Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has called on UN-Habitat to expand its presence in Bangladesh to help develop sustainable and affordable housing for communities vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.
Speaking during a meeting with UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Prof Yunus emphasized the urgent need for innovative, climate-resilient housing in regions affected by floods, cyclones, and river erosion.
“Floods and river erosion destroy thousands of homes every year. We urgently need sustainable and affordable housing solutions for these people,” he said, proposing ideas such as rooftops that can convert into boats during floods.
The two sides discussed a range of topics including microfinance-based housing, waste management, urban planning, and housing for over one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
Photo: Office of the Chief Adviser.
Yunus also urged UN-Habitat to develop integrated solutions for housing, sanitation, and waste management in slums and informal settlements, with a focus on gender-sensitive design. “We must ensure our housing designs meet the needs of women,” he said.
Rossbach welcomed Yunus’s proposals, confirmed UN-Habitat’s interest in attending the upcoming high-level conference on the Rohingya crisis, and accepted an invitation to visit the refugee camps in Bangladesh.
She also invited Bangladesh to participate in the Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul (October 17–19, 2025) and the UN-Habitat World Urban Forum in Baku.
Waste management was a key focus, with Yunus who sits on the UN Secretary-General’s Zero Waste Advisory Board, highlighting the need for sustainable technologies for both urban and slum settings.
The meeting was attended by Housing and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, and SDG Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed.
