World Leaders Pledge Full Support to Professor Yunus and the Bangladesh Interim Government

Dozens of global leaders gathered on Friday at a New York hotel to meet Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, offering their full support to him and the Interim Government of Bangladesh during this critical period.

The delegation, led by former President of Latvia Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, met Professor Yunus on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Vīķe-Freiberga, who also serves as co-chair of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), was joined by a high-profile group including former Presidents, Prime Ministers, senior diplomats, and representatives from international organizations.

Notable attendees included Borut Pahor of Slovenia, Boris Tadić of Serbia, Egils Levits of Latvia, Charles Michel of Belgium, George Papandreou of Greece, Rosen Plevneliev and Petar Stoyanov of Bulgaria, Ivo Josipović of Croatia, Mladen Ivanić of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim of Mauritius.

The meeting also hosted a former Commonwealth Secretary-General, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia, four former Presidents of the UN General Assembly, several former foreign ministers, Ismail Serageldin (former World Bank Vice President and NGIC co-chair), Kerry Kennedy (President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights), and senior representatives from the IAEA and Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security.

During the discussion, leaders lauded Professor Yunus’s lifelong commitment to eradicating poverty and advancing social justice. “We’re here to support you and the people of Bangladesh,” one leader stated. “We are fully behind you.”

The delegation recognized Bangladesh’s recent progress under Professor Yunus’s leadership while acknowledging the challenges stemming from sixteen years of misrule, corruption, and exploitation. Many leaders pledged their expertise to assist the Interim Government in reconstruction and economic recovery. “We’re ready to work with you. Whatever guidance or support you need — just let us know,” another leader said.

Kerry Kennedy praised the country’s strides in human rights, describing them as “extraordinary.” Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, announced the Institute’s forthcoming formal support for Bangladesh’s July Revolution. NGIC co-chair Ismail Serageldin added, “If you need us, we are here for you.”

Professor Yunus expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming support, describing it as “totally unexpected” and “truly touching.” He compared the challenges facing his administration to surviving a major natural disaster, saying, “This country has been through a 15-year-long earthquake. Its magnitude was 9 on the Richter scale.”

Addressing the challenge of managing public expectations, he noted, “People expect miracles overnight, despite our limited resources. But we must also fulfill the dreams of our youth — they are looking for a new Bangladesh.”

Professor Yunus called on the international community to support Bangladesh’s upcoming general elections scheduled for February. “We need your guidance. Your advice, support, and moral strength will be invaluable,” he said.

SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed was also present at the meeting.