Prof Yunus carries political divide to NY: Rift or reconciliation?

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM

Prof Yunus carries political divide to NY: Rift or reconciliation?

Bangla Press Desk: Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’s visit to New York, accompanied by six senior leaders from three major political parties, has drawn intense discussion over whether or not unresolved political issues might be addressed abroad. Top leaders of the BNP, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) are part of the delegation, even as divisions persist among anti-fascist parties over the July national charter and other reform proposals under discussion at the National Consensus Commission. Prof Yunus departed Dhaka early Monday for New York to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), along with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Ala-mgir, BNP acting chairman’s foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir, Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher and NCP leaders Akhter Hossen and Tasnim Jara. A Jamaat source said the delegation would also include Nakibur Rahman Tarek, son of the par-ty’s late chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, who is already in the United States.

The unusual composition of the official UNGA delegation has drawn attention ahead of the 13th Parliamentary Election, due in February 2026. According to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, the inclusion of political leaders carries “symbolic weight” as Bangladesh moves toward a transitional phase. Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain earlier said, “Politicians will run the country in the fu-ture… Therefore, their involvement is crucial.” Talks under the National Consensus Commission stalled on 17 September after parties failed to agree on implementing the July charter.

Jamaat accepted legal experts’ proposals, BNP withheld its position, while the NCP sought more time. Against this backdrop, the presence of opposition leaders in the UNGA delegation is being in-terpreted as a signal of possible moves to reduce political deadlock before the polls. According to the schedule, Prof Yunus will address the UNGA on 26 September and join several high-level events. He is expected to highlight the interim government’s reform measures, the aspirations of the July 2024 mass uprising and its commitment to free, fair and inclusive elections in February 2026.

He is due to return on 2 October. This year’s UNGA is of special importance for Bangladesh, with a high-level conference on the situation of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar scheduled for 30 September, an initiative proposed by Prof Yunus last year. He will also attend the high-level meeting on the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth, and sessions on Women, Peace and Security. In his interventions, Prof Yunus is expected to focus on peacekeeping, climate change, the Sus-tainable Development Goals, illicit financial flows, safe migration, technology transfer in the AI era and calls for peace in Palestine. He will also attend receptions hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and US Presi-dent Donald Trump and hold bilateral talks with global leaders.

Political analysts are divided over the significance of this trip. Some view it as an attempt by the chief adviser to showcase political unity on the world stage, while others see it as a possible mission to influence opposition leaders in line with US interests. Both BNP and Jamaat leaders, however, dismissed the idea of resolving domestic disputes abroad. BNP chairperson’s adviser Dr Ziauddin Hyder told the Daily Sun, “There is no question of set-tling deadlock in New York. All issues were already resolved in London with BNP acting chair-man Tarique Rahman. Everything will be settled at home.” Jamaat leaders also denied any plan for political negotiations during the visit. Meanwhile, BNP and Jamaat are pushing ahead with separate political programmes. Jamaat and allies have launched protests around a five-point demand, including elections based on the July charter, adoption of proportional representation, a level playing field, trials of past atrocities and banning activities of the Jatiya Party and the 14-party alliance. BNP, in contrast, has rolled out a campaign to create an electoral atmosphere through grass-roots activities, candidate selection and voter outreach, while dismissing the Islamist bloc’s PR demand as an attempt to delay the polls. The 80th UNGA session, themed “Better Together: Eighty Years and More for Peace, Develop-ment and Human Rights,” runs from 23 to 27 September and resumes on 29 September, with world leaders setting out their positions on key global challenges. This article was originally published on Daily Sun. [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/SP

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]

Prof Yunus carries political divide to NY: Rift or reconciliation?

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