Yunus: Bangladesh Seeks to Bridge Saarc and Asean

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said Bangladesh is committed to reviving the long-inactive Saarc platform while also moving forward with its bid for Asean membership.

Speaking to Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Yunus explained that Dhaka envisions itself as a vital link between the two regional blocs. He noted that the country’s application for a Sectoral Dialogue Partnership with Asean was an initial step toward eventual full membership.

The meeting also covered Bangladesh’s domestic political reforms. Yunus emphasized that trials of Sheikh Hasina and her associates were a top priority for the interim government and were being carried out under international legal standards. He criticized the former prime minister for continuing to make inflammatory remarks despite facing trial and said Dhaka had requested her extradition.

Stubb, for his part, highlighted the urgent need for reforming the United Nations to deal effectively with global challenges, pointing to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Yunus agreed, arguing that the UN had become ineffective in addressing major crises.

Both leaders also discussed the Rohingya refugee crisis, with Yunus urging greater international assistance for the more than one million displaced people in Bangladesh. They highlighted the importance of Bangladesh’s geography in facilitating regional connectivity, particularly by providing access to Chattogram Port for Nepal, Bhutan, and India’s northeastern states.

Meeting with Pakistan PM

In another bilateral, Yunus met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The two reviewed bilateral relations, explored ways to expand trade and people-to-people ties, and spoke on regional cooperation. Sharif invited Yunus to visit Pakistan before the interim government’s term ends.

Yunus expressed condolences for the devastating floods in Pakistan that claimed over a thousand lives, linking the tragedy to climate change. He also confirmed that Bangladesh is preparing for a general election in February, with political reforms proposed by 11 national commissions nearing finalization. These reforms, he said, are aimed at ensuring no future authoritarian rule.

Talks with Italy and Kosovo

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed forming an Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum to expand Italian investment, particularly in textiles, and also expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh in December. She stressed Italy’s commitment to safe migration pathways and tackling human trafficking. Yunus reaffirmed Dhaka’s zero-tolerance stance on trafficking and called for stronger international cooperation on the issue.

Meloni further pledged to support Bangladesh in the European Union and promised to send a high-level delegation to the upcoming UN conference on the Rohingya crisis.

Separately, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani met Yunus the same day, suggesting a series of trade and economic agreements with Bangladesh, especially in the garment sector.