Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has appealed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for support, stressing that the coming months will be crucial as Bangladesh prepares for its national election.
“We need your support for the election,” Yunus said, pointing out that the ousted regime and its allies are funding disinformation campaigns using stolen assets to destabilise the country ahead of the vote.
The meeting, held at the UN Headquarters in New York on Monday, saw Secretary-General Guterres express full support and solidarity with Bangladesh’s democratic transition and ongoing reform initiatives. The delegation led by Yunus included Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Principal Secretary Siraj Uddin Miah, and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, according to Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
The discussions covered political reforms, preparations for the February general election, accountability for atrocities during the July Uprising, global trade concerns over protectionist measures, and the upcoming International Rohingya Conference on September 30. Yunus briefed the Secretary-General on the interim government’s reform measures and its commitment to ensuring a free, fair and peaceful election.
In response, Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s strong support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and reform agenda, while reiterating the UN’s commitment to a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
Yunus is also scheduled to attend a high-level plenary meeting on the Rohingya and other minority crises in Myanmar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday night (Bangladesh time). The session at the UN General Assembly Hall will include representatives from over 75 countries and organisations, including heads of state and government.
The conference aims to maintain international attention, mobilise political support, and propose a time-bound plan for a sustainable resolution, focusing on the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of displaced Rohingya to Myanmar.
Ahead of the session, Yunus met with senior UN officials, including UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi, Special Envoy on Myanmar Julie Bishop, and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Amnesty International has warned that conditions in Myanmar’s Rakhine State remain unsafe for repatriation due to ongoing armed conflict, forced labour, food and health crises, and movement restrictions.
Rakhine State is divided between the Arakan Army in the north and the Myanmar military in Sittwe, leaving civilians caught in violence. Over 1.3 million Rohingya currently live in Bangladesh, most having fled military violence in 2016–17.
