UN chief reaffirms support for Bangladesh's ongoing transition, reforms

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed his "total solidarity" with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and the interim government of Bangladesh, saying the UN stands ready to support reforms in the country.

During a meeting with the chief adviser at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, the secretary-general reaffirmed the UN's commitment to supporting Bangladesh in its ongoing transition and reform processes.

They also discussed the Rohingya refugee crisis and the global challenge of climate change.

"The country team of the UN will like to support you," Guterres said, adding that the newly adopted UN Pact of the Future was very relevant to Bangladesh and its concessional funding applies to the country.

The UN chief praised the Bangladesh peacekeepers, saying, "They are very important to us."

The chief adviser highlighted the July-August student-led mass uprising, which ended Sheikh Hasina's brutal dictatorship.

"I am here because young people gave their lives for a new Bangladesh," he said.

They also discussed climate change and its impact on the 170 million people of Bangladesh and the UN-led fact-finding mission, which is investigating atrocities committed during the July-August mass uprising.

During the meeting, Guterres expressed his gratitude for the strong partnership between the UN and Bangladesh, particularly acknowledging Bangladesh's significant contributions to UN peacekeeping efforts.