Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, is set to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Summit in Davos, Switzerland. The conference, themed "Shaping the Intelligent Age," will take place from January 21 to 24. Dr. Yunus is scheduled to depart from Dhaka on the night of January 20 for the four-day visit.

According to UNB, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam shared details of the visit during a weekly briefing at the Secretariat. Dr. Yunus will be accompanied by the Special Envoy for International Affairs and the Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs. During the visit, he is expected to participate in multiple sessions, engage with global leaders, and hold discussions with representatives of international organizations and media.

This marks Dr. Yunus’s fourth foreign visit since assuming the role of Chief Advisor and the first of this year. His previous visits included attending the UN General Assembly in New York in August, the COP-29 Summit in Azerbaijan in November, and the D-8 Summit in Egypt in December. Each trip revolved around multilateral engagements, with no bilateral visits undertaken so far.

Media reports indicate that Dr. Yunus may hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Davos Forum with leaders such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Belgium's King Philippe, and Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Additionally, he is expected to meet Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, as well as CEOs, chairpersons, and entrepreneurs from various global companies. Dr. Yunus will also give interviews to leading international media outlets during the trip.

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the significance of the WEF platform, describing it as a business and investment-focused forum. Participants will include key stakeholders from G7 and G20 nations, international organizations, investors, and entrepreneurs. The forum offers Bangladesh an opportunity to promote economic initiatives and attract foreign investments.

Dr. Yunus’s itinerary is still being finalized, with adjustments being made based on the importance of engagements. After attending the summit, he is expected to return to Dhaka on January 24.