United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus left New York on Tuesday night (US time) for Dhaka, concluding a nine-day visit marked by extensive engagements during the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). An Emirates Airlines commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 11:10 pm (US time). Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Tareq Md Ariful Islam and Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury saw him off at the airport, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on the morning of October 2 (Bangladesh time), via Dubai. Prof Yunus began his UNGA tour on September 22 and concluded it by attending the high-level conference on the “Situation of Rohingya Muslims and Other Minorities” held at the UN General Assembly Hall on Tuesday. He delivered his address at the 80th UNGA on September 26 and held a series of meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the session. UNGA: Prof Yunus leaves for New York early Monday BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Jamaat’s US spokesperson Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, National Citizen Party member secretary Akhter Hossen, and first senior joint member secretary Dr Tasnim Jara joined the delegation at Prof Yunus’s invitation. Speaking broadly at the UNGA, Prof Yunus warned, the “truth before us is frightening” and stressed that “extreme nationalism, geopolitics that thrive on the suffering of others, and indifference to human pain are destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle”. This tragedy is most visible in Gaza, he said, adding that the two-State solution must be implemented now. Prof Yunus described three goals on which young people must be able to build the future: zero carbon, zero wealth concentration and zero unemployment. “Let the dream of a three-zero world be the dream of all nations.”

Albania has expressed a strong interest in recruiting skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh to meet its expanding labour market needs. The proposal was conveyed by Albanian President Bajram Begaj during a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday. “We need workers for our country, and several Albanian companies have already submitted applications to hire from Bangladesh,” President Begaj said. He emphasised that bilateral cooperation could be broadened further, particularly in sectors like tourism, highlighting Albania’s southern coastline as a promising destination for Bangladeshi travellers, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. The Chief Adviser welcomed the initiative, noting that Bangladesh, with its dynamic and youthful workforce, is well-positioned to support Albania’s economic growth. Bangladeshi workers to enjoy similar social benefits, protection like Malaysians: Shafiqul Alam He also urged the Albanian government to ease visa procedures, pointing out that Bangladeshi citizens currently have to travel to New Delhi to apply for visas. In response, President Begaj suggested that Albania is considering the introduction of e-visas for Bangladeshi nationals. He also called for stronger institutional engagement, including high-level official visits, to advance cooperation. Adviser Asif Nazrul, who oversees the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare, affirmed Bangladesh’s capacity to provide a wide range of manpower—from doctors and nurses to factory and agricultural workers. Prof Yunus urges Malaysia to keep doors open for Bangladeshi workers He emphasised the importance of signing a memorandum of understanding to streamline the recruitment process. President Begaj also announced that Albanian universities are ready to welcome Bangladeshi students under existing international enrollment schemes. Senior Secretary for SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.