'CA's UNGA visit very successful, historic': Press Secretary

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus

Dhaka, Sept 30 - The government has described Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus' participation at the 79th United Nations General Assembly as "very successful, historic and a very positive milestone."

"It is a very successful and historic visit. I would say it is a very positive milestone for Bangladesh," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at a media briefing at Foreign Service Academy on Monday.

In his brief four-day stay in New York, Alam said, there were around 50 meetings with at least 12 with top global leaders including US President Joe Biden.

Asked whether the six reform commissions will start working from October 1, the Press Secretary said, the Council of Advisers headed by the Chief Adviser wants to sit with the political parties quickly before the commissions start working on the reforms.

"He (Prof Yunus) was treated like a 'rockstar' in New York. At the UN Headquarters, he could barely move before a top leader would spread their arms and hug him," Alam added.

At the social circle, Yunus was the top celebrity and he didn't miss a single moment to talk about the student-led revolution and its goals.

The Chief Adviser arrived in Dhaka early Sunday, concluding a productive visit marked by a series of high-level meetings with global leaders.

During his four-day stay in New York, Prof Yunus participated in 50 major events on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Alam said, the chief adviser attended the highest 16 events on September 26.

The Chief Adviser has called upon the international community to engage with the "new Bangladesh", which aims to realise freedom and democracy for everyone.

The call came from Yunus' address to the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), his first since a student-led upsurge brought him at the helm of Bangladesh's interim government last month.

Speaking in Bangla, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said, youths in Bangladesh have shown that upholding freedom, dignity, and rights of people regardless of distinction and status cannot just remain aspirational. "It is just what everyone deserves."

Prof Yunus urged all countries across the world to deepen their engagement with Bangladesh in its quest for democracy, the rule of law, equality, and prosperity.

"This was an epoch-making speech," said the Press Secretary, adding that the speech covered global and regional issues apart from Bangladesh issues.-UNB