Even before delivering his address to the United Nations General Assembly at its 79th session this year, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has already completed what can only be described as a star turn at UN headquarters in New York. This is not a relative statement, comparing Yunus's engagements on the 'sidelines' with those of Bangladeshi leaders past. It is difficult to think of another leader from any nation enjoying so much prominence, holding a marathon series of meetings everyday.

It all started with a 1-on-1 meeting with US President Joe Biden. Such meetings on the UNGA sidelines are rare for the resident of the White House, whose engagements at UNGA usually consist of the address to the general debate, and a reception hosted for all their counterparts. It was the first time one had met a Bangladeshi leader on the sidelines of UNGA. Just the preceding week, Dhaka had hosted a very high-level US delegation, and you would have thought the meeting between Biden and Yunus could be spared.

But both sides recognised the important, symbolic value of going ahead with it, and it happened. For sure, the meeting between the two leaders was too brief to discuss anything in depth. But the messaging and symbolism associated with it made it priceless. By having this meeting, Washington was signaling not just bilaterally or regionally, but to the world at large that it is standing by Bangladesh during the period of upheaval it is going through.

Yunus is scheduled to address the General Debate on Friday morning, New York time, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told our sister newsagency UNB. The chief adviser would be speaking on the biggest global platform since he took over the role leading the interim government.

The Chief Adviser will deliver his speech in Bangla, his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told UNB, adding that it would be an "epoch-making speech".

Apart from giving a background on the July-August mass uprising and the role of youth and their dreams of having a better Bangladesh, Yunus is likely to highlight his government's reforms agenda as he guides the country towards economic stability ensuring an equitable future for all Bangladeshis.

Yunus' greater engagements on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York is seen as a big opportunity for him to share his government's priorities following the student-led mass uprising, and economic plans including which areas specifically the international community can be helpful in strengthening and stabilising Bangladesh's economy.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said a major political changeover has taken place in Bangladesh and they want to let people know so that no confusion remains regarding what happened in Bangladesh.

He said the chief adviser is highly respected globally and all countries will take his remarks seriously.

In his speech, the CA is expected to present the details of the "unimaginable mass uprising" that happened in Bangladesh in the last two months and his conviction to build a state system that is people-oriented, welfare-oriented and dedicated to public interest in the coming days.

"Besides, Bangladesh's strong position in peacekeeping operations in ensuring international peace and security, climate change and its impact, establishment of climate justice, global conflict, Rohingya crisis, difficulties of developing countries in achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), prevention of resource trafficking from developing countries, safe Issues related to immigration, ensuring migrants access to basic services, sustainable transfer of technology in terms of generative artificial intelligence, and Palestine are likely to come up in his speech," Hossain said.

"It goes without saying that the interim government has initiated reforms to build a new Bangladesh. In this context, this session is a new step for new Bangladesh in the United Nations or the world meeting. In this session, we have a great opportunity to present this non-discrimination, justice-based Bangladesh to the world," Hossain said.

On September 26, Yunus attended around 15 meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA. He is scheduled to attend at least another six events before his departure for Dhaka on Friday night.

Admirers at the Gate

The US wasn't done with Yunus. A day after Biden, his secretary of state Antony Blinken also dropped by Yunus's suite for a meeting with the Bangladesh leader, where he promised to would work together with Bangladesh to help rebuild the country.

"We want to be good partners. We will make things work fast for Bangladesh," Secretary of State Blinken said, after the meeting.

The secretary of state said the US has "tremendous" respect for Yunus, and they admired that he took up the leadership of the country at a critical time for the nation.

Yunus said the interim government was tasked with rebuilding the country, and he sought support from multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, the IMF, and also the USAID to fix the country's economy and its institutions.

"It has to be done very fast," he said, adding the entire population is "unified" behind his government and was looking forward to rebuilding the country as quickly as they can.

Reforms undertaken by the interim government, anti-corruption measures, repatriation of the stolen Bangladesh money stashed abroad, labour issues, trade and economic cooperation, and law and order featured in the talks.

Yunus said fighting corruption and improving law and order were the top priorities of the government.

"The country was sunk into an ocean of corruption during the previous regime. This (fighting corruption) is my number one issue," he said.

He sought US support to get back the billions of dollars stolen from the country and syphoned abroad by individuals linked with the previous regime.

"It is a huge amount of money. Unbelievable!" he said, referring to the laundered assets.

Secretary Blinken offered the US government's support in this regard.

"We are happy to help," the chief adviser's press wing quoted Blinken as saying. "We have a lot of expertise in dealing with endemic corruption."

The chief adviser said improving labour standards was one of the government's top goals, as this would pave the way for more foreign direct investment in the country.

Secretary Blinken said the US is the largest source of foreign investment in Bangladesh, and he hoped it would grow in the coming years.

They also discussed the UN fact finding mission investigating atrocities during the July-August uprising and media freedom.

Yunus said his government has upheld freedom of speech and freedom of the press. He said he has asked the media to criticise them "as best as they can."

The chief adviser said the government is committed to maintaining racial and communal harmony in the country.

"All Bangladesh is a big family. We have differences. But we are not enemies," he said.

The two leaders also discussed the Rohingya crisis, with the chief adviser seeking support for hundreds of thousands of young Rohingya children growing up in the camps in Bangladesh.

They discussed the importance of building strong institutions to fight corruption, uphold media freedom, respect internationally recognised labour rights, and protect human rights for all in Bangladesh, including Rohingya refugees and members of minority communities.

He also indicated US support for free and fair elections, which will chart an inclusive, democratic, and equitable future for all Bangladeshis, said Spokesperson Matthew Miller after the meeting.

The secretary underscored US support and assistance for the interim government as it guides the country towards economic stability and highlighted the importance of reforms to ensure continued foreign direct investment, Miller said.

Come one, come all

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who represented his country at UNGA this year in the absence President Xi Jinping, said his country wants to invest in solar panels manufacturing in Bangladesh and further deepen trade and economic ties with Bangladesh.

He made the announcement when he called on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sideline of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters on Wednesday afternoon (NY time).

"If Chinese investment comes to Bangladesh for solar panels manufacturing, it will be a milestone as it's a massive investment and will help create huge jobs," said Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam after the meeting. He said Bangladesh will benefit out of that investment, and would become a major exporter of solar panels.

Alam said China wants to strengthen "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" with Bangladesh.

The Chinese foreign minister described Prof Yunus as "an old friend of the Chinese people," and he congratulated the Chief Adviser for assuming the leadership of the Interim Government.

"We have full confidence in you that you will live up to the expectations of the people," he said, adding that he would unite the country.

Wang Yi said China would attach importance to Prof Yunus's call for Chinese solar panel manufacturers to set up plants in Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser made the call when the Chinese ambassador to Dhaka visited him last month.

The Chinese foreign minister said Beijing would also encourage greater cooperation and partnership between the companies of two nations.

He said Bangladesh would also benefit from Chinese decision to allow zero tariff access to all goods from the Least Developed Countries.

He said the Chinese Red Cross has sent a team of doctors to treat the students and people who were grievously injured during the July-August mass uprising. Wang Yi also said China would welcome more students from Bangladesh.

Prof Yunus thanked China for the gesture. He also praised "amazing" Chinese efforts to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.

He said Chinese solar companies could invest in a bigger way in Bangladesh, which enjoys preferable market access to many rich nations.

Prof Yunus also called other Chinese manufacturers to relocate their factories to Bangladesh. The chief adviser stressed closer relations with China and opening "a new chapter" in the ties between the two nations.

He also called for increasing technological collaboration between the companies of both nations. "We will love to collaborate with Chinese companies. We have a lot of scope to work together," Yunus said.

President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen has assured Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus that "Bangladesh can count on Europe's support" in its reform drive.

"We also remain your partner for steady growth and infrastructure development under Global Gateway," she said during a bilateral meeting with Yunus on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

"Let's make the best out of our €400 million Bangladesh Renewable Energy Facility," said the European Commission president.

The chief adviser also held bilateral talks with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Dick Schoof on the sidelines of UNGA.

Meanwhile, International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan KC called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at UN headquarters and discussed justice and accountability issues. They also shared their "common vision" to strengthen Bangladesh-ICC cooperation and ensure accountability for crimes committed against the Rohingya.

Discussions included the Rohingya genocide and ways and means to file a crime against humanity case against the perpetrators of the July-August massacre, according to the chief adviser's office.

Khan also appreciated the chief adviser's three points regarding the Rohingya crisis. Yunus sought the international community's continuous attention to the Rohingya crisis, warning that otherwise, it might put the entire region in trouble, not just Bangladesh.

"We must pay attention," he said while speaking at a high-level discussion on the Rohingya crisis held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday afternoon (NY time).

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, ICC Prosecutor Karim AA Khan, IOM Director General Amy Pope, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and CA's Special Assistant Mahfuz Alam, among others, spoke at the event.

Yunus proposed to the international community to revisit its approach to the Rohingya crisis.

He said the UN secretary general may convene an all-stakeholders conference on the Rohingya crisis as soon as possible.

Firstly, the conference should review the overall situation of the crisis and suggest innovative and forward-looking way outs, he said.

Secondly, Yunus said, the Joint Response Plan, managed by the UN System and Bangladesh, needs to be energised.

The resource-raising mechanism needs a further political push in view of the sliding funding situation, he said.

In his third proposal, Yunus said the international community should seriously support the justice and accountability mechanism to address genocidal crimes committed against the Rohingya community.

The chief adviser added that redressing the injustice that the military junta in Myanmar has perpetrated is the key to long-term peace and security.

"Honoured to take part in the discussion on Rohingya refugees led by the chief adviser of Bangladesh. This is a yearly UNGA event, but Dr Yunus's presence and vision meant that it was not business as usual," said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi.

He said they must strive to end the Rohingya people's discrimination, statelessness and exile.

Star power

At a meeting with senior officials of more than half a dozen top global human rights groups who came to meet him at his hotel, the CA said that his government is committed to upholding human rights and freedom of speech in Bangladesh.

During the meeting, justice and accountability for the atrocities and human rights abuses committed during the July-August mass uprising and also during Sheikh Hasina's 15 year long dictatorship were discussed.

Human rights officials stressed the need for more investigations into some 3,000 extrajudicial killings carried out during the dictatorship, according to the chief adviser's press wing.

They also called for security sector reforms, repeal of the Cyber Security Act and deeper probe, unfettered access to and accountability for the detention centres where the victims of enforced disappearances were kept during the dictatorship.

Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights, led the delegation of nine HR officials. Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, also joined the meeting.

Callamard said the Interim Government should send "a powerful message demonstrating that this is a new Bangladesh."

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus briefly outlined how civil liberties and human rights were denied during the autocratic regime and what his government has so far done to establish human rights in the country.

The CA said his government has set up several commissions, including one on the police, to carry out vital reforms and institutional changes in Bangladesh.

He said his government would welcome any criticism of its activities and vowed that the interim administration would uphold freedom of speech.

"This government isn't bothered by any criticism. In fact, we are inviting criticism," he said, adding the government "won't restrict any voices" in the country.

Yunus was also invited to attend New York Times Climate Forward, where he created quite a stir as he said The Paris Agreement, the global accord for limiting the effects of climate change, won't work as long as the world sticks with the current economic system.

That system, he said, is centred on maximising profits, creating wealth for a tiny group of people and generating massive waste.

"The economic system we have built is key to the destruction of this planet," said Yunus. He added that humans had created a "self-destructive civilization."

Speaking at the summit, Yunus said that no matter what changes were made to the agreement, it would not make a difference until the world's underlying systems were redesigned. Developing countries like Bangladesh should not have to bear the burden of the climate damage done by their wealthier counterparts, he said.

"Why should we carry the burden of all the destruction that you put on us?" Yunus said. "You are the cause, we are the result."

He added that individuals should also bear the responsibility of producing less waste and shrinking their fossil fuel footprint.

The meeting did turn, almost inevitably, to the CA's more political engagements just recently.

He said he did not have a time frame for when Bangladesh would hold elections. Several commissions that were set up are expected to provide their reform recommendations in the coming months, after which the country will set a date for polls.

Responding to a question on whether Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, should be extradited, Yunus said: "Why not?" If she has committed crimes, he added, "she should be extradited and brought to justice."

However, he insisted that he had no plans to run for office. "Do I look like someone who would run?"

Additional reporting by AKM Moinuddin