Online Desk:
The visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed full support for the reform agenda initiated by the interim government of Bangladesh and expressed deep concern over the reduction in humanitarian assistance for more than a million Rohingya refugees living in Cox’s Bazar in the country’s southeast.
The UN Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s commitment to the reform agenda in a meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Tejgaon, Dhaka on Friday (March 14, 2025) and expressed concern over the plight of the Rohingya, the world’s “most discriminated against population.” He arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a four-day visit.
During the hour-long meeting, the UN Secretary-General told Professor Yunus, “I want to express our full commitment to the reform agenda. We are here to support your reform efforts. We wish you the best of success.” Let us know if you need any assistance.’
He expressed hope that the reform process would ensure free and fair elections and a ‘real transformation’ of the country. ‘I know that the reform process can be complex,’ he said.
Guterres said he had come to Bangladesh during Ramadan to express solidarity with the forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar.
Expressing deep concern over the reduction in humanitarian assistance for the 1.2 million Rohingya living in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp, the UN Secretary-General said, ‘I have never seen any other population in the world suffer so much discrimination.’ He said, ‘The international community has forgotten the Rohingya.’
Stating that ‘reducing humanitarian assistance is a crime,’ Antonio Guterres said that Western countries are now doubling their defense spending, but humanitarian assistance around the world is shrinking.
Guterres expressed the UN’s ‘immense gratitude’ to Bangladesh for sheltering the Rohingya. “Bangladesh has shown great generosity towards the Rohingya,” he said.
He added, “The Rohingya community is a special subject for me.”
Professor Yunus thanked the UN Secretary-General for his visit to Bangladesh at this crucial time.
“There could not have been a better time for you to come,” he said. “Your visit is timely, not only for the Rohingya, but also for Bangladesh.”
The chief adviser briefed Guterres on the reform process, saying that about 10 political parties have already submitted their views on the reports of the six reform commissions formed by the interim government.
Professor Yunus said that once the parties agree on the recommendations of the six commissions, they will sign the July Charter, which will be an outline of the country’s democratic transition, as well as political, judicial, electoral, administrative, anti-corruption and police reforms.
He said that if the political parties agree on a “comprehensive reform package,” the elections could be held in December. However, if they accept the ‘major reform package’, the elections will be held in June next year.
The chief adviser reiterated his commitment to ensuring ‘free, fair and participatory elections’.
Professor Yunus sought the UN Secretary-General’s cooperation so that the Rohingya can return with dignity to their homeland in western Rakhine State in Myanmar. He said that they should be ensured adequate food and humanitarian assistance for as long as they are in Bangladesh.
“We are trying to draw attention to the plight of the Rohingya,” he said. “The world needs to know how much they are suffering. There is a sense of hopelessness among them.”
The UN Secretary-General said he would do his utmost to resolve the Rohingya crisis and prioritize mobilizing assistance for them.
Guterres praised the role of Bangladesh’s peacekeeping forces in maintaining world peace and stability.
The UN Secretary-General said that the activities of Bangladesh’s peacekeeping force are ‘extraordinary’ and that Bangladesh is at the forefront of establishing a just world, saying, ‘Bangladesh’s peacekeeping force is very important to us’.
Professor Yunus also praised the Bangladesh peacekeeping force, saying that the Bangladesh Army has gained a unique experience by working in this mission. He said, ‘Working in the peacekeeping force is very important for us’.
The meeting also discussed geopolitics, the current status of SAARC and the relations of neighboring countries with Bangladesh. Professor Yunus highlighted his efforts to revive the South Asian Regional Forum.
He said that Bangladesh wants to become a member of ASEAN to increase trade and investment with Southeast Asian countries.
The Chief Advisor also talked about multiple port construction projects in the Chittagong region of Bangladesh, which will help develop the country as an ‘economic hub’ by connecting it with the northeastern region of India, including Nepal and Bhutan.
Professor Yunus said the interim government has received support from almost every country, including the United States, the European Union, China and Japan.
On the economy, the chief adviser said his government inherited a ruined and fragile banking sector, shrinking foreign exchange reserves and collapsing financial institutions.
He said, ‘The economy is now well-established. Exports have been increasing for several months. Foreign exchange reserves are also in a good position.’
Professor Yunus said that the economy has turned around in such a way that the interim government has decided that Bangladesh will graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) list next year.
He said, ‘We are fully preparing for the LDC transition.’
He said that the government is trying to bring back hundreds of billions of US dollars that were looted during the previous government’s rule.
The UN Secretary-General said that the fragile state of the economy left by the previous government reminded him of the revolutionary days of Portugal in 1974.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, the High Representative of the Principal Adviser on the Rohingya Issue and Priority Issues Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Senior Secretary for SDGs Lamia Morshed were present at the meeting.
UN Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima and UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis were also present at the meeting.
Source: BSS.
