United News of Bangladesh

Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin on Saturday called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and highlighted the importance of expanding trade and investment ties between Uruguay and Bangladesh. He called for stronger economic collaboration, particularly between Dhaka and Mercosur member countries, to enhance mutual prosperity. The meeting was held at a hotel in Rome, shortly after attending the funeral mass of Pope Francis. During their meeting, both leaders engaged in discussions on issues of mutual interest, focusing on the current global trade situation and the need to bridge cooperation between Latin America and Asia. Professor Yunus and Minister Lubetkin also explored strategies to invest in youth and promote social business enterprises, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Bangladesh, Uruguay eye cooperation in unexplored areas They reaffirmed their shared vision of achieving a "Three Zero" world — zero unemployment, zero wealth concentration, and zero net carbon emissions. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus emphasised the importance of maintaining regular high-level dialogues and extended an invitation to Foreign Minister Lubetkin to visit Bangladesh at an early opportunity. The meeting was also attended by Lamiya Morshed, SDG Coordinator of the Bangladesh government; Tareq Ariful Islam, Bangladesh Ambassador to the Vatican; and Rokebul Haque, Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy.

Foreign journalists have lauded Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus for his leadership as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, praising his steady guidance during a critical period for the nation. Although he had never been involved in politics before, he is successfully running the country during this transitional time. Talking to UNB, foreign journalists and international media outlets have praised his leadership.  They said Prof Yunus is bringing honesty, transparency and efficiency to the government. Many believe his non-political background is helping him make fair decisions for people. Prof Yunus became famous for founding Grameen Bank and helping millions of poor people through small loans.  His ideas have been followed in many countries. Now, as head of the interim government, he is focusing on peace, development and fair elections in Bangladesh. Nik Mohammad Nikmal, Editor-in-Chief of The Kabul Times Daily, said although Professor Muhammad Yunus is not a politician, his experience, global recognition and commitment to peace have brought a fresh and inspiring dimension to the leadership of Bangladesh’s interim government. “Since taking office, we have seen significant reforms, a revitalisation of international relations, and a commitment to holding free and fair elections — all of which are signs of positive change,” he added. On the international stage, Professor Yunus has improved Bangladesh’s image a lot. Prof Yunus is widely regarded as a symbol of peace, humanitarian values and economic innovation, said Nikmal. However, it is important not to overlook the reported concerns regarding human rights. Transparency, accountability, and the protection of civil liberties must remain a priority for his administration. “I believe that despite some challenges, Professor Yunus has so far shown balanced, constructive and trustworthy leadership. If this approach continues, Bangladesh's future will likely be more stable and respected both at home and abroad,” he added. Dr Yunus named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people Shahrokh Saei, a journalist from Iran, said, "I first encountered Prof Muhammad Yunus during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025, which took place in the town of Boao, in China’s Hainan Province, in late March. His compelling address at the BFA’s opening ceremony garnered significant admiration from the audience, as he articulated a strong case for multilateralism while denouncing unilateral actions." Yunus also condemned violence, advocating for the promotion of global peace and stability. Saei, who works in Tehran Times, said regardless of his political affiliations, his stature as a Nobel laureate and esteemed economist positions made him a capable leader for Bangladesh's future who will be able to run the country successfully. "During the meeting, I discovered that he is not only a leader who has the common touch but also a figure recognized and supported by the global community. His credibility and expertise have undoubtedly enhanced Bangladesh's image, and under his guidance, the country is poised for significant advancement," Saei said. Sayed Aoon Sherazi, a journalist from Pakistan said, Prof Yunus is a globally recognised figure due to his pioneering work in microfinance and poverty alleviation. His leadership could enhance Bangladesh's image, particularly in terms of social development and innovation. Internationally, his appointment may signal a shift towards a more inclusive and socially conscious governance model, which could attract positive attention from global organisations focused on sustainable development, social entrepreneurship, and poverty reduction. However, the challenges of running a country without a strong political background might raise concerns about stability and effectiveness. While Yunus’s international stature could elevate Bangladesh’s reputation in social and economic circles, his lack of political experience may create doubts about the country's political stability and long-term governance, Sherazi added. Rajaram Gautam, a journalist from Nepal, said  Bangladesh is a close friend of Nepal and that they are closely monitoring the developments in Bangladesh. He also mentioned that Yunus is an internationally renowned academic personality, an honest person who lives a simple life. As an economist who has gained international fame, my opinion of the government is positive at first glance. He added, “I believe his leadership role was crucial in stabilizing the situation in Bangladesh after the student mass uprising.” “Since he has worked for the development and transformation of rural areas, we can expect good work in the areas of poverty alleviation, the empowerment of this section of people, women, and social justice.” Economically, Bangladesh is a country that is advancing in South Asia. However, the recent political instability has added uncertainty to this country. This is where this interim government has a big role. Prof Yunus seeks greater Qatari investment, offers exclusive economic zone “If it can do some important things like holding elections, controlling corruption and maintaining good governance, and ensuring security for minorities, the interim government of Bangladesh will be considered successful,” Gautam said. Cambodian journalist Sreymao Nop said Prof Yunus’ background as a Nobel laureate and social entrepreneur offers a fresh perspective, focusing on social development rather than traditional politics. While his lack of political experience could be a drawback, it also allows for innovative approaches to pressing issues like poverty. His success will depend on his ability to navigate the political landscape and achieve tangible outcomes that resonate with the public. Regarding Bangladesh’s image on the international stage, she said his global recognition enhances the country’s reputation as a hub for social enterprise, potentially attracting investment.  However, leading without a political background might raise concerns about governance and stability, she said. Ultimately, the impact of his leadership will hinge on how he manages both domestic and international expectations during his time in office.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has written to US President Donald Trump, urging him to delay the implementation of reciprocal tariff measures on Bangladesh for three months. In a letter, Prof Yunus requested the postponement to allow the interim government sufficient time to implement its initiative aimed at significantly boosting US exports to Bangladesh. Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder confirmed to UNB regarding the letter. "We are the first country to take such a pro-active initiative", he said in his letter, citing the visit of High Representative Dr Khalilur Rahman to Washington DC in February. Ever since, the two sides have been working closely to identify specific actions, he said. Bangladesh is also the first country to enter into a multi-year agreement to import liquefied natural gas from the US. Govt initiates talks with US over newly imposed tariffs: Finance Adviser The centrepiece of Bangladesh's actions is to significantly increase the imports of US agricultural products such as cotton, wheat, corn and soybean which will offer benefits to US farmers. Bangladesh has the lowest tariff on most US exports in the South Asian region. The Chief Adviser indicated further tariff cuts on US products are being fashioned, including top US export items such as gas turbines, semiconductors and medical equipment. Bangladesh will build dedicated duty free bonded warehouses for cotton to improve speed to market. "We are eliminating certain testing requirements, rationalizing packaging, labelling and certification requirements and undertaking trade facilitation measures such as simplifying customs procedures and standards," the Chief Adviser added. "Bangladesh will take all necessary actions to fully support your trade agenda", Professor Yunus assured President Trump. NBR to decide response to 37% US counter-tariff in its Sunday’s meeting A separate letter detailing the actions by Bangladesh will be sent by the Commerce Advisor to the US Trade Representative soon.

Bangladesh on Friday assumed the chairmanship of the regional grouping - Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) - for the next two years, reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development. Upon receiving the Chairmanship from Prime Minister of Thailand, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus made a statement of acceptance, underscoring an inclusive and action-oriented BIMSTEC. The BIMSTEC comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The chairmanship of BIMSTEC, which has emerged as a “significant forum” for promoting regional development, connectivity and economic progress in the Bay of Bengal region, rotates according to the alphabetical order of the English names of the Member States, officials said. The changeover of chairmanship takes place during the Summit whereby the member state chairing BIMSTEC hosts the Summit and hands over the chairmanship to the member state next in alphabetical order. The theme of the 6th summit, held three years after the 5th summit (Virtual, Colombo, 30 March 2022), was “Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC”. Dr Yunus seeks collective efforts rising above differences to strengthen BIMSTEC At the beginning of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, leaders took a group photo which was followed by a welcome address by the BIMSTEC chair, Prime Minister of Thailand. One-minute silence was observed for the recent earthquake victims in Myanmar and Thailand. After the adoption of the agenda, leaders of the BIMSTEC, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus made their statements. Leaders (Heads of Government) of BIMSTEC Member States unanimously adopted the Bangkok Declaration and the BIMSTEC Bangkok Vision, a strategic roadmap aimed at guiding the organisation towards  sustainable development and deeper economic integration.  Dr Yunus outlined Bangladesh’s vision and priorities for BIMSTEC in his statement.  Reaffirming his government’s unwavering commitment, he assured that Bangladesh remains steadfast in upholding the constitutional rights of all its citizens, including women and members of ethnic and religious minorities.  BIMSTEC Sidelines: Dr Yunus, Modi to hold talks on Friday Dr Yunus emphasised the urgent need to implement the BIMSTEC Framework Agreement on FTA and stressed the importance of executing the BIMSTEC Master Plan on Transport Connectivity.  He also called for more visible and proactive measures by BIMSTEC to engage Myanmar in fostering stability in the Rakhine State, thereby creating a conducive environment for the return of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their land. Earlier, Dr Yunus on Friday joined a breakfast meeting with Thai dignitaries on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit. He posed for photographs with Thai dignitaries after the breakfast meeting.  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus arrived here in Thai capital on Thursday afternoon to join the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit. A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying the Chief Adviser and his entourage arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok at 12 pm (Thailand), Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Dr Yunus was received by Thai Minister in Attendance Jiraporn Sindhuprai, he said. Dr Yunus will hold a number of meetings with BIMSTEC leaders on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit, including a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bangladesh sees this year's BIMSTEC Summit, scheduled to be held on April 4, "very important" for the country as it will assume the chairmanship of the grouping for the next two years. Dr Yunus leaves for Bangkok to attend 6th BIMSTEC Summit Dhaka also thinks the summit will provide them with an opportunity to present a "just and inclusive" Bangladesh in South and Southeast Asia, officials said this week. Prior to this year’s BIMSTEC Summit, the Chief Adviser will deliver a keynote speech titled “BIMSTEC Young Generation Forum: Where the Future Meets” at the forum on Thursday. The theme of the 6th summit, which is being held three years after the 5th summit (Virtual, Colombo, 30 March 2022), is “Prosperous, Resilient, and Open BIMSTEC”. The summit, which aims at fostering collaboration among the member states to address the shared security and developmental challenges, will provide a new impetus to the efforts underway to realise the goal of a prosperous, resilient and open BIMSTEC, according to the BIMSTEC Secretariat. Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin said the summit will further "strengthen and deepen" the relationship between Bangladesh and other BIMSTEC member states and will play an important role in advancing regional peace and development. "It goes without saying that this 6th BIMSTEC Summit is a new step for the new Bangladesh in the regional arena through BIMSTEC," he said, hoping that the 6th BIMSTEC Summit will be successful. The foreign secretary participated in the 25th BIMSTEC senior officials’ meeting on April 2. There is a possibility of signing an agreement on ‘Maritime Transport cooperation’ between BIMSTEC member states at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, said the foreign secretary. Dr Yunus' remarks on Northeast India made with good intentions: High Representative  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will address the nation on Tuesday evening. The Chief Adviser will start to deliver his speech at 7pm on the occasion of Independence Day and Eid-ul-Fitr, said CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Chief Adviser Prof Yunus to address the nation at 7:30 pm today The speech will be aired by Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar.

The 9th Social Business Youth Summit (SBYS) 2025 will be held on February 1-2 at the InterContinental Dhaka. YY Ventures, an incubation and investment social business that supports early-stage entrepreneurs who are fighting carbon emissions, poverty, and unemployment, is organising the summit, according to a press release on Thursday. Elon Musk expected to grace Bangladesh's International Investment Summit in April Chief Adviser and Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus will deliver the keynote speech at the summit. Curated by YY Ventures and powered by The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, SBYS 2025 is co-hosted by Impact Hub Dhaka and supported by key partners, Orange Corners Bangladesh, 3ZERO Club, Yunus Centre, and the Intercontinental Dhaka, it said. SBYS is a global movement to empower youth as changemakers. Focused on tackling the most pressing challenges of today through meaningful conversations and collective action, SBYS 2025 is the 9th summit to unite entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers from across the world to create sustainable impact through the power of social business. DCCI raises alarms over VAT and gas price hikes Under the theme “Change the Country, Change the World,” SBYS 2025 aims to unlock the potential of youth as catalysts for positive transformation. The summit, which will be held during the Festival of Youth 2025: Creating a New Bangladesh, an initiative by the Chief Adviser’s Office, will convene over 400 participants, including youth leaders, social entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, and policymakers, the release said. DSEX index gains 4.7 points in early trading The summit would provide a platform for partnerships across sectors to support youth-led initiatives, addressing critical areas like food security, health, education, climate change, gender equality, zero waste, sports and arts for social change, sustainable fashion, and much more, added the release. For more information about SBYS 2025, visit: https://summit.yy.ventures/

With an eye on terminating “unnecessary and politically motivated” development projects undertaken by the discredited Awami League administration, the interim government adopted a ‘go slow’ policy in approving disbursement of funds for projects enlisted in the annual development programme. This led to the lowest implementation rate of the ADP for at least a decade, over the first five months of the current fiscal, that commenced last July 1. The implementation rate in the first five months of the current fiscal year was just 12.29%, the lowest for the equivalent period in over a decade. The ADP implementation in the 2023-24 fiscal was its lowest in four years, at just 81 percent. In the previous 2022-23 fiscal, the ADP-execution rate was recorded at 85.2 percent. Meanwhile, the lowest ADP execution under the Awami League regime’s 15 years in office was the 80.4 percent recorded in the 2019-20 fiscal - when COVID-19 crippled economic activity in the second half of the financial year. Thereafter, there had been a better performance in the subsequent three fiscals: FY2021, FY2022, and FY2023. After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 in the face of a student-led uprising, the interim government led by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was sworn in on August 8. According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), ADP implementation during the July-November period was 17.1% in the last fiscal, 2023-24, and 18.4% in 2022-23. Versus just 12.3% in the current 2024-25 fiscal, of the Tk 278,288.90 crore ADP passed by the AL government in its last budget. IMED data shows that ADP spending in the July-November period amounted to Tk34,214.55 crore, compared to Tk46,857.38 crore in the equivalent period of the previous fiscal year. IMED officials cited delays in the review the interim government had initiated into all  ongoing and newly proposed projects, along with increasing delays in the release of funds, as factors contributing to the slowdown in ADP implementation. Additionally, many contractors abandoned projects after the interim government assumed power in early August. Planning Adviser Dr Wahiduddin Mahmud, while admitting the lacklustre ADP implementation rate, said the interim government would announce its revised budget, effectively an emergency budget necessitated by the change in government, for the 2024-25 fiscal by February. Dr Wahiduddin said that after the revised budget and revised ADP, the Planning Ministry will be able to plan better to complete the projects it chooses to keep, ultimately. He also commented that if employment is not increased, the suffering of the people will not be reduced. Meanwhile, low ADP implementation rate and stuttering private sector investment is moving the country towards an economically stagnant situation. Read: Revised ADP may witness major climbdown, with elimination of 'politically-motivated' projects The Planning Adviser, in a recent briefing, vowed to go faster in implementation of the ADP aiming to create employment and give a boost in money circulation in the rural areas. He apprehended that without this move, which would also encourage the private sector to come forward with their fresh investments, the country might even face an economic recession. Accordingly the Planning Ministry has canceled several projects initiated during the Awami League government. The scrapped initiatives include several infrastructure, health, and education projects that were significant components of the Awami League’s development agenda. Among the prominent cancellations are a rural connectivity program to build roads and bridges in remote areas, urban modernization schemes, and energy and transport infrastructure projects. The Planning Ministry cited inefficiencies, lack of feasibility, and allegations of mismanagement as primary reasons for axing the projects. A senior ministry official stated, “Many of these projects were approved without thorough evaluation, leading to wasteful expenditure and suboptimal outcomes.” The Planning Ministry outlined three key reasons for the cancellations: Budgetary Constraints: Global economic challenges, rising inflation, and increasing debt burdens have tightened the government’s fiscal space. The ministry argued that reallocating resources to more critical sectors, such as food security and climate adaptation, was necessary. Inefficiencies and Alleged Irregularities: Some projects reportedly suffered from inflated budgets, lack of transparency, and delays in execution. These issues, combined with the slow ADP implementation, created a bottleneck in the overall development process. Read more: Govt looks to expedite ADP implementation to boost flow of money in economy Realignment of National Priorities: The government seeks to prioritize initiatives that directly address economic recovery and sustainable development, which they claim some of the canceled projects lacked. Development experts warn that the dual challenges of canceled projects and slow ADP implementation could hinder Bangladesh’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key areas such as poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development are likely to suffer.

The government has invited Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus to join the opening programme of the Padma Bridge on June 25. The Bridges Division sent the invitation card to Yunus Centre on Wednesday, Director (Administration) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority Rupam Anwar told UNB on Thursday. Read: BNP turns down invitation to join Padma Bridge opening programme Yunus Centre Deputy General Manager (DGM) Rahima Khatun received the invitation card. Rahima told UNB that they have already sent the invitation to Prof Yunus. The inauguration of the Padma Bridge will be celebrated in 64 districts of the country simultaneously on June 25.

Noble Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has said he is "honoured and overwhelmed" to receive the Olympic Laurel. "I'm honoured and overwhelmed to receive this Olympic Laurel. And so sad I can’t be there with you," he said in his acceptance speech. Prof Yunus received the Olympic Laurel as only the second person in history when the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics took place on Friday. The distinction was created by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to honour outstanding individuals for their achievements in education, culture, development and peace through sport. The IOC is taking the social dimension of sports very seriously, Prof Yunus shared on his verified Facebook page on Friday. "You, athletes of the world, can provide the leadership in transforming this world," he said. Prof Yunus called for creating a world of three zeros - zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration to end poverty and once for all, zero unemployment by unleashing the power of entrepreneurship in everyone. Read: Prof Yunus renews call for ensuring vaccine equality breaking profit wall He wished the IOC success with its mission to help transform this world to a more peaceful world through sport. "I wish all of you best of luck for your competitions," he said, thanking all for this award. "That’s so special to me. Thank you." “Bangladesh will be so proud of this award because Bangladesh is a country that doesn’t get close to an Olympic medal. But they’ve a cause to celebrate now. The whole world will watch a Bangladeshi receiving an Olympic award which will make every single person of Bangladesh proud of it. I believe it’ll be something that Bangladesh will remember for long,” said Prof Yunus during a virtual press meet recently. Prof Yunus is also the recipient of numerous international awards for his ideas and endeavours and is a member of the board of the United Nations Foundation. In 2006, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for founding Grameen Bank, which pioneered the concepts of microcredit and microfinance for people living in poverty. The first-ever Olympic Laurel was awarded to the Kenyan Olympian and social changemaker Kip Keino on 5 August 2016, during the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro. Initiated for Rio 2016, the Olympic Laurel is to be awarded at the opening ceremony of each summer edition of the Olympic Games.