Staff Reporter :
The United Nations and Bangladesh have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on inclusive development, human rights, and climate resilience as UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis paid a farewell call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Lewis lauded Professor Yunus for his “highly successful” visit to New York during the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week, where he held bilateral talks with over a dozen world leaders and addressed a landmark conference on the Rohingya crisis.
She noted that the diverse Bangladesh delegation—comprising leaders from six major political parties—sent a strong signal of national unity and democratic inclusiveness to the international community.
Discussions also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration and innovation as Bangladesh heads toward its national elections in February and continues its transition from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a developing economy.
Reflecting on her tenure, Lewis described her three-and-a-half years in Bangladesh as “one of the greatest honours and privileges” of her career, praising the country’s resilience, creativity, and commitment to progress.
She expressed admiration for Professor Yunus’s “lifelong dedication to social innovation and equity,” saying his leadership continues to inspire global thinking on inclusive growth.
Under Lewis’s tenure, the UN and the Government of Bangladesh advanced key programmes under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2022–2026), aligned with the nation’s 8th Five-Year Plan. These focused on inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, gender equality, and participatory governance.
A major milestone was the establishment of a new OHCHR mission in Dhaka, bolstering the UN’s human rights engagement. The UN also supported labour sector reforms, improvements in health and education, and Bangladesh’s preparations for LDC graduation.
Lewis highlighted Bangladesh’s global leadership in initiatives such as Early Warning for All, Transforming Education, and the Food Systems Summit.
“Our partnership with Bangladesh is rooted in shared values and a vision for a prosperous, climate-resilient future,” she said, reaffirming the UN’s commitment to ensuring that “no one is left behind.”
