Dhaka: Andr© Carstens, the outgoing Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, today paid a farewell call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna here. During their meeting, Carstens commended Professor Yunus for his leadership over the past year, particularly in steering Bangladesh through a transitional period following the ousting of the previous regime.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Carstens highlighted Professor Yunus’s efforts in fostering democratic reforms and national unity, emphasizing that “people will remember” the Chief Adviser’s significant contributions. The Dutch envoy praised the recently unveiled “July Declaration,” describing it as a pivotal step in bridging the nation’s historical context with the aspirations of the July mass uprising. He also lauded the Chief Adviser’s announcement of the election timeline, calling it “perfect” as it sets the country on a path toward general elections.
The two leaders discussed the ongoing Rohingya crisis and the forthcoming international conference on the issue, scheduled to be held in September. The conference aims to address the humanitarian and political challenges faced by the Rohingya refugees. In a gesture of solidarity, Carstens presented Professor Yunus with lyrics he wrote celebrating the spirit of the July Revolution led by Bangladesh’s Gen-Z. The lyrics, set to music originally written by George Harrison for the song “Bangladesh,” were recorded and accompanied by a video shared during the meeting.
Special Envoy to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiq and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Murshed were also present during the meeting.