The President of Timor-Leste H.E. José Ramos-Horta delivered a public lecture on the ‘Challenges of Peace in the Contemporary World’ organized by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) this morning. President of Timor-Leste delivered key note speaker while the Foreign Adviser H.E. Ambassador Md Touhid Hossain attended the lecture as the Guest of Honour.
President of Timor-Leste shared his incomparable insights on the Challenges of Peace in the contemporary world including Rohingya crisis and its impact in the region and urged world leaders to contribute from their position for a sustainable peace and tranquility in the world for the sake of humanity.
Timorese President highlighted the contribution of microcredit in poverty alleviation in Bangladesh and Timor-Leste alongside the other countries of World. He shared his experience in introducing microcredit in Timor-Leste under mentorship of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. He briefed the history of independence of Timor-Leste from the colonial and occupying powers, formation of government, Economic trajectory, Foreign Policy and genesis of the country’s ASEAN forthcoming membership.
While acknowledging diplomatic wisdom of the President of Timor-Leste, the Bangladesh Foreign Adviser sought his good office to pursue Myanmar for resolving this protracted Rohingya crisis, in his concluding remarks.
To ensure justice to the Forcibly Displaced Rohingya people, repatriation to their homeland is the only solution, the Foreign Adviser added.
Foreign Advisor said that ‘absence of peace anywhere in the world implies absence of peace everywhere’.
Later in the afternoon, the President attended a Town Hall meeting with students and Youth Leaders. Students from different educational institutions and around 10 Timorese students from the Asian University of Women participated the Town Hall meeting at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
The President shared his personal journey towards freedom and equality, and insights from his experiences of overcoming adversities. Timorese President mentioned that youths need to have leadership to face the current challenges and crisis domestically and internationally both. He urged the youths to engage themselves in poverty alleviation, sustainable development for climate vulnerability, and engage in the movement for social justice to create a conducive world for the people and the generations to come.
Among others, the Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Bangladesh Ms. Syeda Rizwana Hasan and Special Assistant (Adviser) to the Chief Adviser Mr. Md Mahfuj Alam attended the meeting.
President of Timor-Leste H.E. José Ramos-Horta is scheduled to depart Dhaka this evening and the Chief Advisor is expected to see of the esteemed guest. Timorese President is visiting Dhaka on an official trip since 14 December 2024 at the invitation of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.