Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is set to embark on a four-day official visit to Doha, Qatar, on Monday to attend the Earthna Summit 2025 and engage in high-level discussions with Qatari leadership on areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment.
The visit comes at the invitation of Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, confirmed an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During his stay, Prof Yunus is expected to hold meetings with both the Amir and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. He will also participate in several high-level sessions at the Earthna Summit, which focuses on sustainable development in hot and arid regions.
He will be accompanied by Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan.
Historic Inclusion of National Women Athletes
In a groundbreaking move, four Bangladeshi women athletes will join the Chief Adviser’s delegation—marking the first time female athletes are officially included in a state visit delegation led by a Bangladeshi head of government.
The delegation includes footballers Afida Khandakar and Shaheda Akhter Ripa, and cricketers Sumaiya Akhter and Sharmin Sultana. The invitation was extended by the Qatar Foundation through the Chief Adviser’s office.
On Thursday evening, the athletes met Prof Yunus at the State Guesthouse Jamuna, where they discussed their objectives for the visit and shared their enthusiasm.
"We are honoured and excited to represent not just our teams but the spirit of Bangladesh's sports community," said the footballers. They also expressed hopes of initiating friendly matches with Qatar’s women’s football team and learning from the country’s advanced sports infrastructure.
The cricketers voiced their aim to introduce Bangladeshi cricket to Qatar and spark local interest in the sport. “We’ve prepared a presentation to showcase the journey of both our men’s and women’s cricket teams,” they said.
The athletes also shared personal stories of perseverance and thanked the Chief Adviser for including them in this landmark visit. Dr Yunus praised their resilience, calling them “sports ambassadors of Bangladesh,” and urged them to share their stories with the world. He assured them of his full support throughout the trip.
Earthna Summit 2025
The Earthna Summit, under the theme “Building our Legacy: Sustainability, Innovation and Traditional Knowledge,” will take place on April 22–23. The event reflects Qatar’s commitment to sustainability and will serve as a platform for combining traditional wisdom with modern innovation to address environmental challenges in arid regions.
The summit will feature panel discussions, workshops, and networking events, while the Earthna Village at Barahat Msheireb will host interactive talks and exhibitions led by global and local experts.
Prof Yunus, who has long championed the vision of a “world of three zeros”—zero net carbon emissions, zero poverty through equitable wealth distribution, and zero unemployment through entrepreneurship—is expected to use the platform to further promote these ideals on the global stage.
