Prof Yunus includes 4 political leaders in UNGA tour del

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus speaking at a programme in Dhaka recently. UNB.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will reach New York on September 22 to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he is set to deliver his official statement and hold a series of high-level meetings on the sidelines.

The Chief Adviser will deliver his speech at the UNGA on September 26, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday.

Hossain said Prof Yunus, in his speech, is expected to highlight the activities of the last year and the interim government commitment to true democracy through reforms and elections scheduled for February next year.

He is expected to address a wide range of pressing global issues, including peacekeeping, climate change and climate justice, the Sustainable Development Goals, illicit financial flows, safe migration and migrant rights, sustainable technology transfer in the age of artificial intelligence, as well as a call for ceasefire and permanent peace in Palestine.

The Foreign Affairs Adviser said four political leaders -- BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher and National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Akhter Hossen -- will be part of the Bangladesh delegation to the UNGA.

Prof Yunus will hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA with the global leaders which are being finalised.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present.

The Chief Adviser will leave Dhaka for New York by a commercial flight which is scheduled to arrive in New York on September 22.

He is scheduled to return home on October 2, said the Foreign Affairs Adviser.

At the General Debate (Sept 23-27 & 29), the annual meeting of heads of state and government at the beginning of the General Assembly session, world leaders will make statements outlining their positions and priorities in the context of complex and interconnected global challenges, officials said.

The Foreign Adviser said this year’s UN General Assembly (UNGA) holds special significance for Bangladesh.

On September 30, the UN will, for the first time, host a high-level conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities in Myanmar.

The decision stems from a proposal made last year by Prof Muhammad Yunus, which received unanimous support from UN member states.

In preparation for the conference, Bangladesh organised the first-ever “Partners’ Dialogue” in Cox’s Bazar last month, bringing together international partners and Rohingya representatives.

“This unprecedented high-level meeting, combined with UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ visit to Bangladesh earlier this year, demonstrates that despite multiple global crises, the Rohingya issue remains firmly on the international agenda,” Foreign Adviser Hossain said.

The Chief Adviser will also participate in the high-level meeting to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth on September 25.

Highlighting the role of Bangladesh’s youth, who spearheaded last year’s democratic uprising, the Foreign Adviser said they remain a driving force for reforms and the vision of a new Bangladesh.

Participation in the event will allow the government to share the hopes and aspirations of its young generation with the global community.

Bangladesh will also engage in discussions on Women, Peace, and Security, underscoring its contributions as one of the world’s leading peacekeeping nations.

During the visit, the Chief Adviser will attend the UN Secretary-General’s welcome reception, a reception hosted by US President Donald Trump, and hold a series of bilateral meetings with global leaders. “As is customary, new meetings may be added and some may be dropped at the last moment,” the Foreign Adviser noted.

Hossain will represent Bangladesh in a series of multilateral engagements, including the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Meeting, the Peacebuilding Commission Ministerial, the G77 and China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, the OIC Annual Coordination Meeting, BIMSTEC, CICA and the LDC Ministerial.

“This UNGA session offers Bangladesh a vital opportunity to present its reform process, democratic transition, and national priorities to the international community,” Hossain said. “We expect the delegation, under the leadership of the Chief Adviser, to broaden and strengthen global cooperation on issues central to Bangladesh’s interests.”

He also said Prof Yunus’s international reputation has drawn requests for interviews from leading global media outlets, alongside invitations to prominent side events, including NRB Connect and Asia Society programmes.

"Eighty years ago, from the ashes of war, the world planted a seed of hope. One Charter, one vision, one promise: that peace is possible when humanity stands together,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

President of the 80th session of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock has outlined her vision under the theme ‘Better Together’, emphasising unity, solidarity and collective action.

The 80th UNGA Under the theme ‘Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights’ comes at a pivotal moment to renew global commitment to multilateralism, solidarity and shared action for people and planet.

This year’s high-level week highlights the urgency of delivering on the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals and reinvigorating global cooperation.

The UN General Assembly will hold a high-level plenary meeting to address the crisis facing Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.

Prof Yunus will attend the meeting on September 30 that aims to sustain international attention, review the situation on the ground, and propose a concrete, time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution, including efforts to ensure the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced communities.

With the pace and scale of the climate crisis growing across the globe, the UN Secretary-General is convening a Climate Summit on September 24 to serve as a platform for world leaders to present their new national climate action plans and seize the benefits of the new clean energy era.

Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, the Summit will focus on demonstrating commitment and accelerating action to protect people and the planet in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

On September 22, there will be a high-level meeting to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

This one-hour meeting will mark the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, with UN officials and heads of state and government reflecting on the achievements of the past eight decades and the path ahead for a more inclusive and responsive multilateral system.

On September 22, the United Nations will resume the high-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.

The conference will reaffirm international commitments to the two-State solution and seek to mobilize support for its implementation. - UNB