A number of influential world leaders gathered at his hotel suite in New York on Friday to express their full support to Principal Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus and his interim government. They pledged to provide Bangladesh with support and advice at this crucial time.
On the sidelines of the 80th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, a delegation led by Vaira V.K.-Freiberga, former President of Latvia and Vice-President of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), met with Professor Yunus. The NGIC is named after the renowned 11th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi.
The high-level group included former Slovenian President Borut Pahor, former Serbian President Boris Tadic, former Latvian President Egils Levits, former European Council President and former Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, former Bulgarian Presidents Rosen Plevneliev and Petar Stoyanov, former Croatian President Ivo Josipović, former Bosnia-Herzegovina President Mladen Ivanić, and former Mauritius President Amina Gurib-Fakim.
The meeting was attended by former Commonwealth Secretary-General, former Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia, four former Presidents of the UN General Assembly, several former Foreign Ministers, former Vice-President of the World Bank and Vice-President of NGIC Ismail Serageldin, President of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Commission Kerry Kennedy, senior representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
The leaders praised Professor Yunus for his leadership, his lifelong efforts in poverty eradication and social justice. They said, “We have come to support you and the people of Bangladesh. We stand by you.”
They noted that Bangladesh has made significant progress in recent times under Professor Yunus’ leadership. They said that the country is now facing major challenges due to 16 years of corruption, exploitation and mismanagement.
The various leaders assured the interim government of significant support for the country’s reconstruction and economic recovery efforts. One of them said, “We are ready to work with you. If you need any advice or assistance, let me know.”
Kerry Kennedy, who recently visited Dhaka, praised Bangladesh’s human rights progress, saying, “Your achievements in human rights are extraordinary.”
Melan Vervier, executive director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, said that their institution would soon announce formal support for the July Revolution in Bangladesh. Ismail Serageldin, vice president of NGIC, said, “We are here if you need us.”
At the conference, Professor Yunus expressed deep gratitude for receiving such unexpected support. He said, “This is completely unexpected. It is truly incredible that you stand together in support of us. I am absolutely overwhelmed.” He compared the situation in Bangladesh to recovering from a major natural disaster. In his words, “The country has been in the midst of an earthquake for the past 16 years. Its magnitude was 9 on the Richter scale.”
The chief advisor also said that the biggest challenge now is to meet the expectations of the people due to limited resources. ‘People want to see immediate change. But we must fulfill the dreams of the youth—they are looking for a new Bangladesh.’
Professor Yunus called on the international community to support Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections. “We need guidance,” he said. “Your advice, support and moral strength are invaluable to us.” The meeting was attended by Lamia Morshed, the Chief Coordinator for SDGs.
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