Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today declared that his government is prepared to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful general election in Bangladesh in the first half of February. This announcement was made during a meeting with United States (US) Special Envoy Sergio Gor.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Sergio Gor praised the Chief Adviser’s leadership and reiterated the United States’ willingness to support Bangladesh’s efforts towards a democratic election process. The meeting covered a range of bilateral and regional topics, such as trade, South Asian regional cooperation, the revival of SAARC, the Rohingya crisis, and the spread of disinformation targeting Dhaka.
The Chief Adviser appealed for continued US support for over one million Rohingya refugees currently residing in Cox’s Bazar camps. In response, the US official assured that life-saving aid for the Rohingyas would persist. Prof Yunus highlighted the interim government’s intensified efforts to rejuvenate SAARC, which has n
ot convened a summit in over a decade.
Additionally, Prof Yunus expressed Bangladesh’s interest in joining ASEAN, emphasizing that integration with Southeast Asian economies could significantly boost the country’s development. He also stressed the importance of enhancing economic ties with landlocked Nepal and Bhutan, as well as India’s seven Northeastern states.
“We can accelerate our economic growth through closer regional cooperation,” he stated. The Chief Adviser also extended an invitation to Sergio Gor to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenience.