Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus spoke with former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday in a wide-ranging telephone conversation that addressed Bangladesh’s economic recovery and the urgent need to improve education for Rohingya refugee children. Brown, who now serves as the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, praised Professor Yunus’s leadership in stabilizing the economy and promoting inclusive growth amid ongoing challenges. 

The two leaders voiced serious concern over the educational crisis facing Rohingya children in refugee camps in Bangladesh, where more than half a million remain without access to formal schooling. “We must ensure that Rohingya children grow up with hope and the tools to build a better future,” Professor Yunus said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to expanding learning opportunities and mobilizing global support for the Rohingya community. Gordon Brown echoed this call, warning of the risk of a “lost generation” if educational services are not urgently scaled up. He pledged to work closely with Bangladesh to bolster efforts in the camps and expressed interest in visiting the country in the coming months to assess conditions firsthand and explore new avenues for support. The two also discussed broader issues of mutual concern, including the interim government’s reform initiatives and its role in ensuring a peaceful and democratic transition. The conversation underscored growing international engagement with Bangladesh’s efforts to address both economic and humanitarian challenges, particularly those faced by displaced Rohingya communities.

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