Chief Adviser Prof Yunus
A flight from Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying Prof. Yunus and his entourage touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:07 PM, as confirmed by the Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary, Apurba Jahangir.
During his stay in Baku, Prof. Yunus played an active role in the summit, engaging in high-level discussions with political leaders, policymakers, and international organizations. He delivered a powerful address at the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, where he urged the global community to adopt a new lifestyle based on zero waste and zero carbon emissions to avert climate disaster.
On November 12, Prof. Yunus attended the opening session of COP29 and held meetings with at least 20 heads of state, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan. He also engaged with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, and Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel, among others. Additionally, he met with the Prime Ministers of Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Barbados, and the Presidents of Ghana, Rwanda, and Montenegro. Prof. Yunus also had discussions with the Vice Presidents of Brazil and Iran, the President of FIFA, and the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Prof. Yunus emphasized the need for urgent climate action in his keynote speech, advocating for sustainable practices to protect the planet from irreversible climate changes. He also participated in a high-level meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and joined several side-events addressing climate issues.
Before departing Baku, the Chief Adviser met with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and held a meeting with former British Prime Minister Theresa May. On the final day of his visit, he also had an audience with Lu Alckmin, wife of Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, at the COP29 summit venue.
Prof. Yunus’s presence at COP29 underscored Bangladesh's commitment to global climate action and the need for multilateral cooperation to tackle the ongoing climate crisis.