United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday expressed his full support for reforms initiated by Bangladesh's interim government and voiced concern for declining humanitarian aid for more than a million Rohingya refugees living in the country's southeast.
The UN chief, who arrived in Dhaka on a four- day visit on Thursday, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment for Dhaka's reform agenda and voiced his concern for one of the most discriminated against people in the world during a meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office in Dhaka.
"I want to express our total commitment to the reform process. We are here to support your reforms. We wish you all the best. Whatever we can do, let us know," Guterres told Yunus during their hour-long meeting.
He hoped the reforms would lead to a free and fair election and a real transformation of the country. "I know the process of reforms can be complex," he said.
Guterres said he is also here to express solidarity with Myanmar's forcibly displaced Rohingya people during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. "I've never seen a population so discriminated against.”
“The international community is forgetting the Rohingya," the UN chief said as he voiced his deep concern over declining humanitarian aid for the 1.2 million Rohingya refugees who live in camps in Cox's Bazar.
"(Aid) cuts are a crime. Western nations are now doubling up on defense spending while humanitarian aid is squeezed across the globe,” he added.
Guterres also expressed the UN's "enormous gratitude" to Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingya refugees. "Bangladesh has been extremely generous to the Rohingya people. Rohingyas are a special case for me," he said.
Yunus thanked the UN secretary-general for visiting the country at such a crucial time. "You couldn't come at a better time. Your visit is timely not only for the Rohingya people but also for Bangladesh," he said.
The chief adviser briefed Guterres on the reform process, saying about 10 political parties have already submitted their responses to the reports of the six reform commissions constituted by the government.
Yunus said that once the parties agree to the recommendations of the six commissions, they will sign a July Charter, which will be the blueprint for country's democratic transition and implementation of the political, judicial, electoral, administrative, anti-corruption and police reforms.
He said the election could be held in December provided the political parties agree to "a short package" of reforms, but it will be held by June next year if the parties settle for "a larger package" of reforms.
The chief adviser reaffirmed his commitment to holding "free, fair and participatory elections."
Yunus sought the support of the UN secretary-general for the dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland in Rakhine State in Myanmar and, in the meantime, mobilizing adequate food and humanitarian assistance for the 1.2 million refugees.
"We are trying to raise attention of the plight of the Rohingya people. The world should know how they are suffering. There is a feeling of frustration," he said.
The UN secretary-general said he will do his best to resolve the Rohingya crisis and will try to mobilize support for them, giving priority to the Rohingyas.
Other issues discussed
Guterres lauded the contribution of Bangladesh’s peacekeeping forces in maintaining peace and stability in some of the troubled corners of the world.
"Bangladesh peacekeeping forces are very important for us," the UN secretary-general said, adding that their engagements have been extraordinary and that Bangladesh acts in the frontline for a fairer world.
Yunus also praised Bangladeshi peacekeepers, saying: “Bangladesh military gets unique exposure in these assignments. The deployments mean a lot to us."
Geopolitics, the status of Saarc and Bangladesh's relationships with its neighbours also featured in the talks, with Yunus highlighting his efforts to revive the South Asian regional forum.
He said Bangladesh also wants to become a member of Asean in an effort to boost trade and investment with Southeast Asian nations.
The chief adviser also highlighted his proposal to create a South Asia grid involving Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and India to tap and import hydropower from the Himalayan nations.
He said Bangladesh is building a series of ports in the country's Chittagong region in a bid to transform the country into an economic hub, connecting Bangladesh with the landlocked countries of Nepal and Bhutan and India's Northeastern region.
Yunus said the government has been fully supported by almost every country in the world, including the United States, European Union, China and Japan.
About the state of the economy, the chief adviser said his government inherited a ruined economy with a broken banking sector, dwindling reserves and destroyed institutions.
"The economy has now been solidified. Exports have been growing for months. Foreign exchange reserves are also better," he said.
Yunus said the economy has made a turnaround to an extent that the interim government has now decided the country will graduate from LDC status next year. "We are taking full preparations for the LDC graduation," he said.
The chief adviser also outlined his government's efforts to bring back tens of billions of dollars stolen by the leadership and cronies of the previous government.
He said some $234 billion was siphoned off during the 16-year-long dictatorship.
"We are trying to get back the money. But this is a complex and lengthy process," he said.
The secretary general said it all reminds him of his time during the revolutionary days in 1974 in Portugal.
Yunus also thanked UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk for the work of a UN fact-finding mission that documented atrocities and potential crimes against humanity committed by the Sheikh Hasina government.
"He did a fantastic work. They documented the crimes just right after the atrocities were committed. Let them come back again and do more work," he said.
