Help Bangladesh in its quest for democracy

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged the international community to engage with a new Bangladesh that aims to ensure freedom and democracy for all.

The power of Bangladesh's ordinary people, especially the youth, presented the nation with an opportunity to overhaul the system and end discrimination, Prof Yunus said, addressing the general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday.

"I would, therefore, call on the international community to continue and deepen engagements with Bangladesh in meeting our people's quest for democracy, rule of law, equality, and prosperity, so that we can emerge as a just and inclusive democratic society," he said.

Heads of states, governments, or their representatives from 193 UN member countries attended the event presided by UNGA President Philemon Yang.

This is the first time Prof Yunus is attending an international event as the head of government, meeting dozens of global leaders like US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, UN Secretary-General Anthony Guterres, heads of World Bank, IMF, UNHCR, ILO, and the European Union.

"That collective resolve [which led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina] should define the Bangladesh of the future and place our nation as a responsive and responsible state in the comity of nations," he said in his speech.

Prof Yunus said the people who toppled the autocratic regime in Bangladesh through a movement were long forgotten in politics and development. They dreamt of a just, inclusive and functioning democracy.

According to an estimate, over eight hundred people were martyred during the movement, he said.

"Bangladesh was born because of her people's profound belief in liberalism, pluralism and secularism. Decades later, our Generation Z is making us re-visit and re-imagine the very values that our people stood for back in 1971. As our people also did in 1952, to defend our mother language, Bangla."

The interim government has found endemic corruption, ruthless politicisation of institutions, oligarchs, and wealth syphoned out of Bangladesh. The government's key priority is to make individuals in public positions and institutions accountable.

It will ensure good governance, promote and protect fundamental rights, and prioritise allocations for education and health over grandiose infrastructure development.

The government aims to establish effective mechanisms to ensure the sustainability of the reforms it will bring and create an enabling environment for free, fair and participatory elections.

WE WANT CLIMATE JUSTICE

Prof Yunus said small farmers and artisanal livelihood-holders face great risks in Bangladesh.

"As I speak, over five million people witnessed the most devastating flood in their living memory in eastern Bangladesh.

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Yunus urges countries to engage with 'new Bangladesh'

"I would hence urge channelling robust resources for climate adaptation in the climate-vulnerable countries like Bangladesh. It is crucial to operationalise loss and damage funds by leveraging innovative solutions and additional finance."

Prof Yunus called for access to technologies and increased capacity, particularly in agriculture, water or public health, while also stressing a shared vision of zero poverty, zero unemployment, and, zero net carbon emissions, which the world can materialise together.

ROHINGYA CRISIS A GROWING RISK

Bangladesh has been hosting over 1.2 million Rohingyas on humanitarian ground at significant social, economic and environmental costs.

The protracted crisis in Myanmar poses growing risks with national and regional security implications for Bangladesh.

Yunus said Bangladesh needs continued support of the international community in carrying out the humanitarian operations and their sustainable repatriation.

"Equally important is to ensure justice for the grave human rights violations committed against the Rohingya, through the ongoing accountability processes in the ICJ and the ICC."

Prof Yunus said Bangladesh is ready to work with the international community to create an environment in Rakhine State in Myanmar for dignified and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their homeland.

ASSIST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Every year, developing countries face a significant SDG financing gap, estimated between $2.5 trillion to $4 trillion, and merely 17 percent of the SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030.

The Nobel laureate said high debt burdens, shrinking fiscal space, and adverse impacts of climate change put countries like Bangladesh at greater risk.

"Prevention of illicit financial flows and syphoning of resources from the developing countries merit greater attention."

Increased international cooperation is needed to rechannel the assets stolen from the developing countries.

He said every year, nearly two and a half million Bangladeshis enter our labour market.

He called for the world to ensure that no youth in countries like Bangladesh gets left behind in the AI-led transformation.

The world also needs to ensure that AI does not diminish the scope or demand for human labour.

"Many have reasons to believe that unless autonomous intelligence develops in a responsible manner, it can pose existential threats to human."

Prof Yuns recognised the role of Bangladesh's armed forces during the July Revolution, saying that the soldiers stood firmly with the people, which demonstrates their commitment to place human rights at the core of peacekeeping.

GENOCIDE IN GAZA

Noting the genocide in Gaza, Prof Yunus said all those responsible for the crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people must be held accountable.

He called for an immediate and complete ceasefire to protect the Palestinian people from brutalities.

"The international community, including the UN, needs to act in earnest to implement the two-state solution that remains the only path to bring lasting peace in the Middle-East."

He also urged both Russia and Ukraine to pursue dialogue and end the war.