Yunus returns home after visits to Doha, Rome

Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus returned home early Monday, wrapping up his visits to Doha and Rome.

A commercial flight carrying the Chief Adviser and his entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 3:00 am, said Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Earlier, on Sunday, Yunus departed Rome for Dhaka, a day after attending the funeral mass of Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City.

He left Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport around 9:30 am local time (1:30 pm Bangladesh Standard Time).

Wrapping up his four-day Qatar tour on Friday (April 25), the Chief Adviser flew directly to Rome to pay his last respects to his old friend, Pope Francis.

On Saturday, he attended the funeral at St. Peter's Basilica.

Before and after the funeral service, the Chief Adviser exchanged greetings with several world leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, EU President Ursula von der Leyen, former US President Joe Biden, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Kenyan President William Ruto, the President of Montenegro, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Presidents of Ecuador, East Timor, and Iceland, the President of Portugal, the King and Queen of Belgium, the Prime Minister of Belgium, Prince Albert of Monaco, the Prince and Princess of Norway, the Prime Minister of Tunisia, the Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein, the Director-General of the WHO, President of the IOC Thomas Bach, as well as the foreign ministers of Sri Lanka, Bahrain, and Syria, and former US Secretary of State John Kerry.

During his stay in Rome, Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi called on Prof Yunus at his hotel.

Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, also met the Chief Adviser.

Additionally, Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin called on Prof Yunus.

During his four-day visit to Qatar, Prof Yunus spoke at the Earthna Summit in Doha.

He also delivered a lecture on his 'Three Zero' concept at Qatar University and participated in several other engagements.

The Chief Adviser held a bilateral meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

Several other Qatari ministers also called on him on the sidelines of the Earthna Summit.

Prof Yunus left Dhaka for Doha on April 21 to attend the Earthna Summit.