US President Joe Biden has offered his country’s full support to Bangladesh and Muhammad Yunus-led interim government during his bilateral meeting with the chief adviser on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Chief Adviser Prof Yunus’ meeting with the US president yesterday is seen as a “rare occasion” and this is the first time in the history of Bangladesh that a US president met the head of Bangladesh government on the sidelines of UNGA, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office.
During the meeting Prof Yunus apprised Biden about how the students rose against the tyranny of the previous government and gave their lives to create this opportunity to rebuild Bangladesh.
He stressed that his government must succeed in rebuilding the country and would need US cooperation.
President Biden said if the students could do so much sacrifice for their country, they too should do more.
Prof Yunus handed a copy of The Art of Triumph, a book on wall paintings drawn by the students and young students during the revolution, to President Biden during the meeting.
Yunus is on his first visit to the US as head of the Bangladesh government to attend the 79th UNGA. The general debate of UNGA began yesterday, and will continue through 28 September, and conclude on 30 September.
The theme for the general debate is “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.”
Regarding the meeting with Biden, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, “This is an important day. It is very rare [to see such a meeting] at the UNGA.”
Shafiqul said Bangladesh in any case maintains very good relations with the US and with this meeting the relationship will reach a new level, reports UNB.
“It’s good news that the US stands beside Bangladesh in this period of transition,” he added.
The meeting is very significant as no US president has held a bilateral meeting with any Bangladesh head of government in the past decades in New York, reports UNB.
By having this meeting, Washington is signalling not just bilaterally or regionally, but to the world at large that it is standing by Bangladesh during the period of upheaval it is going through.
It is not usual for a US President to hold bilateral meetings during the UNGA and Dhaka hopes to see a new strategic partnership emerge from this meeting that will strengthen the ties with the US on all fronts.
World leaders greet Yunus
Earlier in the day, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus was greeted by several world leaders after he joined at a welcome reception hosted by United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, reports BSS.
The reception ceremony began at 8am (New York time) at North Delegate Lounge of the UN headquarters in New York to welcome the global leaders joining the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Prof Yunus exchanged pleasantries with Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Mauritius Prithvirajsingh Roopun and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, among others.
Yunus meets Trudeau
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the UN general assembly meeting, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus met Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
During the brief meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to cement Bangladesh-Canada relationships, deepen freedom, build institutions, and support the youth of Bangladesh.
Trudeau appreciated Prof Yunus for assuming the responsibility and expressed Canada’s readiness to support institution building in Bangladesh.
The chief adviser described how the previous regime destroyed institutions of the country. He appreciated Canada for its friendship with Bangladesh and the Canadian government’s support for the interim government.
Prof Yunus requested Canada grant more visas to Bangladeshi students.
The chief adviser also handed over The Art of Triumph art book to the Canadian prime minister, according to the CA’s press wing.
The chief adviser will also meet the IMF managing director and the Italian prime minister and will also speak at the Clinton Global Initiative and at Friends of Bangladesh.
