Prof. Yunus urges D-8 members to adopt action-oriented initiatives and leverage technology

Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus highlighted the rapid transformation in the "world of work" and urged D-8 member states to take action-oriented initiatives, including leveraging technology and reimagining "learning."  

He encouraged the youth to become agile entrepreneurs by reshaping and developing their skills and knowledge.  

Returning from Cairo, Prof. Yunus underscored the importance of investing in young people and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), aligning with the summit’s theme. He proposed initiatives to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and skill development among the youth in D-8 countries.  

On the sidelines of the D-8 Summit, Prof. Yunus held bilateral meetings with the presidents of Egypt and Iran and the prime minister of Pakistan. He also met Malaysia’s Minister of Higher Education, expressing satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations and optimism for deeper cooperation in the future.  

During his address at the summit in Cairo on December 19, the Chief Adviser called for creating impactful connections between universities of D-8 member states.  

At the summit, Prof. Yunus handed over the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Chairmanship to Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. His tenure as chair was marked by significant achievements, including the ratification of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement and the establishment of the D-8 Youth Council in Dhaka.  

In his remarks, Prof. Yunus congratulated President El-Sisi on assuming the chairmanship and highlighted Bangladesh's efforts to advance D-8 cooperation amidst global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. He assured Bangladesh’s continued support for Egypt’s leadership in advancing the D-8 agenda.  

The summit concluded with the adoption of the Cairo Declaration, encapsulating the collective aspirations and commitments of the D-8 member states to tackle pressing global issues.  

Leaders attending the summit included Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, and Malaysia's Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir.  

Prof. Yunus also delivered remarks during a “Special Session on the Situation in Gaza and Lebanon,” organized by the Egyptian government and the D-8 Secretariat. He urged global leaders to move beyond humanitarian aid and focus on rebuilding Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.  

He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s steadfast support for the Palestinian cause and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Prof. Yunus stressed the need for accountability for war crimes and the realization of a two-state solution, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a sovereign Palestine based on pre-1967 borders.  

He proposed a D-8-led initiative to estimate reconstruction costs for Gaza and Lebanon and to develop international strategies for resource mobilization.  

Following the session, D-8 leaders adopted a Joint Communiqué on the situation in Palestine and Lebanon.  

The special session was attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Ali Asadov, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Brahim Taha, and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul Gheit.