During his hectic second day at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Wednesday (22 January), Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus called on Bangladesh's international allies to aid in the recovery of substantial amounts of stolen money.
The chief adviser met Wolfgang Schmidt, head of the federal chancellery and federal minister for special tasks, federal chancellery of Germany, King Philippe of Belgium, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, prime minister of Thailand, Ignazio Cassis, federal councillor, federal department for foreign affairs, Switzerland, Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairperson, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, United Arab Emirates, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, former US secretary of state John Kerry, and former British prime minister Tony Blair, among others, on the sidelines of the WEF annual meeting.
The World Economic Forum is being held in the Swiss mountain town of Davos every year in January.
Chief Adviser Prof Yunus has attended about a dozen times in the past. His earlier talks primarily focused on the power of social businesses, the microfinance industry, and his vision of the Three Zeros—a transformative idea aimed at addressing poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation.
Social businesses alone now account for ten million enterprises, representing a 2.3 trillion dollar economy.
This year, Prof Yunus is attending in a different capacity, said his press secretary Shafiqul Alam, adding that he is now head of the government.
"He is still one of the most sought-after speakers here. But this time he rarely discusses his core ideas," Alam noted, adding that Dr Yunus is sharing stories of how young people in Bangladesh brought down a "dictator," creating a new vision for the country as it rebuilds.
The chief adviser urged global leaders to send top experts, think tanks, journalists, and international organisations to Bangladesh to investigate the "plain and daylight robbery" that occurred during Sheikh Hasina's "corrupt" 16-year-long rule, according to the chief adviser's deputy press secretary, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy to the chief adviser, Lamiya Morshed, principal coordinator on SDGs affairs (senior secretary), and Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Bangladesh permanent representative in Geneva, were also present in the meetings, said Azad Majumder.
Siddiqi briefed German minister Wolfgang Schmidt on the government’s efforts to recover stolen money, noting the formation of an Asset Recovery Committee and a task force led by the Bangladesh Bank governor.
He mentioned that the government initially targeted the top 20 money launderers for recovery efforts. Highlighting the interim government’s push for a corruption-free Bangladesh, chief adviser Prof Yunus told the German minister, “When we talk about a new Bangladesh, we also talk about a clean Bangladesh.”
The chief adviser sought German support and discussed potential areas of economic cooperation with the German minister. Schmidt indicated that a German business delegation would visit Bangladesh in April.
Prof Yunus shared plans to establish an economic platform with India, Nepal, and Bhutan to explore Nepal’s hydroelectric potential. “Nepal is ready to sell, and Bangladesh is a good market. It can create jobs and reduce dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.
Dr Yunus engages with global leaders, seeks support to recover stolen money
In meetings with the German minister and Swiss councillor, Bangladesh's energy security was also discussed.
The chief adviser held in-depth discussions with Swiss federal councillor Ignazio Cassis on mutual interests, including economic cooperation and climate financing.
He urged Switzerland to support Bangladesh’s carbon retention efforts in the Sundarbans and to invest in Bangladesh, leveraging its youthful population, where half the citizens are under 27 years of age.
The chief adviser briefed global leaders on the interim government’s reform plans and the roadmap for the next general election.
During the meeting with Belgium’s King Philippe and Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, the chief adviser learned about how a Belgian microcredit programmeme expanded tropical forest reserves in Congo.
Prince Emmanuel de Merode, who initiated the programme in conflict-prone areas, said the forest reserve now spans an area double the size of Britain. Microcredit programmes have created 21,000 jobs, including for ex-combatants, and significantly contributed to peacebuilding efforts.
The chief adviser discussed the Rohingya crisis and economic cooperation, including shipping, with Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra. “We want to resolve the Rohingya crisis quickly as more and more refugees are arriving in Bangladesh,” he said.
Shinawatra expressed interest in enhancing youth engagement between the two countries following Bangladesh’s July revolution.
Prof Yunus highlighted his Three Zero ideas to Shinawatra, explaining their aim to address poverty, wealth inequality, unemployment, and carbon emissions. There are currently 5,000 Three Zero clubs operating in 58 countries worldwide.
Shinawatra said the Bimstec summit would be held in Bangkok in April, where Prof Yunus hopes to assume chairmanship.
Bimstec, comprising seven countries in the Bay of Bengal region, focuses on agriculture, connectivity, climate change, and trade, among other sectors.
The chief adviser also sought Thailand’s support for Bangladesh’s bid to become a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN and eventually a full member.
