Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the interim government, stated that Bangladesh is particularly interested in the remarkable development of artificial intelligence and its multidimensional applications. He also affirmed the country’s commitment to cyber security. The Nobel laureate emphasized the importance of effectively utilizing innovation technology for compensation funds.
In a speech delivered in Bangla during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday morning (September 27) local time, and at 9:30 PM Bangladesh time, he highlighted these points among other topics.
In his speech at the UN headquarters in the General Assembly Hall, Dr. Yunus stated, “We are committed to preserving the independence of the judiciary and reinforcing media freedom, including in the cyber domain.”
Emphasizing the need to enhance accessibility and capability in technology, he remarked, “We need life-saving technologies. Particularly, small innovations and solutions in the agriculture, water, and sanitation sectors can protect vulnerable populations.”
He further stated, “Bangladesh is especially interested in the unprecedented development of artificial intelligence and its multidimensional applications. Our youth are excited about the potential of generative artificial intelligence. As global citizens, they also wish to engage in the new world and build themselves as productive individuals. The global community must ensure that countries with large youth populations like Bangladesh do not fall behind in the benefits derived from the application of artificial intelligence. It is also essential to ensure that the demand for human labor in the workplace does not diminish due to artificial intelligence.”
Regarding this, the Chief Advisor pointed out, “We want to draw the attention of scientists to autonomous intelligence, which can expand its own artificial intelligence without human intervention. They should ensure the impact on humanity before advancing in this area. Our concern is that autonomous intelligence could jeopardize human existence, so we must remain fully vigilant about it.”
Highlighting the need for young people to acquire new skills in a changing workforce, Dr. Yunus said, “To adapt to the working environment, one must continuously acquire and learn new skills. As Bangladesh transitions to a middle-income country, we are placing special emphasis on education and technological assistance.”
He stressed the importance of a new cooperation framework, stating, “We must leverage everyone’s capabilities and innovative strength. We face ongoing challenges regarding socioeconomic development and climate resilience, which must be addressed through collective initiatives. I believe that South-South and triangular cooperation can be particularly beneficial in this regard.”
In his address, Dr. Yunus also touched on the work of the advisory council over the past seven weeks. He referenced that nearly a decade ago, the global community unanimously formulated the ‘Agenda 2030’. He remarked, “We have all committed our collective aspirations and beliefs to achieve these universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, only about 15 percent of the targets have been achieved. Clearly, many developing countries are lagging further behind.”
At the beginning of his 33-minute speech, the Chief Advisor noted that approximately 2.5 million young people enter Bangladesh’s labor market each year. About two-thirds of Bangladesh’s vast workforce is young. Building this workforce for the present and future poses a challenge for Bangladesh. In a constantly changing workforce, young people must continuously acquire new skills and learn to adapt to their work environment. Thus, as Bangladesh evolves into a middle-income country, we are focusing significantly on education and technological assistance.
He emphasized, “What we truly need is a new type of cooperation framework, where global businesses and knowledge-holding groups properly understand human needs. An innovative system must be created through international cooperation that ensures suitable solutions for employment, socioeconomic challenges, or livelihoods for developing countries. We must harness everyone’s capabilities, innovative strength, and prosperity through the integration of our efforts, capabilities, and resources. We must tackle the ongoing challenges we face regarding socioeconomic development and climate resilience through collective initiatives. In the unique economic and social contexts of global South countries, I believe South-South and triangular cooperation can be especially supportive.”
