The government has described chief adviser professor Muhammad Yunus’ participation at the 79th United Nations General Assembly as ‘very successful, historic and a very positive milestone’.
‘It is a very successful and historic visit. I would say it was a very positive milestone for Bangladesh,’ chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at a media briefing at foreign service academy on Monday.
During his four-day stay in New York, professor Yunus participated in 50 major events on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Shafiqul said that there were around 50 meetings with at least 12 with top global leaders, including US president Joe Biden, in CA’s brief visit in New York.
‘He (Yunus) was treated like a ‘rockstar’ in New York. At the UN headquarters, he could barely move before a top leader would spread their arms and hug him,’ the press secretary said.
At the social circle, professor Yunus was the top celebrity and he didn’t miss a single moment to talk about the student-led revolution and its goals, he mentioned.
Referring to Bangladesh leaders’ participation at the UNGA over the last four decades when very few meetings with some regional leaders were seen, Shafiqul said that the chief adviser’s schedule was packed with a series of high-level meetings that time.
The secretary said that all the global leaders, CA Yunus met at the UNGA, extended their full support for the interim government and they were willing to work with the government.
He said that the world leaders supported reforms planned in Bangladesh and they knew it would take time to carry out massive reforms.
The chief adviser attended the highest 16 events on September 26. He had called upon the international community to engage with the ‘new Bangladesh’, which aimed to realise freedom and democracy for everyone, Shafiqul added.
‘This [Yunus’ address at the UNGA] was an epoch-making speech,’ said the secretary, adding that the speech covered global and regional issues apart from Bangladesh.
Deputy press secretaries Apurba Jahangir and Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present.