He was inspired during the Bangladesh famine of 1974 to make a small loan of US$ 27 to a group of 42 families as start-up money so that they could make items for sale , without the burdens of high interest under predatory lending .
During the Bangladesh famine of 1974 he gave a small loan of USD 27 to a group of 42 families so that they could make small items and sell them without owing too much money .