Chief Adviser Yunus meets EU ambassadors

Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the interim government, has sat for talks with the ambassadors of different countries from the European Union.

The meeting started around noon on Monday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Dhaka’s Tejgaon.

In addition to ambassadors from EU nations stationed in Bangladesh, non-resident ambassadors are also attending the meeting.

So far, representatives from 19 countries have attended the meeting, sources said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam announced the meeting between Yunus and the envoys on Thursday. He noted that it was also the first time such an initiative had been taken.

That day he had noted that representatives 27 member states of the EU as well as European Union Ambassador to Dhaka Michael Miller would be present at the meeting. Among this list, seven would be ambassadors currently appointed to Dhaka, while 20 non-resident ambassadors would join from Delhi.

Rafiqul, head of the Public Diplomacy Wing of the foreign ministry, had said: “This meeting is expected to further strengthen the relationship between Bangladesh and the EU.”

“Discussions at the upcoming joint meeting are expected to include an overall review of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the EU member states and the EU, new and potential areas of cooperation, GSP Plus trade benefits after LDC graduation, addressing the existential crisis caused by climate change, implementing the speedy repatriation of Rohingya, and above all, the commitments and actions of both sides to build a sustainable future.”

The arrival of the ambassadors of 20 EU countries from Delhi to Dhaka was announced by Yunus in his address to the nation on Nov 17.

Highlighting the widespread support received from the international community after the interim government took office, he said that in a few days, the ambassadors of 20 EU countries who are in Delhi will be coming to meet him, which has never happened before in Bangladesh.