Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will convey Bangladesh’s commitment to holding a 'free, fair, peaceful and credible' election in the first half of February next during his upcoming speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“This will be a foundational election for Bangladesh. People will be able to exercise their voting rights peacefully. This message will be conveyed to the international community,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on Tuesday night.
Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad, and Assistant Press Secretary Shuchismita Tithi were also present.
Prof Yunus is scheduled to deliver his UNGA speech on September 26 (afternoon, New York time).
Alam said the international community has expressed support for the government’s efforts to ensure a transparent national election in February.
In his speech, the Chief Adviser is expected to focus on three key areas—reform, justice, and elections—highlighting initiatives taken over the past 14 months and the challenges faced in advancing the democratic process.
Prof Yunus has already reaffirmed his government’s pledge to hold one of the most transparent and credible elections in Bangladesh’s history, expressing hope that international observers will monitor the polls to ensure integrity.
He is also set to highlight measures taken toward economic recovery.
“Prof Yunus also has some personal messages for global leaders, which he will share, addressing broader geopolitical and global issues,” the Press Secretary added.
The Rohingya crisis will also feature prominently in his address, as he seeks stronger global support for a sustainable solution.
Bangladesh set for most transparent election: Prof Yunus tells global leaders
On political dialogue at home, Alam emphasized that the government is maintaining communication with political parties through the National Consensus Commission.
“They are our key stakeholders. The July Charter is part of this process,” he said, expressing the hope for peaceful solutions through dialogue.
Asked about the Awami League’s role, Alam said, “What they did over the last 15 years is clear. There was no misdeed they were not engaged in.”
Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday that “impunity is the mother of chaos” as world leaders gathered to mark its 80th anniversary and open the General Debate.
The UN chief said cooperation is “a practical strategy for survival, not an act of naiveté,” but cautioned that the principles of peace and progress are being eroded by war, inequality and climate chaos.
Key Programmes on Wednesday
Prof Yunus will attend the opening segment of first Biennial Summit for a Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Global Economy: Implementing Commitments on Financing the Sustainable Development Goals on Wednesday.
He will hold bilateral meeting with Alexander Stubb, President of Finland at 10:00am on Wednesday.
Prof Yunus will attend the UNGA high-level working session on 'Transforming Primary Healthcare-Bangladesh’s Blueprint' at 11:00am
He will hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy in the afternoon.
He will attend the US-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable: Advancing Reform, Resilience and Growth_ Organized by US-Bangladesh Business Council (USBBC).
Club de Madrid will meet the Chief Adviser while there will be bilateral meetings with the President of Kosovo at 4:00pm and with the Prime Minister of Pakistan at 5:00pm.
A Conversation with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus _ An Asia Society Event; which will be moderated by Kyung wha Kang, President of Asia Society (former FM of South Korea) at 6:00pm.
Prof Yunus honoured at Theirworld’s annual Global Education Dinner
Prof Yunus will attend a private Dmdinner to mark the 3rd anniversary of the Ban ki-moon Foundation at 7:15pm.
High-Level Meetings on UNGA Sidelines
Alongside UNGA events, Prof Yunus held a series of high-level meetings with global leaders at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday and Tuesday.
He met the Prime Minister of Australia, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, the former President of Chile, and the current Foreign Minister of Uruguay.
Prof Yunus exchanged greetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the UNGA inaugural session. Their brief discussion covered Bangladesh’s reform initiatives, the upcoming general election, and the growing Bangladeshi diaspora in Australia.
Albanese warmly acknowledged the contributions of the Bangladeshi community, recalling his participation in a commemoration of Language Martyrs’ Day several years ago.
Later, Prof Yunus met Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who also serves as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development. Their discussion focused on expanding access to health insurance globally, particularly in the Global South.
They explored innovations in financial services, including life and health insurance, long-term savings, and pension schemes, stressing the need for greater financial inclusion.
Prof Yunus underscored the urgency of expanding credit access for maternal healthcare and suggested digital health check-ups to connect rural women with top doctors—an initiative he said could save countless lives.
He also urged restructuring of the global pharmaceutical industry, calling for more drug manufacturers to operate as social business enterprises.
“Vaccines produced by social business drug manufacturers will remain affordable,” Prof Yunus said.
The Chief Adviser invited Queen Máxima to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time. Her Royal Highness Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, also joined the meeting.
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Prof Yunus later met Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, to discuss shared priorities and recent global health developments.
The Chief Adviser also attended two key events: one on Fashion for Development and another focusing on public–private collaboration in social innovation.