Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh, returned home this evening after a two-day official visit to Egypt to attend the 11th D-8 Summit. The summit was held in Cairo, where leaders from D-8 member countries gathered to discuss pressing global and regional issues.

Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar, the Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, confirmed that Dr. Yunus and his delegation landed at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 5 PM on Friday aboard an Emirates Airlines flight. During the summit, which commenced on Thursday, December 19, Dr. Yunus delivered a keynote address focusing on critical themes relevant to the member states.

Before the formal sessions of the summit, Dr. Yunus visited the newly inaugurated Presidential Palace in Cairo, where he was warmly received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The two leaders discussed regional cooperation and the shared challenges faced by developing countries.

At a special session titled "Humanitarian Crisis and Reconstruction Challenges in Gaza and Lebanon," Dr. Yunus elaborated on the importance of international collaboration to address ongoing crises and ensure sustainable rebuilding efforts.

On the sidelines of the D-8 Summit, the Chief Adviser engaged in bilateral discussions with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a private meeting held in a Cairo hotel. The talks reportedly focused on strengthening trade and economic ties between the two nations and exploring avenues for regional cooperation under the D-8 framework.

Dr. Yunus also met Hussein Al Sheikh, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). Their discussions centered on the Palestinian humanitarian crisis and potential collaborative efforts to support the region.

On Thursday evening, Dr. Yunus delivered a lecture at Al-Azhar University, one of the oldest and most prestigious centers of learning in the Islamic world. The lecture was well-received, with Dr. Yunus addressing the role of education and innovation in advancing sustainable development goals in the Muslim world.

The visit also included a meeting with Dr. Zambry Abdul Kadir, Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education, held at the St. Regis Hotel in Cairo on Wednesday. Their discussion revolved around academic collaborations and technological advancements in education to support mutual growth.

Dr. Yunus arrived in Cairo on Wednesday, December 18, at 11 AM local time, after departing Dhaka late Tuesday night. His participation at the summit emphasized Bangladesh’s commitment to fostering cooperation among D-8 nations, addressing regional crises, and promoting sustainable development.

The D-8 Summit brought together leaders and representatives from the eight developing member countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. The discussions and agreements reached during this gathering are expected to strengthen ties and address shared challenges among the member nations.

Sources: BSS.