Can talks abroad remove political deadlock at home?

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus left Dhaka early today (22 September) for New York to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accompanied by five leaders from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP).

The decision to include leaders from parties that remain divided over the July National Charter for reforms has drawn attention in political circles.

Politicians will run the country in the future…We are moving towards a transitional phase

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Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain

The political leaders accompanying the CA are BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP's acting chairman's foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, NCP Member-Secretary Akhter Hossen and NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary Tasnim Jara. Jamaat leader Mohammad Nakibur Rahman is expected to join the team in the United States.

The BNP, Jamaat and NCP have yet to reach a consensus on the charter and other issues in the ongoing National Consensus Commission talks.

CA Yunus off to New York to join UNGA along with 5 leaders from BNP, Jamaat, NCP

According to the Chief Adviser's press wing, the move carries symbolic weight ahead of the upcoming national election.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain said last week that politicians had been included because "politicians will run the country in the future…We are moving towards a transitional phase. Therefore, the involvement of politicians is crucial."

UNGA: More political leaders to join as Prof Yunus leaves for NY Monday

On 17 September, the Consensus Commission suspended discussions until October after parties failed to agree on the implementation of the charter.

NCP's Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Jara exchanges greetings with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus while on their way to New York, US, to attend the UNGA on 22 September 2025. Photo: CA's Press Wing

Jamaat accepted proposals from legal experts, the BNP withheld its position, while the NCP said it needed more time.

Commission Vice Chairman Professor Ali Riaz said the pause was meant to allow parties space to build mutual understanding.

CA Yunus to kick off packed 80th UNGA schedule on 22 September

In this context, the presence of opposition political leaders in the UNGA delegation is being seen as a gesture of political inclusion.

During his visit, the chief adviser is expected to hold bilateral meetings with heads of government from various countries, with the possibility of the accompanying politicians joining these meetings.

He is also scheduled to meet members of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the United States.