Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, has urged young people to focus on entrepreneurship rather than chasing jobs to build a new civilization. He made this statement while delivering the keynote speech at the BIMSTEC Young Generation Forum in Bangkok on Thursday, April 3.

Speaking at the conference at 3 PM local time, Dr. Yunus emphasized the importance of adopting a “Three-Zero” mindset to save the world from destruction. He explained that building a sustainable civilization requires achieving zero carbon emissions, zero waste, and zero wealth concentration. According to him, the current economic model, which relies on excessive carbon emissions, waste production, and wealth accumulation in the hands of a few, is pushing the world toward self-destruction.

Highlighting the necessity of protecting nature, he stated that people cannot survive in society without sharing their wealth. He also stressed that humans are not meant to work under others but are naturally born to be entrepreneurs. Dr. Yunus called on young people to embrace this mindset and take charge of their futures.

Referring to the significance of the “Three-Zero Club,” he explained that a group of five individuals could form such a club by committing to reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste, and preventing wealth concentration. He encouraged young people to start making changes at the grassroots level, beginning with their own villages, rather than trying to change the world overnight.

Dr. Yunus left Dhaka for Bangkok on Thursday morning via a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight and arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport around noon, where he was received by Thailand’s Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai. On Friday, April 4, he will attend the BIMSTEC Summit and hold bilateral meetings with leaders from member states, including India. Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are also expected to be signed during the summit.

A much-anticipated bilateral meeting between Dr. Yunus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also set to take place on April 4 on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit. Scheduled for 3:45 PM Bangkok time, this discussion will mark a significant diplomatic engagement between the two leaders.

Additionally, Bangladesh is set to take over the chairmanship of BIMSTEC for the next two years. Meanwhile, a ministerial-level meeting among BIMSTEC member states will also take place today.