Bangladesh’s Head of the Interim Government, Chief Adviser, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, will visit New York shortly to attend the 79th UNGA. He is a man who no longer seeks fame or international recognition. The purpose of his visit to New York will be solely to represent Bangladesh at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
His primary focus is serving the people of Bangladesh, and this is reflected in his actions.
Breaking from the immediate past tradition, his delegation will consist of only seven individuals, and he will travel on ordinary commercial flights, foregoing any special arrangements. This is in stark contrast to previous leaders, such as Sheikh Hasina, whose foreign trips were characterized by large entourages of officials, sycophants, and business elites, often resembling paid holidays, and made on costly, special flights.
There was also an infamous display of extravagance during Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s 1973 trip to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Ottawa, Canada. His special flight remained parked on the tarmac for the entire duration of the conference. Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister of Singapore, noticed the Bangladesh aircraft and later remarked in his memoirs how the Bangladeshi leader, who was seeking financial aid from other countries, seemed unconcerned about leaving a plane idle for a week. He criticized this as evidence of poor leadership, highlighting the need for prudence in governance.
In contrast, Dr. Yunus’s approach sets a new precedence for leadership in Bangladesh. His presence at the UN will not just be a routine appearance by a head of state, but one that will command respect. His global reputation as a pioneer in eradicating poverty, and as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal, speaks for itself. Despite his accolades, he was treated as an enemy by Sheikh Hasina’s regime, enduring years of campaigns of harassment and defamation. His commitment to Bangladesh, however, has remained unshaken. From 1998 to 2021, he served as a board member of the United Nations Foundation, demonstrating his longstanding involvement in global governance.
Dr. Yunus’s presence at the UN in his new role as Chief Adviser ( Prime Minister ) of Bangladesh will eclipse many others. World leaders will undoubtedly be eager to hear the story of how a student led and supported by the majority of citizens materialised a peaceful, “armless” revolution against a tyrant, that catapulted him from a government-designated “lawbreaker” to the highest office in the land.
In his address, the Hon’ble Chief Adviser is expected to highlight the month-long, fearless student movement, backed by the overwhelming majority of citizens. Their courage, facing police brutality, bullets, and oppression, inspired the world, showing that an unarmed revolution could topple a corrupt regime. The global audience will learn how the power of students and ordinary people, armed with nothing but conviction, faced state-sponsored violence without wavering.
Bangladesh is now grappling with unprecedented challenges. The remnants of the previous regime have unleashed acts of violence, arson, and lawlessness, with some members of the police force deserting their posts. Restoring order and reforming the state’s institutions, which have been deeply politicized over the past 16 years, is our government’s foremost priority.
The Hon’ble Chief Adviser will explain how the current government is working to reform every state apparatus—judiciary, Anti-Corruption Commission, Election Commission, public service, police, and more—that was designed to serve one person under the previous regime. Democracy was buried under a de facto one-party system. Public voices were suppressed, freedom of expression was curtailed, and a rubber-stamp parliament passed draconian laws to maintain the regime’s grip on power.
Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and rampant corruption became the norm, enriching an oligarchic class close to the government. Meanwhile, the economy was pushed to the brink, with financial institutions plundered, mega projects commissioned for mega commissions, and national wealth syphoned abroad. Despite these challenges, the resilience of our people gives us confidence that Bangladesh will recover.
We now need technical and financial assistance from our friends as we rebuild. In particular, international cooperation is crucial in recovering over $120 billion in illicit funds syphoned abroad by criminals close to the previous government.
On the foreign policy domain, Bangladesh will continue its tradition of peaceful cooperation with its neighbours , regional and international partners based on mutual respect, equality, and non-interference. However, it is important to note that the deposed dictator ruled Bangladesh with fascist tendencies, supported by a neighboring country. This same country is now providing refuge to the absconding dictator, who is conspiring to destabilize our nation. We urge our neighbor to restrain her activities and return her and her accomplices to face justice. At our invitation, a UNHCR team is already in Bangladesh to investigate the recent violence and identify its perpetrators.
In conclusion, the Hon’ble Chief Adviser will call for continued support from the international community in this critical period of transition. Together, we can rebuild Bangladesh into a nation that upholds justice, democracy, and prosperity for all.