UN Chief Guterres Meets Political Leaders in Dhaka

UN Secretary-General António Guterres participated in a roundtable discussion with members of Bangladesh’s National Consensus Building Commission, political party leaders, and other key stakeholders at the InterContinental Dhaka on the afternoon of 15 March. The meeting aimed to foster dialogue among Bangladesh's political figures and support democratic processes in the country. The Chief Adviser's Press Wing reported the event.

The discussion saw the participation of several notable figures, including UN Under Secretary-General Rabab Fatima, Bangladesh's Law Adviser Dr. Asif, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, and other representatives from various political parties. Among those attending were Professor Ali Riaz, Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Badiul Alam Majumdar, and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Gwyn Lewis.

Guterres is set to engage in further discussions with youth representatives and members of civil society later in the day, between 2:15 pm and 5:15 pm, at the same venue, according to his scheduled activities. He will also participate in a joint press briefing with Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at 5:20 pm at Hotel InterContinental.

Earlier in the day, Guterres reaffirmed the UN's commitment to supporting Bangladesh, particularly in addressing the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis. Speaking at an event at the new UN building in Gulshan, Dhaka, the UN Secretary-General highlighted Bangladesh’s pivotal role in peacekeeping missions, commending the contribution of Bangladeshi peacekeepers to UN operations around the world. He also acknowledged the interim government's reform initiatives and expressed his continued support for Bangladesh’s efforts in these areas.

Guterres’ visit included a tour of the newly inaugurated UN Common Premises in Gulshan, where he attended a photo exhibition marking the 50th anniversary of UN-Bangladesh relations and hoisted the official UN flag. This event followed a meeting with the UN country team in Bangladesh. The UN chief and Bangladesh's Adviser for Industries, Housing, and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan jointly inaugurated the "UN House in Bangladesh" at Gulshan, which was attended by various dignitaries, including Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and UN Resident Coordinator Gwyn Lewis.

The UN Secretary-General arrived in Bangladesh for a four-day visit on Thursday, 13 March, at the invitation of Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus. On Friday, 14 March, Guterres met with the Chief Adviser at his office, after which the two traveled to Cox’s Bazar to visit Rohingya refugee camps and join an iftar with around 100,000 refugees. Prior to this, Guterres met with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser to discuss the country’s ongoing political and reform processes, as well as the strong collaboration between the UN and Bangladesh in addressing global challenges.

Guterres also thanked Bangladesh for its generous hospitality toward the Rohingya refugees and its continued commitment to global peacekeeping efforts. During the visit, Khalilur Rahman, the Chief Adviser’s high representative for Rohingya issues, met with Guterres to discuss the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State and the upcoming high-level conference on Rohingya and other minority issues in Myanmar.