Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia has been cancelled, multiple sources at the Chief Adviser’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed.

Dr Yunus was scheduled to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII 9) summit in Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The summit is set to take place from October 27 to 30.

However, Dr Lutfe Siddiqi, the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, will now lead the Bangladesh delegation to the event instead.

Officials said the decision to cancel the Chief Adviser’s visit was made due to his engagement with the country’s ongoing political situation, the implementation process of the July Charter, and preparations for the upcoming national election.

In July, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Jafar bin Biayah handed over the invitation letter from the Crown Prince and Prime Minister to Dr Yunus during a meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna. Preparations for his Riyadh trip had been underway since then.

An inter-ministerial meeting on the visit had already been held, and the preliminary schedule was finalized. However, the travel plan was revised in light of emerging political priorities.

The FII summit is considered one of Saudi Arabia’s largest global economic forums, drawing top investors, world leaders, and policymakers each year.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the leadership of Dr Lutfe Siddiqi, the Bangladesh delegation will highlight the country’s investment opportunities at the forum.