Yunus to introduce new BD to world in UNGA address

A new Bangladesh will now be introduced to the world by the head of interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, in his maiden address to the UN General Assembly on September 27, officials say.

The Chief Adviser of the post-uprising government of Bangladesh will fly to New York on September 23 by a commercial flight for a five-day visit and will start for home on September 27, just after his speech in the 79th UNGA session, foreign affairs adviser Touhid Hossain told the press Saturday in a briefing on the CA's New York mission.

Responding to a question he said that there would be no meeting between Dr Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the UNGA in the US city.

The Indian PM will leave New York for home earlier and when the Chief Adviser will be in the UNGA, Mr Modi will not be there.

But the foreign adviser, Mr Touhid, will have bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on the sidelines.

"It cannot be denied that a tension is going on in the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India," the foreign adviser said, adding that a problem cannot be solved by denying its existence.

"Definitely, we will try to erase this tension to ensure our relationship but that relationship must be based on dignity and mutual respect, and on this basis, we can move forward our bilateral ties," the adviser said.

In his address the chief adviser will highlight the student- led movement that took place in July and will express government's conviction to build a pro-people, welfare- state system, aimed at serving the people, the foreign adviser said.

Besides, issues related to climate change, Bangladesh's role in peacekeeping, trafficking in wealth from the poor nations, safe migration, conflict resolution and Palestine situation will feature his address, he added.

The motto of this year's UNGA is 'Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations'.

On the heels of ongoing conflicts in different parts of the world and incidents of human- rights violations the upcoming UNGA is very significant, the adviser said.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, the chief adviser is scheduled to have bilateral meeting with prime ministers of Pakistan, Nepal and the Netherlands and the US Secretary of State.

He will also have meeting with the Bangladeshis who will host a reception in New York to mark the 50th anniversary of its UN membership.

Discussions are going on regarding his bilateral meetings with the US President, the President of Italy and the Crown Prince of Kuwait, the foreign adviser said, adding that the Chinese foreign minister may meet the CA.

Bangladesh will also organise a side event on the Rohingya crisis on the sidelines of the UNGA, the adviser said.

The Foreign adviser will represent Bangladesh in the Summit of Future which will be held on September 22 - 23.

This Summit will adopt a declaration titled the 'Pact of Future,'

Mr Touhid will also attend the meetings of the foreign ministers of the OIC, LDCs, and Commonwealth countries on the sidelines of the UNGA.

"The interim government has started the reform process to build a new Bangladesh," the foreign adviser said, adding that the upcoming UNGA session will be "a big opportunity to present the new Bangladesh, free of discrimination".

This time around, the number of the CA delegation is 57 which is much lower than previous delegations which usually comprised more than 100, Mr Touhid mentioned.

mirmostafiz@yahoo.com