BD Has Progressed, But Faces Political & Democratic Challenges

Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged Bangladesh’s substantial progress but emphasized that the country could have achieved more politically and democratically. This was during a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday.

Dr. Yunus, seeking Ban Ki-moon’s guidance, requested support for a smooth transition to democracy in Bangladesh. “We are at a critical juncture and we need your support and counsel. This is a great opportunity for change,” Dr. Yunus said, highlighting the importance of the moment during their discussion on the sidelines of the BOAO Forum for Asia Annual Conference.

Ban Ki-moon, who also chairs the Boao Forum for Asia, commended Dr. Yunus’s leadership, stating that under his guidance, Bangladesh has the potential to achieve even greater success. “Bangladesh now has a leader who is respected globally,” Ban said.

Reflecting on his earlier diplomatic career, Ban Ki-moon reminisced about his role in establishing diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and South Korea when he was posted in New Delhi as a young diplomat. "It was my pen that helped formalize the diplomatic relationship between Korea and Bangladesh," he recalled.

Dr. Yunus, however, noted that while Bangladesh and South Korea started on similar paths, the trajectory has diverged significantly over the years. “The people of Bangladesh are wonderful, but political leadership has held us back,” he lamented.

Ban Ki-moon, who has long supported Bangladesh’s development, also shared his role in introducing the country to Kihak Sung, Chairman of Youngone Corporation and a leading Korean business figure. Sung later expanded his business operations into a specialized economic zone in Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser highlighted that Bangladesh had recently resolved a longstanding land issue with the Korean Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Chattogram, a move that he hopes will attract more Korean investors to the country.

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, added that Kihak Sung will lead a 26-member business delegation from Korea to the upcoming Business Summit in Dhaka next month, a development that signals growing interest in Bangladesh’s investment potential.

The Chief Adviser also took the opportunity to request Ban Ki-moon's support in resolving the ongoing Rohingya crisis and extended an invitation for him to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.