In response to the crisis, the interim government, now led by Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus, has prioritised restoring order and stability. According to garment industry insiders, the path to recovery is fraught with challenges as the political instability has undermined investor confidence, and the recent flooding has further strained the already fragile infrastructure. "The sector's resilience will be tested as it attempts to regain its footing and restore its reputation as a reliable global supplier," a garment industry owner, who did not wish to be named, said. He added that despite the current crisis, Bangladesh's textile and garment industry has shown great strength and the ability to recover in the past.

Bangladesh garment industry faces crisis amid political unrest and floods

<keyword id="19931890" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nobel-laureate" source="keywords">Nobel laureate</keyword> <keyword id="20024384" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Muhammad-Yunus" source="keywords">Muhammad Yunus</keyword> on Thursday returned to <keyword id="19919639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bangladesh" source="keywords">Bangladesh</keyword> from <keyword id="19916613" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paris" source="keywords">Paris</keyword> to take oath as the head of Bangladesh's <keyword id="21030472" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="interim-government" source="keywords">interim government</keyword>, three days after <keyword id="20024637" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sheikh-Hasina" source="keywords">Sheikh Hasina</keyword> resigned as Prime Minister and fled the country following widespread protests against her regime. Yunus, 84, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work on microlending, was designated head of the interim government after President Mohammed Shahabuddin dissolved parliament on Tuesday. Yunus was in Paris for the Olympic Games. He returned to the country via Dubai. An Emirates flight (EK-582) carrying Yunus landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 2:10pm local time. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman, senior officials, student leaders and civil society members welcomed him at the airport. He will go directly to Bangabhaban, the Prime Minister's official residence. This interim government will lead the country for a certain period and oversee the election to transition power to an elected government. President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath of office to the new government. The Army chief on Wednesday said the oath-taking ceremony will likely be held in the evening in the presence of some 400 dignitaries. He hinted that the interim government may have 15 members for now. He, however, did not disclose their names and the possible tenure of the government. The Army chief hoped that normalcy would return within three to four days as the situation across the country is improving significantly. Yunus, whose name was first proposed for the top job by the coordinators of the student movement that led to Hasina's ouster, on Wednesday congratulated the "brave students" who took the lead in making, what he said, "our Second Victory Day possible", and appealed to all students, political parties and non-political people to stay calm. "Let us not miss the chance by going into any senseless violence. Violence is our enemy. Please don't create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country," he said in a statement. "If we take the path of violence everything will be destroyed. Please stay calm. Help those around you to stay calm." His successful anti-poverty campaign through the Grameen Bank became a model which was replicated across continents. He had been in a protracted row with Hasina's government due to obscure reasons while authorities initiated a series of investigations against him after she came to power in 2008. Bangladesh authorities launched a review of the statutory Grameen Bank's activities in 2011 and fired Yunus as its founding managing director on charges of violating the government retirement regulation. Yunus was charged under dozens of cases during Hasina's regime. In January, a court sentenced Yunus to six months in jail on charges of labour law violation. Many people believe Hasina became enraged when Yunus announced that he would form a political party in 2007 when a military-backed government ran the country and Hasina was in prison. 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Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returns to Bangladesh from Paris to take charge of interim government

New Delhi: The Indian garment and knitted fabric sector is witnessing a bit of uncertainty due to the <keyword id="22498521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bangladesh-crisis" source="keywords">Bangladesh crisis</keyword>, Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> said on Saturday, expressing hope that the interim government there will settle things "sooner rather than later." Interacting with the media on the sidelines of customary post Budget address to the central board of <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword>, she said efforts are being taken to ensure that borders with the neighbouring country are safe. With regard to Indian investments, she said, the textile industry particularly from Tamil Nadu has made investments there in good faith and they have done well having gone there. "The exports from <keyword id="19919639" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="bangladesh" source="keywords">Bangladesh</keyword> also increased because of the duty and quota liberal approach that we have towards low-income countries. They (Indian garment industry based in Bangladesh) could even export to India." Particularly, she said, the garment and knitted fabric sector is seeing a bit of uncertainty because of the crisis in the neighbouring country. "I hope that the investments are all safe... it's too early for me to see what kind of an impact this situation in Bangladesh will have on our economy. I hope that the interim government will settle things sooner rather than later so that both the people of Bangladesh and India can get back to normalcy," she said. Earlier this week, Bangladesh plunged into a political crisis when Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister and fled the country. Soon after Parliament was dissolved leading to the creation of an interim government. The 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Thursday took oath as the head of an interim government, replacing Sheikh Hasina who abruptly resigned and fled to India leaving the country in turmoil following deadly protests against her government over a controversial quota system in jobs. On Friday, Bangladesh's interim leader Yunus announced the portfolios of his 16-member council of advisors and named a former top diplomat to head the foreign ministry. The Nobel laureate's first task is to bring stability to Bangladesh after he responded to a call by student protesters for him to temporarily lead the country following weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations against the government led by Sheikh Hasina.

Garment sector facing uncertainty due to Bangladesh crisis, normalcy may return soon: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

A day after <keyword id="22674746" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sheikh-Hasina-resigned" source="keywords">Sheikh Hasina resigned</keyword> as Prime Minister of Bangladesh and left the country, <keyword id="22688217" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="President-Mohammed-Shahabuddin" source="keywords">President Mohammed Shahabuddin</keyword> on Tuesday, announced the dissolution of the country's parliament to make way for the formation of an interim administration, Dhaka Tribune reported. Based on the decision from a meeting of President Shahabuddin with the heads of the three armed forces, leaders of various political parties, representatives of civil society, and leaders of the Students Against Discrimination movement, the national parliament was dissolved, a press release from the president's office stated. It further said that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been released from jail. The statement said that the process of releasing those detained in the student movement and various cases from July 1 to August 5 has begun, with many already being freed. Earlier in the day, BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was also released. In a statement on Monday, the president's press team said that a meeting led by Shahabuddin had "decided unanimously" to free Begum Khaleda Zia immediately. "The meeting has also decided to free all the people who have been arrested during the student protests," the president's statement added. Zia, 78, a former Bangladeshi prime minister, is confined to a hospital due to poor health. In 2018, she was found guilty of corruption and given a 17-year prison sentence. She and Hasina had a long-standing feud and she was accused of abusing her position of authority by stealing almost USD250,000 in donations intended for a trust for an orphanage, according to Al Jazeera. The BNP has claimed that the cases were made up to prevent Zia from entering politics; Hasina's administration, however, refuted these claims. Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, on August 5, tendering her resignation from her post in the wake of mounting protests. The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests. Hasina arrived in India on Monday evening and it is not clear if she will stay in Delhi or move to another location. Meanwhile, in Dhaka, leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement have proposed an interim government led by Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, in a bid to address Bangladesh's ongoing challenge. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/unicommerce-esolutions-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112307438.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/webstories/unicommerce-esolutions-ipo-price-band-to-risk-factors-all-you-need-to-know/slidelist/112307438.cms" target="_blank">Unicommerce eSolutions IPO – Price band to risk factors, all you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/electric-two-wheeler-sales-cross-the-1-lakh-mark-after-four-months-ola-electric-leads-the-market/articleshow/112288793.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/electric-two-wheeler-sales-cross-the-1-lakh-mark-after-four-months-ola-electric-leads-the-market/articleshow/112288793.cms" target="_blank">Electric two-wheeler sales cross the 1 lakh mark after four months, Ola Electric leads the market</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/neeraj-chopras-paris-olympics-journey-to-begin-with-qualification-round-today-top-rivals-to-look-out-for/articleshow/112311760.cms">Neeraj Chopra qualifies for finals with a first throw of 89.34m – top rivals to look out for</a>

Bangladesh Parliament dissolved ahead of interim government formation

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5db1ee9ddee01964724bbb23-2121/gettyimages-1081538288.jpg" border="0" alt="woman using laptop" data-mce-source="Sarah Waiswa/Getty Images" />Sarah Waiswa/Getty Images</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-save-money-2019-2">Saving money</a> is important - whether in an <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-money-to-save-in-emergency-fund-rules">emergency fund</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-way-to-save-for-retirement">retirement accounts</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-open-high-yield-savings-account-online-save-money">high-yield savings accounts</a>, or elsewhere.</li><li>But <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-money">investing your money</a> is more likely to yield higher returns. </li><li>If you're not sure how to get started and only have a small pot of money to work with, robo-advisers, microloans, and startups are great opportunities to invest.</li><li>Open an invesment account with <a href="https://betterment.evyy.net/BQXmJ">Betterment</a> or <a href="https://wealthfront.pxf.io/03JEN">Wealthfront</a> today and watch your money grow »</li></ul>We've all heard it: The best way to make money is to have money. And whether you've seen an early-stage startup hit massive success before your eyes, or hated getting left behind in the crazy (now crashed) bull run of the last five years, you've probably wondered how to maximize your money like Warren Buffett.After all, 1 to 2% interest in your savings account can feel paltry when compared to double-digit gains.The problem is, many feel they just don't have enough money to be an investor. Which, to be fair, was true for a long time.Now, thanks to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/future-of-fintech?IR=T">the burgeoning fintech sector</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-invest-money">investment opportunities</a> are becoming more available to individuals at every savings level - even for as little as $500.So how do you do it? There are theoretically infinite ways to "invest" your money, as all it takes is capital and a way to get return on that capital.However, for most individuals with a full-time job, investments are thought of as a passive, low-effort mechanism for seeing moderate gains. And when it comes to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-calculate-return-on-investment-earnings-roi">return on investment</a> relative to risk and effort, there are some clear winners.We outlined three of the best ways to invest with just $500 and little more than a laptop.<h2>1. Invest with the help of a robo-adviser</h2>One of the most popular inventions in fintech is the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-robo-advisors-2017-9">robo-adviser</a>.The invention of algorithm-based trading and advice platforms has made it possible for almost anyone to take advantage of the stock and bond markets - which you want to take advantage of given their power for wealth creation.For perspective, the average return for the S&amp;P 500 has been 7% over the last 60 years. That's five times the return of a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-open-high-yield-savings-account-online-save-money">high-yield savings account</a>, and three times that of a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/should-i-use-a-cd">CD (certificate of deposit)</a>.Now, they key to that 7% is broad-based exposure. While you're not seeing the triple-digits gains of crypto and pot stocks, you're also not seeing triple-digit losses, either. It's almost always recommended that passive investors get broad exposure via exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or other vehicles.Because funds or stocks can be difficult to select and manage, robo-advisers like <a href="https://betterment.evyy.net/BQXmJ">Betterment</a> and <a href="https://wealthfront.pxf.io/03JEN">Wealthfront</a> use data and their algorithms to do the decision making typically reserved for wealth managers. And they're pretty good at it - returning 2.6% better than the average investor.Both robo-advisers automatically invest your savings in the market based on your risk preference and goals, and as fiduciaries, it is their responsibility to keep your best interest in mind.While you may see ups and downs in the short term, as all investors do, over the long run you are getting exposure to one of the largest wealth-generating tools, with almost no more effort than creating a savings account. Open a brokerage account with <a href="https://betterment.evyy.net/BQXmJ">Betterment</a> or <a href="https://wealthfront.pxf.io/03JEN">Wealthfront</a> today and watch your money grow »<h2>2. Invest in a startup </h2>Normally, to invest in a private company, you need to be an accredited investor, which the <a href="https://www.investor.gov/additional-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/investor-bulletin-accredited-investors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SEC defines</a> as an individual income of over $200,000 or a net worth of $1 million. However, with <a href="https://microventures.com/">MicroVentures</a>, you can start investing through crowdfunding for as little as $100.MicroVentures is a FINRA-registered marketplace that aggregates individual investments through the accredited First Democracy VC, which then allows for investment in early-stage companies in what's known as <a href="https://microventures.com/equity-crowdfunding" target="_blank" rel="noopener">equity crowdfunding</a>. Think Kickstarter, except you get to make profits (MicroVentures does have an <a href="https://equity.indiegogo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">active partnership</a> with Indiegogo).MicroVentures tries to eliminate some of the risk by vetting early-stage startups to find primary and secondary investment opportunities that have funding needs ranging from $150,000 to over a $2 million, and their <a href="https://microventures.com/about/portfolio" target="_blank" rel="noopener">portfolio of companies</a> includes 23andMe, Bonobos, and HotelTonight. However, you should take note: This is not an option for those who need liquidity. Under Title III of the SEC, you're basically locked into your shares for at least a year, and selling after that can typically only be done back to the company, or to another accredited investor.While a great opportunity to invest in a company you believe in, you should always keep in mind that <a href="https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/11/startup-statistics-small-business.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">50% of small business fail in the first four years</a>. In other words: invest carefully.<h2>3. Invest in microloans</h2>Since 2006, using data from the Nobel Prize-winning project of economist Muhammad Yunus, microlending has become a huge source of business development in the world. Typically referring to loans of less than $50,000, microloans are a way for businesses to get capital outside of traditional banks.<a href="https://www.kiva.org/">Kiva</a> is probably the leading name in this field, however, it's a non-profit that primarily targets social impact in developing countries.If you want to loan out your money as a means of wealth generation, your best option with $500 or less to invest is <a href="https://www.prosper.com/">Prosper</a>. It's a peer-to-peer lending network that allow you to receive monthly payments with interest in exchange for a principal loan. (<a href="https://www.lendingclub.com/">Lending Club</a> is another option but requires a minimum of $1,000 to get started.)As far as performance goes, Prosper has seen an average of 3 to 8% in historical returns, with performance increasing the more diversified a portfolio becomes. However, one big thing to note is state availability. State regulations around microloans differ, and before you do anything, you need to check if investing in microloans is even a possibility for you. <h2>The bottom line</h2>Whether you want to invest in securities, startups, or microloans, you should always do so with liquid money. If you have money you're saving for a mortgage or student loans, this is not the place to invest it.The fundamental principle underlying investments is you're taking on higher risk for the chance of more gains, and that higher risk means you may lose your money (or, at the very least, see a short-term decrease in value).That being said, almost every wealthy individual has an array of investments increasing their wealth, and there's no reason you can't join in on the party.As long as you are disciplined and don't over-leverage yourself, it's not unrealistic to see gains of two to three times that of traditional savings instruments. Do your research, make a plan, and get started.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>More <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/personal-finance-insider">personal finance</a> coverage</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-airline-credit-card-comparison-delta-united-american">What's the best airline credit card?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com//best-cash-back-credit-cards">The best cash back credit cards</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/are-cds-a-good-investment">Are CDs a good investment?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-save-money-in-high-yield-savings">When to save money in high-yield savings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-rewards-credit-cards">Best rewards credit cards</a></li></ul>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Personal Finance Insider team. 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3 ways to get started as an investor for as little as $500

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/44923172.cms" /> In April this year, Kolkata-based <keyword id="145807" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Bandhan-Financial-Services">Bandhan Financial Services</keyword> emerged one among the only two entities (the other being IDFC) that were granted in-principle banking licences by the Reserve <keyword id="6355303" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bank-of-India">Bank of India</keyword> after a hiatus of more than 10 years (Yes, no new Indian bank has been formed since 2004 when <keyword id="45660" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Yes-Bank">Yes Bank</keyword> launched operations). The fact that Bandhan pipped around two dozen other applicants—including high-profile names such as Reliance Capital, controlled by billionaire Anil Ambani and <keyword id="6398463" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Nuvo">Aditya Birla Nuvo</keyword>, part of the Aditya Birla conglomerate—highlighted the government’s focus on providing banking licen1e to players that will ensure financial inclusion, by offering banking services to the bottom-of-the-pyramid group in rural areas who have little or no access to traditional banking services. 
 Granting of banking licence to Bandhan has in fact proved to be a boost to the <keyword id="113684" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="microfinance">microfinance</keyword> industry in the country which has been trying to gain momentum after the crisis in Andhra Pradesh in 2010 when the state government took tough regulatory measures, leading to the closure of many <keyword id="113682" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="MFIs">MFIs</keyword>, after indebtedness to these firms prompted several farmers to commit suicide. 
 
Microfinance, which was non-existent till early seventies, came into being in 1974 when Dr Muhammad Yunus, an economics professor born in Chittagong in Bangladesh (who went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006), loaned $27 to 42 poor women to pay off loan they had taken from local loan sharks who charged exorbitant interest. That marked the birth of microfinance with the key idea of providing the poor small loans for their micro-enterprises to help them come out of poverty. The growth of Grameen Bank, set up by Yunus to help the poor fight poverty by becoming entrepreneurs, to an institution lending more than $1 billion a year to the have-nots, especially women, has proven that microfinance has a universal social applicability. 
 
The microfinance industry in India witnessed significant growth in the years preceding the global financial crisis in 2008. SKS, which then was the country’s biggest microfinance firm with a $1.2 billion loan book, went public in July 2010. The $350 million offering was oversubscribed more than 13 times. But just a few months after SKS’ public offering, the AP microfinance crisis followed and things took an ugly turn. As farmers’ suicides abounded, AP government stiffened rules and all loans distributed in the state were written off, bringing the industry to a grinding halt as AP accounted for the bulk of microfinance lending disbursed in the country till then. 
 After years of muted growth, the industry has started showing signs of renewal, albeit under stricter norms issued by RBI. The investors have started responding to the sector’s renewed vigor. Last year, Indian microlenders raised a combined $470 million from investors such as Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia and <keyword id="166412" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="International-finance-corporation">International Finance Corporation</keyword>. Pune-based Suryoday Microfinance which raised Rs 27 crore led IFC; Bhubaneshwar-based Annapurna Microfinance which raised Rs 30 crore from Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries and others and Bangalore-based Grameen Koota which raised Rs 80 crore from MicroVentures Investments are specific examples. Deals worth another $100 million are said to be in the pipeline, initiated by investors who are seeing MFIs as potential banks—the investment today may help them own part of a bank tomorrow—as illustrated by Bandhan. 
 
While investors are bullish, there are those who say that the industry is headed in the wrong director from a social perspective. For decades, microfinance was mainly promoted by activists working for charities and NGOs, driven by a sense of social mission to improve the lot of the poor. But over the last decade, it has transformed into a global enterprise (the global commercial microfinance industry is expected to grow 20 per cent a year in the near future), with a portfolio worth $81 billion driven by profit more than social responsibility. 
 
Also, the increasing interest rates charged by MFIs from impoverished borrowers—though global average interest rate is estimated at 37%, rates are as high as 70% in some markets while in India rates hover around 24-28%--seem to betray one of the key objectives of microfinance—providing small loans to the poor at an affordable cost. 
 
However, going by the constructive and socially responsible role played by Grameen Bank in alleviating poverty in Bangladesh by helping transforming millions of poor into small entrepreneurs, one hopes the bank’s peers in India will follow suit, playing the dual role of agents of social change in fighting poverty while creating wealth through transparent business practices, thus contributing to overall economic growth. 
 
Image credit: indiatimes.com

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3 ways to get started as an investor for as little as $500

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