Chief
Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus will depart for New York on September 23 to
attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as he is scheduled to
deliver his speech at the high-level General Debate on September 27.
"In
his speech, he is expected to highlight the remarkable mass uprising over the
past two months in Bangladesh and reaffirm his commitment to establishing a
pro-people, welfare-oriented, and public interest-driven state mechanism,"
Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said today (Saturday, September 21).
The
adviser was speaking at the curtain raiser media briefing on Bangladesh's
participation at the 79th UNGA at the foreign ministry here.
He
said the chief adviser's speech would also feature issues such as Bangladesh's
strong stance in international peacekeeping, climate change, global conflicts,
Rohingya crisis, challenges faced by developing nations in achieving
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), preventing the illicit flow of resources,
and safeguarding migrant rights.
"The
chief adviser will stay in New York only for three days, departing for Dhaka on
September 27," he said, adding that the chief adviser will board on
commercial flights not a charter flight like the previous head of the
governments.
Highlighting
the significance of Prof Yunus's participation, Hossain noted that the Nobel
laureate is highly respected globally, and his remarks will carry weight on the
international community.
"It
is important to note that the interim government of Bangladesh has initiated
reforms aimed at building a new Bangladesh and this UNGA session presents a
great opportunity to showcase our inclusive, justice-oriented vision to the
global community," he said.
During
his stay in New York, he also said the chief adviser is expected to hold
bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Pakistan, and
Nepal.
Besides,
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President of the European Union, UN
Secretary-General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, President of the
World Bank, and USAID Administrator will call on Prof Yunus to have bilateral
talks.
The
foreign adviser emphasized that human rights and government's reform
initiatives will be the central themes in these discussions, with Bangladesh
continuing to make commitments on the human rights issues.
"This
year's UNGA is particularly significant for Bangladesh, as it marks the 50th
anniversary of Bangladesh's membership in the United Nations," he said,
adding that Bangladesh will host a high-level reception on September 24 in
presence of Prof Yunus marking the milestone.
"We
expect delegation leaders from various countries, senior UN officials, head of
several international organizations, and possibly some heads of state to
attend," he said.
While
asked for names of the head of governments or states likely to attend the Bangladesh
reception, the foreign adviser said the confirmed participation is still
speculative.
In
contrast to previous delegations, which ranged from 100 to over 300 members,
this year's delegation members will be limited to 57, largely comprising
security personnel.
"We
are committed to avoiding unnecessary expenses, ensuring that only those with
direct responsibilities at the UNGA will accompany the chief adviser,"
Hossain explained.
Responding
to a question, the foreign adviser said there will be no bilateral meeting
between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as
the schedule of the two leaders is overlapped.
He
said that Prof. Yunus's esteemed global reputation has attracted significant
attention from prominent international media outlets seeking interviews, along
with numerous invitations for bilateral meetings and high-level engagements.
"However,
given his brief three-day stay in New York, it will be difficult to accommodate
all requests," he added.
However,
Hossain said he will hold a bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs
Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UNGA.
Responding
to another query regarding the meeting agendas with his Indian counterpart, the
foreign adviser said he would discuss how Dhaka and New Delhi could maintain a
good 'working relations' between the two neighbouring nations.
Besides,
the foreign adviser said on the sidelines of the UNGA, he will represent
Bangladesh at several important meetings, including the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM) ministerial meeting, the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting, the
Islamic Cooperation Organization (OIC) ministerial meeting, and the annual
ministerial meeting of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
"Additionally,
we are organizing a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis," Hossain
said.
The
foreign adviser said Bangladesh views multilateral diplomacy, particularly
through the UN, as a key platform for safeguarding its national interests.
"Each
of the priority issues on the UN agenda holds great importance for Bangladesh.
We are committed to actively participating in all relevant events that align
with our national interests," he added.
The
theme of this year's General Debate is "Leaving no one behind: Acting
together for peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and
future generations."