Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has returned from a nine-day visit to New York, where he led Bangladesh’s delegation to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
His engagements, the Press Secretary said, demonstrated the government’s democratic commitment, humanitarian leadership, and vision for a collaborative global future.
The Press Secretary outlined six key achievements of Prof Yunus’ tour---
1. A clear message of democratic commitment: In his UNGA address, Prof Yunus reaffirmed Bangladesh’s pledge to democracy, transparency, and inclusive governance. He assured the global community that upcoming elections would be free, fair, and participatory. Notably, for the first time, six political party representatives accompanied the Chief Adviser, symbolizing national unity in the transition toward democratic elections.
2. Strategic engagements with global leaders: Prof Yunus held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with leaders from Italy, Finland, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Australia, Albania, Kosovo, and Bhutan. Talks focused on democracy, trade, climate resilience, and human development. He also met UN Secretary General António Guterres, UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, UN Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima, World Bank President Ajay Banga, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Prof Yunus also joined a dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump, engaging with several world leaders.
3. Humanitarian leadership on the Rohingya crisis: The Rohingya crisis featured prominently in Prof Yunus’ meetings. He urged renewed international action for safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar and secured commitments of $96 million in humanitarian support from the United States and the United Kingdom.
4. Invitation for independent UN Assessment of LDC graduation: In a move underscoring accountability and development confidence, Prof Yunus invited the UN to conduct an independent review of Bangladesh’s progress toward graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. This step, officials said, reflects Dhaka’s openness to international evaluation.
5. New economic and employment opportunities: Prof Yunus explored avenues for overseas employment during meetings with leaders from Kosovo, Albania, and other European countries. These initiatives are expected to expand labor mobility, increase remittance flows, and strengthen ties with new partner nations.
6. A vision for a collaborative future: The Press Secretary emphasized that Prof Yunus’ participation at UNGA projected Bangladesh as a responsible global actor, advancing democracy, humanitarian solidarity, and constructive cooperation across regions.
