Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus returned to Dhaka early Monday (April 28), concluding his official visits to Qatar and Italy.

A commercial flight carrying Prof Yunus and his entourage touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 3:00 am, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

Prof Yunus departed Rome on Sunday, a day after attending the funeral mass for Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. He boarded a flight from Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport at approximately 9:30 am local time (1:30 pm Bangladesh Standard Time).

Prior to his visit to Italy, Prof Yunus had spent four days in Qatar. On April 25, he traveled directly from Doha to Rome to pay his respects to his longtime friend, Pope Francis.

At St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, the Chief Adviser joined dignitaries from around the world for the funeral service. Before and after the ceremony, he exchanged greetings with prominent global leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former US President Joe Biden, and several others.

During his stay in Rome, Prof Yunus was also called on by Cardinal Silvano Maria Tomasi and Cardinal Prefect George Jacob Koovakad. Additionally, Uruguay's Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin met him at his hotel.

In Qatar, Prof Yunus attended the Earthna Summit in Doha and delivered a lecture on his ‘Three Zero’ vision at Qatar University. He also held a bilateral meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and met several Qatari ministers on the sidelines of the summit.

Prof Yunus had departed Bangladesh for Doha on April 21 to participate in the Earthna Summit.

SMS/