‘Empowering Global Bangladeshi’ Event in New York, Diaspora Urged to Contribute to Nation-Building
At a major diaspora engagement event in New York, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, called on overseas Bangladeshis (NRBs) to actively support the country’s reconstruction and development. He emphasized that the diaspora is an “inseparable part” of Bangladesh and can play a crucial role in realizing the changes envisioned after July’s uprising.
“Watching from the sidelines is over. The days of sitting in the gallery are gone. Now, we must play ourselves,” Yunus said during the “NRB Connect Day: Empowering Global Bangladeshi” event on Saturday. Several Bangladeshi political leaders accompanying him were also present, and he expressed gratitude for their participation in the UN visit.
The event featured a presentation by Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, highlighting Bangladesh’s economic progress over the past 15 months since the July uprising. He thanked NRBs for contributing to over 21% growth in remittances and discussed government initiatives to create an investment-friendly environment. Ashik Chowdhury also outlined the voting process for the upcoming general election in February 2026.
An interactive panel, “Bridging Borders: Current Affairs and Diaspora Engagement,” was moderated by Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfe Siddiqui, with panelists including Diaspora and Foreign Employment Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul.
Prominent political leaders also addressed the diaspora: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (BNP Secretary General), Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher (Jamaat-e-Islami Naib Amir), and Akhtar Hossain (NCP Member Secretary) shared their post-uprising visions for Bangladesh.
Another panel, “Shaping Tomorrow: The Future of Bangladesh,” was moderated by National Security Adviser Khalilur Rahman and included NCP leader Tasnim Zara, BNP leader Humayun Kabir, and Jamaat leader Nakibur Rahman.
The Chief Adviser also launched “Shubhechha,” a mobile app designed to provide NRBs with essential services, guidance, and investment opportunities.
