3-day Bangladesh Model United Nations kicks off, urging justice in energy transition

Modern diplomacy must go beyond technical solutions and embrace justice, transparency and shared responsibility, speakers emphasised at the Bangladesh Model United Nations (BANMUN) 2025 that began in the city today (26 December) under the theme 'Just Energy Transition'.

The 11th edition of the event is taking place at the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) campus.

Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, who attended the conference as the chief guest, said BANMUN provides young people with a platform to understand the complexities of real-world diplomacy. "A just energy transition is not only about shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy; it also involves human lives, equality, and shared responsibility," he said. He added that solutions must be context-specific and that diplomacy is primarily a process of dialogue rather than competition.

Syed Muntasir Mamun, director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and special guest, described the United Nations as an institution rooted in sacrifice. He warned that global institutions risk losing relevance if they fail to reflect the realities of a generation that now forms the majority of the world's population. Linking artificial intelligence, energy transition, and global governance, he urged young delegates to evaluate policy through the lenses of justice and national interest.

The ceremony began with a welcome address by Professor Sayed Md Saikh Imtiaz of the University of Dhaka's Women and Gender Studies Department. He recalled the early struggles of the United Nations Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB) to introduce Model United Nations culture in the country, noting the crucial mentorship provided by Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials.

Another special guest, Dr Taufique Joarder, associate professor at the National University of Singapore and former UNYSAB president, traced BANMUN's origins to the early 2000s, recalling the importance of mentorship and careful reading in an era of limited information. He cautioned against reducing MUN activities to spectacle, advocating for their integration into formal education.

The conference brought together senior government officials, academics, policymakers and nearly 200 student delegates to reflect on power, equity and responsibility amid overlapping global crises. BANMUN 2025 is being organised jointly by UNYSAB and Times of Bangladesh.