Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has defended the interim government’s decision to send a significantly smaller delegation from Bangladesh to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
He represented this stance in a facebook post made from his personal account on Friday. Shafiqul’s statement comes after the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) criticised “an unusually large delegation of more than a hundred people” sent to the UNGA.
His statement read, “Contrary to the TIB’s recent statement – which unfortunately relies on inaccurate information – the Bangladesh delegation to the UNGA is not only significantly smaller than those of the Hasina era, but also far more focused, industrious, and results-driven.
“The TIB is a respected civil society organisation and a long-standing advocate for transparency. It is therefore deeply disappointing that it issued a public statement based on unverified social media posts, rather than verified facts.”
Shafiqul added, “The delegation’s purpose is to represent the interests of Bangladesh and its people at the world’s most significant diplomatic gathering, where key global decisions are shaped. Over the past five days alone, members of the delegation have held at least a dozen high-level meetings, including bilateral engagements with more than six heads of state or government.”
The press secretary also said the TIB has inaccurately claimed that the delegation exceeds 100 members. The actual number is 62 — only marginally higher than last year’s 57. It is worth noting that last year’s figure did not account for six eminent politicians who traveled at the invitation of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Roughly a third of this year’s delegation comprises security personnel, who are essential to ensuring the safety of senior officials, including Professor Muhammad Yunus, amid credible threats from Awami League supporters. Despite these measures, the current team has been stretched, with many security officers working extended 16-hour shifts to provide adequate protection, he added.
“The government acknowledges that questions may arise regarding the size of the delegation. However, this year’s UNGA holds exceptional significance for Bangladesh. At a time when various actors are engaged in deliberate efforts to destabilise the country – including a concerted campaign to misrepresent the July uprising – strong and proactive international engagement is not just strategic, but necessary.”
It is well documented that the Awami League and its allies are spending millions to fund a flood of misinformation about the Interim Government and the July uprising — and to lobby against Bangladesh’s democratic transition, often with the tacit support of certain international quarters, Shafiqul continues.
“This year’s delegation includes several individuals who will represent Bangladesh at the upcoming Rohingya Conference on September 30 – underscoring Dhaka’s continued leadership on one of the region’s most urgent humanitarian and security issues.”
In addition, several advisers – though not part of the formal UNGA delegation – have travelled separately to engage with their global counterparts on matters of mutual concern, Shafiqul mentioned.
Leaders of Bangladesh’s most popular political parties were also invited to participate, and a number of officials were assigned to support them. This inclusive approach sends a clear and unequivocal message: Bangladesh is firmly committed to a peaceful, democratic transition, he stated.
