CA leaves to attend UNGA
Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser to the Interim Government Prof Muhammad Yunus departed Dhaka for New York on Sunday night to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the visit, he will deliver Bangladesh’s national statement, take part in a number of high-level meetings, and represent the country in several
important global events.
According to the official programme, Professor Yunus is scheduled to address the General Assembly on 26 September.
In his speech, he is expected to highlight the reform measures taken by the interim government, the aspirations expressed through the mass movement of July 2024, and the firm commitment to holding free, fair, and inclusive elections in February 2026.
The delegation accompanying the Chief Adviser includes senior political leaders: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, and National Citizen Party leader Akhter Hossen.
This year’s General Assembly carries particular significance for Bangladesh. On 30 September, the United Nations will convene for the first time a ‘High-Level Conference on the Situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar.’
The decision was taken following a proposal by Professor Yunus last year which received unanimous support from member states.
Ahead of this conference, Bangladesh hosted the first Stakeholders Dialogue in Cox’s Bazar last month with the participation of international partners and representatives from the Rohingya community.
On 25 September, the Chief Adviser will also take part in the High-Level Meeting marking the 30th Anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth.
Bangladesh will further contribute to discussions on Women, Peace and Security, underscoring the country’s longstanding role as one of the leading contributors to United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Professor Yunus is expected to address a wide range of global challenges in his engagements, including international peacekeeping, climate change and climate justice, the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, illicit financial flows, safe migration and the protection of migrant rights, sustainable technology transfer in the era of artificial intelligence, and the urgent call for ceasefire and permanent peace in Palestine.
During the visit, the Chief Adviser will attend a welcome reception hosted by the United Nations Secretary General as well as a reception hosted by President Donald Trump of the United States.
He will also hold several bilateral meetings with heads of state and government and other global leaders.
Apart from it, Dr Yunus will meet In parallel, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will represent Bangladesh in a number of multilateral meetings including the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting, the Peacebuilding Commission Ministerial-Level Meeting, Foreign Minister level meeting of the Group 77 and China, Ministerial-Level meeting of women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers, Informal Ministerial Council Meeting of CICA, BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Ministerial meeting of the Least Developed Countries.
The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return to Dhaka on 2 October. The General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly will be held from 23 to 27 September and will continue on 29 September under the theme “Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.”
Apart from the regular meetings, the Foreign Ministry earlier said that Dr Yunus would hold talks with the heads of the governments, including the prime minister of Pakistan at side-line meetings.