United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extended unqualified support to the reform process initiated by Bangladesh's interim government and offered to do whatever they can for the country's real transformation.
He deplored declining humanitarian aid for over a million Rohingya refugees sheltered in the country's southeast frontier area, and pledged efforts for mobilising world assistance until their dignified repatriation to Myanmar.
The visiting UN chief, who arrived in Dhaka Thursday for a four-day visit, reaffirmed the UN's commitment for Dhaka's reform agenda and voiced his concern for "one of the most discriminated peoples" in the world during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office in Dhaka on Friday, said a spokesperson for the CA office.
"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," the UN Secretary-General told Professor Yunus during the 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 was 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 Secretary- General said as he voiced his deep concern over declining humanitarian aid for the 1.2 million Rohingya refugees who live in camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district.
"(Aid) cuts are a crime," he said, adding that western nations were now doubling up on defence spending while humanitarian aid is squeezed across the globe.
Guterres also expressed UN's "enormous gratitude" to Bangladesh for hosting the Myanmar-evicted minority people. "Bangladesh has been extremely generous to the Rohingya people."
"Rohingyas are a special case for me," he added on an emphatic note of empathy for the down-and-outs.
Professor Yunus thanked the UN Secretary-General for visiting the country at such a crucial time of transition, set off by the August-5th changeover.
"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 head of interim government briefed the UN chief executive about the reform process underway, saying that about 10 political parties have already submitted their responses to the reports of the six reform commissions constituted by the Interim Government.
Professor Yunus said once the parties agreed to the recommendations of the six commissions, they would sign 'July Charter', which would be the blueprint for country's democratic transition and implementation of the political, judicial, electoral, administrative, anti-corruption and police reforms.
He said election could be held in December provided the political parties agreed to "a short package" of reforms, but it would be held by June next year if the parties settled for "a larger package" of reforms.
The Chief Adviser reaffirmed his commitment to holding "free, fair and participatory elections".
Yunus sought support of the Secretary-General for a dignified return of the Rohingya to their homeland in the western Rakhine state in Myanmar, and in the meantime, mobilising adequate food and humanitarian assistance for the 1.2 million refugees.
"We are trying to raise attention to 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 would do his best to resolve the Rohingya crisis and try to mobilise support for them.
Guterres lauded the contribution of the Bangladesh 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 Secretary-General said in praise of the forces deployed in UN peacekeeping missions.
Their engagements have been "extraordinary", he noted, adding: "Bangladesh acts in the frontline for a fairer world."
Professor Yunus also had a word of praise for the Bangladesh peacekeepers. Bangladesh military gets unique exposure in these assignments. "The deployments mean a lot to us," he said.
Geopolitics and the status of SAARC and Bangladesh's relationships with neighbours also featured in the talks, with Professor Yunus highlighting his efforts to revive the South Asian regional forum.
Bangladesh also wants to become a member of the ASEAN in an effort to boost trade and investment with the Southeast Asian nations, he said in apprising the UN chief of his government's plans.
Turning to the economic front, the Chief Adviser also highlighted his proposal to create a South Asia grid involving Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and India to tap and import huge hydropower from the Himalayan nations to power the economy.
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, he mentioned.
Professor Yunus said the interim government has been fully supported by almost every country in the world, including the United States, the 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."
Professor Yunus said Bangladesh economy has made a turnaround to an extent that the Interim Government has now decided the country would make graduation from LDC status next year.
"We are taking full preparation for LDC graduation," he said about the UN-designated timeframe for the socioeconomic status change of the country through exit from the world's poor-country club.
The Chief Adviser also outlined his government's efforts to bring back tens of billions of dollars "stolen away by the leadership and cronies" of the previous government. He said some $234 billion was siphoned off during the 16-year-long dictatorship.
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"We are trying to get back the money. But this is a complex and lengthy process," he said.
The Secretary-General said that it all reminded him of his time during the revolutionary days in 1974 in Portugal.
Professor Yunus also thanked the High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk for the work of the UN fact-finding mission which 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.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, High Representative of the Chief Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were present during the meeting.
UN under secretary-general Rabab Fatima and UN Resident Coordinator to Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis also attended the meeting.
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