Yunus calls on foreign friends to support Bangladesh’s new journey

Highlights:

• White House says the US will continue to support Bangladesh's reform agenda
• Global leaders assure Yunus of bolstering ties with Bangladesh
• Yunus seeks global attention to the Rohingya crisis
• US announces $199m in new assistance for Rohingyas

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has sought support from foreign friends for Bangladesh's new journey towards a prosperous future, stressing that they do not want to miss the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh. 

"Our job is to clean it up and reform it. We need to make a good start. We need all of your support to make that happen," he said while speaking at a reception on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday evening local time, reports UNB.

After his meeting with US President Joe Biden, the White House issued a statement, saying Biden welcomed further engagement between Washington and Dhaka and offered continued US support as Bangladesh implements its new reform agenda, reports BSS.

On the sidelines of the 79th UNGA, the chief adviser also met with a number of foreign leaders and spoke on global platforms.
Yunus shared the stage with former US president Bill Clinton at a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 where he introduced three coordinators of Bangladesh's Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, praising their courage.

He also met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni where the latter called for opening a "new page" in the relations between Rome and Dhaka, reports UNB.

Yunus spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as well. 

Addressing the reception Bangladesh hosted to mark the 50th anniversary of the country's UN membership, Yunus sought assistance from global leaders in rebuilding Bangladesh, recalling the sacrifices made by the students. 

Bangladesh became a full member of the UN on 17 September 1974. Representatives of different countries attending the UNGA joined the reception, reports UNB.

"We do not want to make them [who dreamt of a new Bangladesh] disappointed," he said.

Yunus said the students invited him to lead the interim government until the election is held, following the implementation of the reform agenda. 

"It is a very significant year for us. It is brought by the young people of Bangladesh," he said while speaking at the reception.
Photographer, writer, curator and activist Shahidul Alam joined Prof Yunus in unveiling two books that depict events of the student-led mass uprising. 

Yunus seeks continued attention to Rohingya issue

Earlier, speaking at another high-level discussion on the Rohingya crisis held on the sidelines of the UNGA on Tuesday afternoon (NY time), Yunus sought the international community's continuous attention to the Rohingya crisis, otherwise, he warned that it might put the entire region in trouble, not just Bangladesh.

Yunus presented three proposals at the discussion. First, he proposed to the international community to revisit the approach to the Rohingya crisis.

He said the UN secretary-general may convene an all-stakeholders' conference on the Rohingya crisis as soon as possible. The conference should review the overall situation of the crisis and suggest innovative and forward-looking ways.

Secondly, Prof Yunus said, the Joint Response Plan, managed jointly by the UN System and Bangladesh, needs to be energised.

The resource-raising mechanism needs a further political push in view of the sliding funding situation, he said.

In his third proposal, Prof Yunus said the international community should seriously support the justice and accountability mechanism to address genocidal crimes committed against the Rohingya community.

The chief adviser said redressing injustice that has been perpetrated by the military junta in Myanmar is the key to long-term peace and security.

Attending the event, the UNHCR chief said, "[He is] honoured to take part in the discussion on Rohingya refugees led by the chief adviser of Bangladesh. This is a yearly UNGA event but Dr Yunus' presence and vision meant that it wasn't business as usual."

He said they must strive to end the Rohingya people's discrimination, statelessness and exile.

"It was a very successful discussion. Everyone appreciated Bangladesh's efforts and reiterated their continuous support," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on Tuesday night.

US announces $199m aid for Rohingyas

The United States has announced nearly $199 million in new assistance for Rohingyas in Bangladesh, as announced by the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya during the discussion on Rohingyas.

According to a press note by the Office of the US spokesperson, this funding includes nearly $70 million through the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and over $129 million from USAID, $78 million of which comes from the Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation which will help USAID to purchase, ship, and distribute food from American farmers to Rohingya refugees and host community members in Bangladesh.

The assistance aims to save lives and help protect, shelter, and feed those forced to flee violence and persecution. 

Additionally, it will be used to support disaster preparedness and protection for refugees and host communities; bolster access to education and skills training, and prepare refugees for their potential return home when conditions allow, reads the press note.

The US government has provided more than $2.5 billion for the regional Rohingya response since August 2017.  

"The United States remains committed to delivering assistance to crisis-affected communities in Bangladesh and the region and calls on other donors to continue their support," the press release said.

Since 2017, over 10 lakh Rohingyas have entered Bangladesh fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

The United Nations has described the Rohingya as "the most persecuted minority in the world."

The United States remains committed to delivering assistance to crisis-affected communities in Bangladesh and the region and calls on other donors to continue their support.

Professor Yunus is on his first visit to the United States as head of the Bangladesh government to attend the UNGA.
The general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly began on Tuesday and will continue through 28 September and conclude on 30 September.