Bangladesh's Yunus aims to bridge South Asia and ASEAN

Interim leader calls for 'new kind of economy' at Nikkei conference

Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, delivers a keynote speech during Nikkei's Future of Asia conference in Tokyo on May 29. (Photo by Tomoki Mera)

YURIKA YONEDA and WANG LEJUN

May 29, 2025 07:55 JST

Updated on May 29, 2025 12:16 JST

TOKYO -- Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Thursday expressed an ambition for his country to play a bridging role between regional groupings, enhancing international cooperation in turbulent times.

Months after he took the reins in Bangladesh following the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government in the face of intense public protests in August 2024, Yunus delivered a keynote address to Nikkei's annual Future of Asia conference in Tokyo.