Diplomatic Correspondent

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Friday warned that extreme nationalism, geopolitics that thrive on the suffering of others, and indifference to human pain are destroying the progress humanity has built through decades of struggle.

"Nowhere is this tragedy more visible than in Gaza. Children are dying of hunger. Civilians are being killed without distinction. Entire neighbourhoods, including hospitals and schools, are being wiped from the map," he said.

Delivering his speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, Prof Yunus, on behalf of the people of Bangladesh and of conscientious citizens across the world, once again made a strong appeal: the two-state solution must be implemented now, through the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Only on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, he said, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace, can justice be done.

"Madam President. We do agree with the UN independent international inquiry commission that we are witnessing a genocide happening live. Unfortunately, on behalf of humanity we are not doing enough to stop it. If this continues, neither future generations nor history will forgive us," Prof Yunus said.

In Bangladesh, he said, they believe that they must build a culture of peace, one that rests on the values of tolerance, nonviolence, dialogue and cooperation at every level of society.

This year, conflicts have scarred almost every corner of the globe: in Europe, in South Asia, and in the Middle East.

"We live in the most densely populated region of the world. Nowhere else do so many nuclear-armed states exist in such close proximity. That is why we in Bangladesh deeply understand the urgency of disarmament and the prevention of nuclear proliferation," Prof Yunus said.

He called for the revival of global arms control treaties that have grown weaker with time.

"We renew our call for the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, particularly in the Middle East and South Asia. At the same time, we affirm the right of every nation to use nuclear energy peacefully, with full transparency," he said.

As a responsible nation, even before commissioning our first nuclear power plant, Bangladesh this year acceded to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management under the IAEA.

"By doing so, we reaffirm our commitment to the highest standards of nuclear safety and transparency," Prof Yunus said.

For more than three and a half decades, Bangladesh has stood among the leading contributors of United Nations peacekeepers, Prof Yunus said.

"This is living proof of our enduring commitment to global peace and security. Even today, nearly 6,000 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are serving in some of the world’s most volatile regions under the UN flag, and 168 of our peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," he said.

Research has consistently shown that UN peacekeeping missions are more sustainable and effective than unilateral interventions.

"We, therefore, call for clear and achievable mandates and adequate funding for peacekeeping operations. We must also give the highest priority to the safety of peacekeepers and ensure accountability for crimes committed against them," Prof Yunus said.

He said Bangladesh also actively promotes multilingualism, both at home and internationally, because they believe that linguistic and cultural diversity deepens mutual understanding.

"In the twenty-first century there is no place for hatred, intolerance, racism, xenophobia, or Islamophobia in any society," he said.

BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Syeed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mohammad Nakibur Rahman, first senior joint member secretary of National Citizen Party Dr Tasnim Jara and NCP leader Akhter Hossen accompanied the Chief Adviser as part of the Bangladesh delegation to the UNGA.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Energy Adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam were also present.