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Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is set to leave for New York early Sunday to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which is seen as a big opportunity for him to share his government’s economic plans, including what areas specifically the international community can be helpful in strengthening and stabilizing Bangladesh's economy.
The Interim government Chief Adviser will lead a “small and functional” delegation to the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, said Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain who will accompany Prof Yunus during his week-long stay in New York.
Hossain said only those with direct responsibilities at the UNGA will accompany the Chief Adviser.
There might be some meetings on the sidelines, but due to his limited stay in New York, the scope will also be limited.
The Chief Adviser is likely to have a number of bilateral meetings and will attend a meeting on the Rohingya crisis on the sidelines of the UNGA.
Bilateral meetings on the sidelines usually get finalised at the last moment.
South Asian affairs expert Michael Kugelman said Prof Yunus’ participation at the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA) will be a big opportunity for him to share his government’s economic plans, including what areas specifically the international community can be helpful in strengthening and stabilizing Bangladesh's economy.
“He would be speaking in New York on the biggest global platform since he took over the role of adviser leading the interim government,” said Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.
Kugelman said there are several things that Prof Yunus could do, several things that he could say.
“I think that above all he should lay out a vision for governance, the goals of the interim government, his plans for reforms and his efforts to push for the restoration of democracy.”
Kugelman said he thinks that Prof Yunus’ platform at the UNGA would give him an opportunity to weigh in on what is arguably Bangladesh's biggest humanitarian challenge, the Rohingya refugee issue.
“I think that it would be useful for him to make a pitch for international assistance or more international assistance for Rohingya refugees, which would be an especially important pitch for two reasons,” he said.
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) was opened on September 10. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be held on Tuesday, September 24.
Meanwhile, the Heads of State and Government will gather at UN Headquarters in New York on September 22-23 to address the critical challenges and gaps in global governance exposed by recent global shocks.
The Summit of the Future, the first of its kind, will bring together leaders, advocates, and activists of all ages to determine how our international system can better meet the needs of current and future generations.
Countries must use a once-in-a-generation UN summit to address current and emerging global challenges and reform outdated international institutions, Secretary-General António Guterres said in New York.
Guterres was speaking as negotiations for the Summit of the Future, which opens at UN Headquarters on Sunday, enter the final stretch.
“I have one overriding message today: an appeal to Member States for a spirit of compromise. Show the world what we can do, when we work together,” he said.
Messenger/UNB/Disha
