CA opts out of UN forums

Staff Reporter :

Chief Adviser to the Interim Government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, will not be attending two major upcoming United Nations conferences, despite having received formal invitations from the governments of France and Spain.

Professor Yunus, widely recognised as the pioneer of microcredit, had been invited by the French government to participate in the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, scheduled to take place from 9 to 13 June in Nice.

The event is being co-hosted by France and Costa Rica. The invitation was personally extended by French President Emmanuel Macron.

However, it has been confirmed that the Chief Adviser will not be present at the conference. Instead, Economic Adviser to the Interim Government, Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed, will lead a delegation representing Bangladesh at the event.

Similarly, Professor Yunus has declined an invitation from the Spanish government to attend the United Nations Financing for Development Conference, which is set to be held from 30 June to 3 July. In his absence, a delegation from the Economic Relations Division (ERD) is expected to attend on behalf of Bangladesh.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the Chief Adviser has actively participated in a number of multilateral forums since assuming office, each engagement carefully aligned with Bangladesh’s strategic priorities.

The official also noted that Bangladesh had proposed a bilateral meeting with France to coincide with the Ocean Conference, but no agreement was reached. “It does not seem appropriate to attend the conference in the absence of broader bilateral engagements,” the official remarked.

The Chief Adviser’s decision reflects a measured and selective approach to international engagement during the interim government’s tenure, underscoring a focus on events that offer tangible strategic outcomes for the country.