Staff Reporter :
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his “total solidarity” with Bangladesh’s interim government during a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at UN headquarters on Thursday.
Guterres assured the UN’s full commitment to supporting the interim government’s reform initiatives, emphasising their importance in light of the recently adopted UN Pact for the Future.
He noted that the pact, which addresses global challenges, is particularly relevant to Bangladesh’s needs, including access to concessional funding.
During the meeting, Guterres also praised Bangladeshi peacekeepers for their significant contributions to international peacekeeping efforts.
Dr. Yunus highlighted the importance of the student-led mass uprising in July-August, which he described as a critical moment in the fight against Sheikh Hasina’s oppressive regime.
“I am here because young people gave their lives for a new Bangladesh,” Yunus said, underscoring the role of youth in shaping the country’s future.
The leaders discussed urgent issues such as climate change, which poses a severe threat to Bangladesh’s 170 million citizens, and the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to assist Bangladesh during these challenging times, emphasising the international community’s role in supporting democratic reforms and humanitarian efforts in the region.
They also discussed the UN-led fact-finding mission investigating alleged atrocities committed during the July-August unrest.
In a separate meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, Dr. Yunus urged for swift resolution of the Rohingya crisis. “We have to resolve this before it is too late,” Yunus said, calling for immediate action.
Grandi acknowledged the need for a fresh approach to the crisis, urging the international community to intensify efforts to alleviate the humanitarian suffering faced by the Rohingya population since their mass exodus in August 2017.
Additionally, in a sideline meeting with ILO Chief Gilbert Houngbo at the UN Headquarters, Dr. Yunus emphasised the interim government’s efforts to improve labour rights in Bangladesh.
Houngbo expressed the ILO’s full support for the government’s labour reforms, stating, “We are at your disposal,” and pledged to assist in the implementation of ILO Conventions to enhance labour conditions in the country.