United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the sidelines of World Economic Forum annual meeting. On the sidelines, the Chief Adviser held a separate meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. Dr Yunus also had a meeting with Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb, the 13th President of the Republic of Finland. Read more: CA Yunus calls for putting global focus back on Rohingya crisis as it gets complicated Dr Yunus arrived here on Tuesday afternoon to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos where he engaged extensively with the global leaders since his arrival. Earlier, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam received the Chief Adviser at the Zurich International Airport upon his arrival. The Chief Adviser and his delegation members arrived at the Zurich International Airport at 12:27pm (Zurich time) by an Emirates flight. Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs (Senior Secretary) Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Secretary (West) M Riaz Hamidullah, among others, are accompany Dr Yunus. The annual meeting 2025 brought global leaders to address key global and regional challenges. These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding just and inclusive energy transition. Read more: Talks with Dr Yunus: Finland President seeks Global South's proactive roles in major global affairs This year's meeting convened under the theme 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' and the programme will be oriented around five distinct but highly interconnected thematic priorities: The meeting brings together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, and 350 governmental leaders, including 60 heads of states and governments, from all key regions.

Finland President Alexander Stubb during a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged the countries in the "Global South" to take more proactive roles in major international affairs. He held the meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss on Tuesday. During the meeting, they discussed key global issues, including the inauguration of Donald Trump as the new US president, the Russia-Ukraine war, the increasing role of the Global South in geopolitical issues, and the Rohingya crisis. "We need a rules-based world," the Finnish president said. The Finnish politician has been the 13th and current president of Finland since 2024. He previously served as prime minister of Finland from 2014 to 2015. Dr Yunus also briefed the Finnish president about the reform initiatives undertaken by his interlm government. "I wish you all the best," Stubb said. Read more: Will support you, German Chancellor tells Dr Yunus on Bangladesh's transition to democracy The chief adviser highlighted the mammoth banking sector looting and plunder committed by the Sheikh Hasina's "dictatorship." He said some 17 billion dollars were robbed from the banks. Dr Yunus said his government would hold a major international meeting on the Rohingya crisis to firmly bring the plight of the refugees back into the global discussion. The chief adviser on Tuesday also met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the sidelines of World Economic Forum annual meeting. He held a separate meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on the sidelines Forum. Dr Yunus arrived here on Tuesday afternoon to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos where he engaged extensively with the global leaders since his arrival. Earlier, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam received the chief adviser at the Zurich International Airport upon his arrival. Read more: CA Yunus calls for putting global focus back on Rohingya crisis as it gets complicated Dr Yunus and his delegation members arrived at the Zurich International Airport at 12:27pm (Zurich time) by an Emirates flight. Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs (Senior Secretary) Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Secretary (West) M Riaz Hamidullah, among others, are accompanying Dr Yunus. The annual meeting 2025 brought global leaders to address key global and regional challenges. These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding just and inclusive energy transition. This year's meeting convened under the theme 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' and the programme will be oriented around five distinct but highly interconnected thematic priorities: The meeting brings together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, and 350 governmental leaders, including 60 heads of states and governments, from all key regions.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday called for putting the global focus back on the Rohingya crisis, saying the influx of about 100,000 more refugees has added further burden on Bangladesh. "The situation is getting complicated. They are pushing more Rohingyas to Bangladesh," he said when UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met him on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss city. Dr Yunus sought support from the UN Refugee Agency - UNHCR - to find a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis and the Rohingya crisis and hosting a major global conference on the issue later this year. Read more: Dr Yunus invited to attend 61st Munich Security Conference  Grandi said his agency would support Bangladesh in its quest to find a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis. "We stand ready to cooperate with you," Grandi said after the chief adviser sought his support for addressing the Rohingya crisis, in particular, hosting the major global conference on the issue. The idea of such a conference was initiated by Chief Adviser Dr Yunus during his statement in the UN General Assembly in September 2024 to find out a sustainable and peaceful solution to the Rohingya issue. "Your voice will be more critical," Prof Yunus said. Grandi thanked the chief adviser for allowing the Rohingyas to use better materials to build their shelters. Read more: Will support you, German Chancellor tells Dr Yunus on Bangladesh's transition to democracy Previously, the Rohingyas were only allowed to make shelters with bamboo and tarpaulins. During the meeting, they also discussed the humanitarian situation inside Myanmar's Rakhine State, where the rebel group, the Arakan Army, was fighting against the Myanmar military. The chief adviser said he has appointed a high representative for the Rohingya crisis, and he is coordinating among all the government and international agencies.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus arrived here at Zurich International Airport, Switzerland on Tuesday afternoon to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos where he will engage extensively with global leaders on pressing issues in addition to his bilateral meetings. Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam received the Chief Adviser at the airport upon his arrival. The Chief Adviser and his delegation members arrived at the Zurich International Airport at 12:27pm (Zurich time) by an Emirates flight. Dr Yunus is heading towards his place of residence in Davos from the Zurich International Airport by road. After arrival in Davos (likely at 3:30pm), the Chief Adviser is scheduled to hold a number of meetings on the first day, including his joining in opening dinner at Kurpark Village. Read more: Expecting a consensus over ‘July Declaration’ by early Feb: Dr Yunus Dr Yunus is scheduled to hold the first meeting in Davos with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The meeting is likely to be held from 3:50pm to 4:20pm (Davos time) on Tuesday. He will then hold a meeting with Chair of the Board of Telenor, Jens Petter Olsen (4:30pm to 5pm). Telenor Group is a leading telecommunications company, bringing its connectivity services to millions of customers across the Nordics and Asia. Dr Yunus is likely to have separate meetings with former US Vice President Al Gore and Chairman of Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen. Al Gore is a United States politician who served successively in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and as the Vice President from 1993 to 2001. Dr Yunus will also hold meetings with Filippo Grandi, the 11th United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb, the 13th President of the Republic of Finland, according to his first day's tentative schedule. Read more: WEF: Chief Adviser Dr Yunus leaves for Switzerland Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs (Senior Secretary) Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Secretary (West) M Riaz Hamidullah, among others, are accompany Dr Yunus during the visit.

Bangladesh will highlight its efforts for an improved business and investment climate during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland to attract the global business leaders and investors giving them a confidence to explore the opportunities that Bangladesh offers. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will lead the Bangladesh delegation at WEF annual meeting in Davos and focus business and investment opportunities during his series of engagements there. Dr Yunus is scheduled to leave Dhaka for Switzerland after Monday midnight (1am on Tuesday) and will return home on January 25 attending the WEF annual meeting to be held on January 21-24 in Davos.      “There will be an effort from the interim government to give an impression (to international business leaders and investors) about making investment in Bangladesh,” said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul kalam Azad Majumder while briefing the media at Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Sunday evening. He said Bangladesh will try to attract the internal businesspeople and investors to invest in Bangladesh taking advantage of what Bangladesh offers. The Chief Adviser will engage with the global leaders on regional and global issues in addition to his bilateral engagements. ‘Will lead consensus-building commission’, Dr Yunus tells Australian envoy Dr Yunus will have a number of important meetings, including meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, King Philippe of Belgium and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Top officials of the European Central Bank, Meta and Amnesty International will also meet the Chief Adviser.  DPS Azad said there will be a separate dialogue with the participation of important business leaders, CEOs which is very important for Bangladesh. “It is a rare opportunity for Bangladesh.” Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam on Thursday said Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi and Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed will accompany Dr Yunus during the visit. The annual meeting 2025 convenes global leaders to address key global and regional challenges. These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding just and inclusive energy transition. This year's meeting will convene under the theme 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' and the programme will be oriented around five distinct but highly interconnected thematic priorities: The meeting brings together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, and 350 governmental leaders, including 60 heads of states and governments, from all key regions.