Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, accompanied by four senior political leaders from Bangladesh’s major political parties.
The inclusion of opposition figures in the official delegation marks a notable departure from past practice, reflecting the interim government’s stated commitment to inclusive governance and broad-based political engagement.
According to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, the delegation will comprise BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Amir Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, and National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen.
The group, alongside senior foreign ministry officials and members of the Chief Adviser’s office, is scheduled to depart Dhaka on September 22.
Professor Yunus is expected to deliver Bangladesh’s national statement at the UNGA on 26 September.
In his address, he is likely to emphasise the interim government’s efforts over the past year to stabilise the country following political turmoil, its roadmap for institutional reforms, and preparations for free and fair elections scheduled for February next year.
“The Chief Adviser will highlight reforms, democracy, and Bangladesh’s role in addressing global challenges,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain told reporters.
The 80th session of the UNGA carries the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights.”
The week-long General Debate (23–27 and 29 September) will see heads of state and government outline their national and international priorities against the backdrop of mounting global crises, including climate change, economic uncertainty, and geopolitical conflict.
For Bangladesh, key agenda items are expected to include the plight of the displaced Rohingya population, climate action, sustainable development, and the importance of strengthening multilateralism. On 30 September, Professor Yunus will attend a high-level plenary meeting focused on the Rohingya crisis, where he is expected to call for sustained international pressure on Myanmar and renewed global support for a safe and voluntary repatriation process.
The Chief Adviser is also scheduled to participate in the UN Climate Summit on 24 September, convened by Secretary-General António Guterres to accelerate action in line with the Paris Agreement. Bangladesh, among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, is expected to press for stronger commitments on adaptation finance and equitable access to green technology.
Other notable events on Professor Yunus’s agenda include the 80th anniversary commemoration of the founding of the United Nations on 22 September, as well as the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia. Bangladesh has historically supported the two-state solution and is likely to reaffirm this position.
Beyond formal sessions, Professor Yunus is expected to hold several bilateral meetings with global leaders, aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s diplomatic profile and fostering cooperation in areas such as climate resilience, poverty alleviation, and economic development. Foreign ministry officials noted that schedules are being finalised.
Professor Yunus and the delegation will travel to New York on a commercial flight, arriving on September 22.
He is slated to return to Dhaka on October 2, concluding a ten-day visit that officials say will be crucial for both Bangladesh’s foreign policy visibility and its domestic transition process.
