United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday conveyed to the global audience that Bangladesh, now stands at a turning point to forge a new social contract in which the state and its people, especially its youth, co-create a future rooted in inclusion, tradition, justice, dignity, and opportunity. "We want to stand as a beacon of hope for the world and invite our friends and partners to rewrite inclusive social contracts and to explore the role of social business, financial inclusion," Prof Yunus said, adding that microfinance in fostering sustainable development and economic opportunities for the marginalised. A social contract in which financial inclusion and the empowerment of marginalised communities become integral, he said. Although they dream for a resilient, prosperous and sustainable future for all, Prof Yunus said there are various threats that can derail our future development. "We live in a time of profound uncertainty, where multilateralism is under serious threat, climate change is accelerating, geopolitical tensions are rising, and humanitarian crises are deepening. Emerging norms, technologies, and governance models are rapidly reshaping our world, rendering many past assumptions obsolete," he said, adding that the urgency for renewed regional and global cooperation has never been greater. Prof Yunus called for creating a world where no one is too poor to dream and no dream is too big to achieve, stressing that they want to stand as a "beacon of hope" for the world. "Let us be bold. Let us build a world where no one is too poor to dream and no dream is too big to achieve," he said, adding that the future is not something they inherit. "It is something we create. And each one of us has a role to play," Prof Yunus added. Speaking at the opening session of the Earthna Summit 2025, the Chief Adviser said the challenges before them are significant. "But so too is our capacity for innovation, compassion, and collective action," he said, adding that Qatar with its initiatives like the Earthna Summit is demonstrating how a nation can harness innovation, tradition, and partnership to address the climate crisis, social inequality, and the future of work. In his keynote speech, the Chief Adviser explored the role of social business, financial inclusion and microfinance in fostering sustainable development and economic opportunities for marginalised communities. Prof Yunus thanked Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of the Qatar Foundation for organising this wonderful and very timely Summit. The second edition of the Earthna Summit under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge” highlights Qatar’s commitment to advancing sustainability in hot and arid environments, by drawing on its rich cultural heritage and unique ecosystems. The Summit serves as a platform for exploring how both traditional knowledge and innovation approaches can inform modern sustainability, shaping a more resilient and inclusive future. During the two days – April 22-23, the Earthna Summit will explore a wide range of topics through presentations, interactive panel discussions, workshops and roundtables. Besides, the Earthna Village in Barahat Msheireb will host a series of inspiring talks and discussions led by various experts and innovators to foster dialogue and inspiration. A number of side events by partners will host a series of networking activations and discussions lead by local stakeholders.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus arrived here on Monday night to attend the Earthna Summit 2025 and discuss the issues of mutual interest with the leadership of the gas-rich Gulf kingdom. Bangladesh is eyeing a stronger economic cooperation with Qatar and greater engagement in the energy sector. Bangladesh Ambassador to Qatar Md. Nazrul Islam received Prof Yunus upon his arrival at Hamad International Airport at around 21:40pm (Doha time) by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Earlier, he departed from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a four-day visit at 7:00pm (Dhaka time). Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Prof Yunus will have a series of engagements during his stay in Qatar. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, among others, are accompanying the Chief Adviser. The Chief Adviser is paying the visit at the invitation of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. Dr Yunus is likely to have meetings with both the Amir of Qatar and the Deputy Prime Minister in addition to other engagements. Since there is a long-term agreement with Qatar on LNG import, Press Secretary Alam said Bangladesh will have a discussion on greater energy sector cooperation. He said there will be an investment Summit on April 23 from which Bangladesh expects positive response. CA Prof Yunus off to Qatar to attend Earthna Summit Bangladesh stressed the need for a deepening trade and investment relationship with Qatar. Press Secretary Alam said the visa issues will also be discussed. He said there will be an event on the Rohingya issue where global stakeholders will participate. Alam hoped that the Rohingya issue would be brought back to global attention as there are efforts from the interim government. Earthna Summit The second edition of the Earthna Summit under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge” highlights Qatar’s commitment to advancing sustainability in hot and arid environments, by drawing on its rich cultural heritage and unique ecosystems. The Summit serves as a platform for exploring how both traditional knowledge and innovation approaches can inform modern sustainability, shaping a more resilient and inclusive future. During the two days – April 22-23, the Earthna Summit will explore a wide range of topics through presentations, interactive panel discussions, workshops and roundtables. Besides, the Earthna Village in Barahat Msheireb will host a series of inspiring talks and discussions led by various experts and innovators to foster dialogue and inspiration. A number of side events by partners will host a series of networking activations and discussions lead by local stakeholders. Dr Yunus relentlessly devotes his time and energy to inspire people into creating a world of 3 Zeros - zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration for ending poverty once for all and zero unemployment by unleashing entrepreneurship in everyone. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home on April 25. Eminent Persons In a historic first, four national women athletes from Bangladesh are accompanying the Chief Adviser. The delegation includes footballers Afeida Khandaker and Shaheda Akhter Ripa and cricketers  Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana. Want to be good, close neighbours, says Prof Yunus seeking stronger Dhaka-Beijing ties  This is the first time a group of female athletes is travelling as part of an official delegation with a head of government of Bangladesh, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. The Qatar Foundation extended the invitation to the athletes through the Chief Adviser’s Office. On Thursday evening, the four athletes met Professor Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where they discussed their goals for the visit and expressed their excitement. "We are thrilled to be part of this visit. It's not just a personal honour but also a proud moment for our teammates and the sports community in Bangladesh," the footballers were quoted by the press wing as saying. They added that they hoped to invite the Qatari women's football team for a friendly match and were eager to explore Qatar's sports facilities and professional training methods. The cricketers expressed their desire to spark interest in cricket in Qatar, where the sport is not yet widely followed. "We've prepared a presentation to introduce both our men's and women's cricket journeys," they said. During the meeting, the athletes also shared their personal struggles and thanked the Chief Adviser for giving them the opportunity to represent the country abroad. Prof Yunus urges regional unity, youth innovations to tackle climate-urban challenges Dr Yunus praised the athletes for their resilience and passion. "You are Bangladesh's sports ambassadors. Share your real stories. Represent our country's spirit and progress through sports," he said. He assured full support from his office to ensure the success of their trip.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus left Dhaka for Doha this (Monday) evening on a four-day visit to attend the Earthna Summit 2025 and discuss issues of mutual interests with Qatar’s leadership, aiming to strengthen economic cooperation. The Chief Adviser departed for Doha at 7:00pm from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy earlier in the day, saying that Prof Yunus will have a series of engagements during the visit. Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder and Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahmmad were also present. Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, among others, are accompanying the Chief Adviser. The Chief Adviser is paying the visit at the invitation of Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. CA Dr Yunus off to China, eyeing to take Dhaka-Beijing ties to new height Prof Yunus is likely to have meetings with both the Amir of Qatar and the Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed in addition to other engagements. Since there is a long-term agreement with Qatar on LNG import, Press Secretary Alam said Bangladesh will have a discussion on greater energy sector cooperation. He said there will be an investment Summit on April 23 from which Bangladesh expects a positive response. Bangladesh stressed the need for a deepening trade and investment relationship with Qatar. In a historic first, four national women athletes from Bangladesh—footballers Afida Khandakar and Shaheda Akhter Ripa, along with cricketers Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana—are accompanying the Chief Adviser as part of the delegation. This is the first time a group of female athletes will travel as part of an official state delegation with a head of government of Bangladesh. The Qatar Foundation extended the invitation to the athletes through the Chief Adviser’s office. On Thursday evening, the four athletes met Professor Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, where they discussed their goals for the visit and expressed their excitement. "We are thrilled to be part of this visit. It's not just a personal honour but also a proud moment for our teammates and the sports community in Bangladesh," the footballers were quoted by the press wing as saying. They added that they hoped to invite the Qatari women's football team for a friendly match and were eager to explore Qatar's sports facilities and professional training methods. The cricketers expressed their desire to spark interest in cricket in Qatar, where the sport is not yet widely followed. "We've prepared a presentation to introduce both our men's and women's cricket journeys." During the meeting, the athletes also shared their personal struggles and thanked the Chief Adviser for giving them the opportunity to represent the country abroad. Dr Yunus praised the athletes for their resilience and passion. "You are Bangladesh's sports ambassadors. Share your real stories. Represent our country's spirit and progress through sports," he said. He assured full support from his office to ensure the success of their trip. Earthna Summit The second edition of the Earthna Summit under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge” highlights Qatar’s commitment to advancing sustainability in hot and arid environments, by drawing on its rich cultural heritage and unique ecosystems. Dr Yunus leaves for Bangkok to attend 6th BIMSTEC Summit Dr Yunus urges quick implementation of Women Affairs Commission’s recommendations. The Summit serves as a platform for exploring how both traditional knowledge and innovation approaches can inform modern sustainability, shaping a more resilient and inclusive future. During the two days – April 22-23 -- the Earthna Summit will explore a wide range of topics through presentations, interactive panel discussions, workshops and roundtables. Besides, the Earthna Village in Barahat Msheireb will host a series of inspiring talks and discussions led by various experts and innovators to foster dialogue and inspiration. A number of side events by partners will host a series of networking activations and discussions lead by local stakeholders. Dr Yunus relentlessly devotes his time and energy to inspire people into creating a world of 3 Zeros - zero net carbon emission, zero wealth concentration for ending poverty once for all and zero unemployment by unleashing entrepreneurship in everyone. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home on April 25.