# Yunus meets 12 heads of state and government
# 40 High-ups meetings, including sessions
# Bangladesh’s image is restored in front of world
# Discussion on stop war, share of water, Rohingya repatriation
# New dimension in repatriation of laundered money and economic assistance
Bangladesh is now in the world’s eye after Dr Muhammad Yunus attended the UN General Assembly. Apart from attending the occasion, he held meetings with 12 heads of state and government. He also held 40 high-level meetings, including the session.
In the meeting with world leaders, Dr Yunus has presented Bangladesh in a new way to the world stage. The history of victory in the blood of the students has been presented in front of the world.
The chief advisor mainly wanted to rebuild the country, which was fragile under the previous government. And he has received the assurances of returning the money laundered for a long time and financial assistance.
The eyes of the whole world are now on Bangladesh in Dr. Yunus' magical speech on the issue of stopping the war in Gaza, fair share of water, Rohingya repatriation.
Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus is returning to Dhaka after the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said this is the most successful visit by any head of government of Bangladesh to attend the UN General Assembly. World leaders had their eyes on the chief adviser's UN session. Especially the meeting with US President Joe Biden surprised everyone.
Diplomats at the Permanent Mission of the UN said that such a meeting of the US President with a head of state or government on the sidelines of the UN session is a rare event. And for Bangladesh, it was like a dream, which was possible only for Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Shafiqul Alam claimed that during his four-day visit, Yunus met 12 heads of state and government including US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, World Bank President Ajay Banga, IMF President Kristalina Georgieva, Italian Prime Minister Jozia Meloni, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He has participated in 40 high-level meetings, including the session of the General Assembly.
Diplomatic analyst said that the Chief Advisor's visit was important for a variety of reasons. First, Bangladesh has joined this year's UN General Assembly after Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 in the face of a mass upsurge in Bangladesh and the formation of a new interim government comprising students and people. Moreover, during the Awami League government on the issue of human rights and democracy, Bangladesh was at loggerheads with the United States, the European Union and many other western countries. Human rights organizations have been strongly criticizing the situation in Bangladesh.
As a result, many analysts have seen this conference as a context for restoring Bangladesh's image and improving relations with Western countries. This year's session was especially significant for Bangladesh as Bangladesh completed 50 years of UN membership.
A review of the Chief Adviser's visit shows that almost all that was supposed to be achieved or gained from this one visit has been fulfilled. Before the UN session, he held several meetings on several important issues including Rohingya, bringing back the trafficked money to the country.
Dr. Yunus has held at least two important meetings with several high UN officials and ministers of Commonwealth countries to accelerate the Rohingya repatriation program to Myanmar. He held meetings with ministers from the United States and the United Kingdom to bring the laundered money back to the country.
The CA met Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday to strengthen energy, trade and economic cooperation with the country. He also held meetings with Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzo and Pakistani Prime Minister on the same issue.
The meeting he held with US President Biden was almost entirely on Bangladesh-US bilateral trade. He demanded reduction of export duty on Bangladesh in the readymade garment sector and GSP facilities. It was not possible to raise these demands for the anti-US policy of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh.
The Nobel laureate economist highlighted the recent coup in Bangladesh in his speech at the UNGA.
Dr. Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of the interim government after the fall and escape of Sheikh Hasina's autocratic regime on August 5 through a bloody uprising of students and people. This is Yunus' first foreign visit after forming the government on August 8.
Professor Faridul Alam of International Relations Department of Chittagong University said, "Professor Yunus is a familiar face of US politics. That is why this meeting is held even though there is not much precedent for a formal meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session. At the beginning of the meeting, President Biden embraced Dr. Yunus, took the idea of the current reforms in Bangladesh, and finally expressed his full support for Dr. Yunus's government. The government of Bangladesh is already preparing to work closely with the US government, most notably to get GSP benefits back that have been blocked in the US for more than a decade."
Popular Islamic personality and negotiator Shaikh Ahmadullah thanked the Chief Adviser for raising the Palestinian issue in the United Nations. He said, "The hearts of the people of Bangladesh have been echoed with the speech of the Chief Adviser at the UN against the injustice meted out to the Palestinians."
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