Bangladesh Model UN 2025 Opens, Urges Just Energy Transition

Banner for BANMUN 2025.

The 11th edition of the Bangladesh Model United Nations (BANMUN) 2025 began today in Dhaka under the theme “Just Energy Transition,” with speakers stressing that modern diplomacy must go beyond technical solutions to include justice, transparency, and shared responsibility.

The three-day event is being held at the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) campus, bringing together nearly 200 student delegates, government officials, academics, and policymakers.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, the chief guest, said BANMUN provides young people with a platform to explore the complexities of real-world diplomacy. “A just energy transition is not only about moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy; it also involves human lives, equality, and shared responsibility,” he said, adding that diplomacy should focus on dialogue rather than competition.

Syed Muntasir Mamun, director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and special guest, described the United Nations as an institution rooted in sacrifice and cautioned that global bodies risk losing relevance if they fail to reflect the realities of a younger generation. He urged delegates to evaluate policies through the lenses of justice and national interest, linking artificial intelligence, energy transition, and global governance.

The opening ceremony featured a welcome address by Professor Sayed Md Saikh Imtiaz of the University of Dhaka, who highlighted the early efforts of the United Nations Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB) to promote Model UN culture. Dr Taufique Joarder, associate professor at the National University of Singapore and former UNYSAB president, traced BANMUN’s origins to the early 2000s and emphasized that MUN activities should be integrated into formal education rather than reduced to spectacle.

BANMUN 2025 is jointly organised by UNYSAB and Times of Bangladesh, providing a platform for students and experts to reflect on power, equity, and responsibility amid overlapping global challenges.