Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus Emphasizes United Action to Address Global Challenges and Complexities
Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus stressed the need for collective efforts to tackle global “challenges and complexities” while speaking at an international geopolitical conference on Saturday.
Delivering the inaugural address, he said, “We know that when we come together and work as one, we have the power to change the course of history. This conference is precisely about that—the power of unity and shared purpose.”
Dr. Yunus emphasized the need to build an economy where the benefits of technology and economic growth are shared equally by all, rather than being concentrated among a privileged few.
“I am always optimistic,” he said. “I always believe in creativity and imagination. When we imagine together, it becomes unstoppable. Let us do that.”
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain, Center for Governance Studies (CGS) Executive Director Zillur Rahman, and CGS Chairperson Munira Khan also spoke at the event.
Dr. Yunus addressed the issues of economic inequality, social injustice, and the looming threat of climate change, describing them as challenges that seem insurmountable.
“Yet, in Bangladesh, we know something about resilience, overcoming adversity, and turning challenges into opportunities,” he remarked.
Reflecting on his early experiences working with rural communities, he said their courage and strength had taught him invaluable lessons.
“These experiences have shown me that every problem has a solution if we have the patience, the courage to try, and the persistence to move forward,” he said.
He highlighted the region’s vulnerability to climate change, where coastal communities face increasing storm surges and changing weather patterns, impacting their lives, homes, and livelihoods. “This is an issue that demands immediate and united action. It cannot be delayed even for a day,” he asserted.
At the same time, Dr. Yunus acknowledged the region’s immense potential, calling it a land of youth. With half of the 171 million population under the age of 27, he said, “This makes our country a powerhouse of creativity.”
“Our youth have the ability to lead the world toward sustainable development, create models of green growth, and promote our environment,” he said, adding that cooperation, courage, and unwavering belief in a shared future are necessary to achieve this.
Dr. Yunus encouraged global participants to think about building a new world. “Let us challenge each other, listen to one another, and dare to imagine a new world aligned with an environmentally safe planet and a new way of life,” he said.
He also called for a new civilization, stating that the current one is self-destructive from an environmental perspective and excessive in resource exploitation from an economic perspective. He advocated for building a world based on the principles of the “Three Zeros”—net-zero carbon emissions, zero wealth concentration, and zero unemployment—through social businesses aimed at solving human problems rather than maximizing profits.
“Nothing is impossible for humans if we pursue it rigorously,” he said.
Dr. Yunus welcomed international guests to a “new Bangladesh.” He paid tribute to those who had lost their lives or endured hardships under the previous regime.
He invited international visitors to explore graffiti painted on the walls of Dhaka’s neighborhoods, describing it as a reflection of Bangladesh’s enduring dreams, hard work, and indomitable willpower.
“This is now more evident than ever, as the aspirations for revolution remain fresh in people’s hearts,” he said. “It represents the voices of millions—nearly an entire nation—demanding change, pushing us to build a future based on human rights, freedom of speech, justice, and inclusion.”
The Center for Governance Studies (CGS) inaugurated the third edition of the international geopolitical conference Bay of Bengal Conversation (BoBC) 2024 in Dhaka on Saturday.
CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman expressed honor at having Dr. Yunus as the keynote speaker. He also called it CGS’s largest event to date.
The conference brings together over 200 speakers, 300 delegates, and 800 participants from more than 80 countries. Held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, the three-day event will continue until November 18, with the theme of its third edition being “A Fractured World.”
Source: Prothom Alom
