On Saturday, 5 July 2025, the International Social Business Summit 2025 and the 39th Annual Council Meeting of the Union of NGOs of the Islamic World (UNIW) were jointly organized at Hotel Bengal Blueberry, Gulshan-2, Dhaka, under the comprehensive coordination of SAWAB (Social Agency for Welfare and Advancement in Bangladesh), Krishibid Group, and the Bangladesh Institute of Islamic Thought (BIIT).
The summit was attended by 25 international delegates from 11 countries, with joint leadership provided by Mr. Ayub Akbal, Secretary General of UNIW, and Professor Dr. Halis Yunus Esros, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye.
Opening Session and Remarks
The event began with an opening address by Mr. S. M. Rasheduzzaman, Chairman of SAWAB and a High Advisory Board Member of UNIW. He extended a warm welcome to all distinguished guests and expressed deep gratitude to UNIW for choosing Dhaka as the host city—acknowledging Bangladesh’s emerging role as a successful model of social business in the Muslim world.
The Chief Guest, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Honourable Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources, lauded the initiative, stating:
“Hosting such an international summit in Bangladesh is a matter of great pride. By embracing Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus’s visionary Three-Zero concept—Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Carbon—the Muslim world can play a historic role in development, environmental sustainability, and inclusive growth.”
In his presidential remarks, Dr. Ali Afzal, Managing Director of Krishibid Group and UNIW Council Member, remarked:
“This summit is more than an event—it is a movement, a call for transformation. We aim to open new horizons for social business, engage policymakers, and empower NGO leadership through strategic unity. In the post-July Revolution context of Bangladesh, this platform will serve as a force for just, sustainable, and dignified progress in the Muslim world.”
Distinguished Guests and Participants
Special Guest Prof. Dr. Halis Yunus Esros, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye, also delivered an inspiring and forward-looking address, reflecting on global youth engagement and Islamic solidarity.
The summit was also attended by several key dignitaries and representatives, including:
- Mr. Mahfuzur Rahman Chowdhury, Executive Director, Muslim Aid Bangladesh
- Dr. M. Abdul Aziz, Director General, BIIT and Country Representative, IIIT
- Mr. Mohammad Aftabuzzaman, Director, SAWAB
- Mr. Lokman Hossain Talukdar, General Manager, SAWAB
- Senior officials and managers from SAWAB, Bio Pharma PLC, and Muslim Aid Bangladesh
- Members of SAWAB’s Executive Committee
- As well as numerous other national and international guests, academics, and development stakeholders
Their presence significantly enriched the dialogue and strengthened the collaborative atmosphere of the event.
Themes and Key Messages
Throughout the summit sessions, distinguished speakers and panelists highlighted several critical issues:
- The urgency of building strategic unity and solidarity among Muslim nations
- The transformative potential of social business models in addressing poverty, unemployment, and climate crises
- The moral responsibility of NGOs and faith-based organizations to promote justice, equity, and sustainability
- The importance of fostering a new generation of leadership grounded in Islamic values and global cooperation
The summit also served as a vital platform for experience-sharing, network-building, and exploring innovative approaches to development in the Muslim world.
Conclusion
This high-level international gathering reaffirmed Bangladesh’s growing reputation as a center for social innovation and as a bridge between Islamic humanitarian efforts and global development goals. The summit not only celebrated shared progress but also laid the foundation for future partnerships aimed at building a more just, inclusive, and sustainable Muslim world.
