Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday called on UN-Habitat to strengthen its presence in Bangladesh to support the development of sustainable and affordable housing solutions for communities vulnerable to climate-induced disasters.
The appeal was made during a meeting with UN-Habitat Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General Anacláudia Rossbach, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The two leaders discussed a broad range of issues, including urban housing challenges, microfinance-driven solutions, waste management, and the global impact of climate change on marginalized populations, according to Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
Prof Yunus emphasized the need for context-specific, multipurpose housing models designed for areas frequently affected by floods, river erosion, and cyclones.
“Floods, cyclones, and river erosion destroy thousands of homes every year. We urgently need sustainable and affordable housing solutions for these people,” he said.
Among his proposals was an innovative design concept where rooftops could double as boats during floods.
He also urged UN-Habitat to explore integrated housing, sanitation, and waste management solutions for informal settlements worldwide, with a special focus on women-friendly designs that improve daily life.
The discussion included the urgent need for durable housing for over one million Rohingya refugees currently residing in Bangladesh.
Prof Yunus invited UN-Habitat to participate in next week’s high-level UN conference on the Rohingya crisis and proposed launching an annual global design competition under the UN-Habitat World Urban Forum, focused on climate-resilient and affordable housing.
Executive Director Rossbach welcomed the initiatives and confirmed UN-Habitat’s interest in attending the Rohingya conference.
She also accepted an invitation from Housing and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan to visit the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh.
Rossbach underscored the importance of a stronger UN-Habitat footprint in Bangladesh, given its frontline exposure to climate challenges.
She invited Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul, scheduled for October 17–19, as well as the next World Urban Forum in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Waste management was a key topic during the meeting. Prof Yunus, a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Zero Waste Advisory Board, stressed the need for sustainable technologies to manage waste in both urban and slum environments.
Rossbach echoed the importance of incremental housing development, improved urban planning, and integrating microfinance into housing strategies.
Also present were Housing and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan, Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed.