Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government Dr Muhammad Yunus and American President Joe Biden will hold a bilateral meeting today on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
This meeting is an example of growing relations between the two countries as no US president has held a bilateral meeting with any Bangladesh head of government in the past several decades.
A senior official of the foreign affairs ministry said, “The meeting is going to take place between the two only.”
“This meeting will be a significant one as no US President has held a bilateral meeting with any head of the Bangladesh government in past several decades,” said the official.
Dr Yunus left Dhaka for New York on Monday to attend the 79th session of the UNGA.
This is his first foreign trip as the Chief Adviser, who took oath as head of the interim government on August 8 after the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led government amid a mass upsurge.
Soon after his assumption of office, a high-powered US delegation visited Bangladesh and held meetings with Dr Yunus.
During the meeting, Dr Yunus sought support from the United States to rebuild the country, carry out vital reforms and bring back stolen assets.
In an immediate reaction, the US embassy in Dhaka in a statement said that as Bangladesh looks to chart a more equitable and inclusive future, the US stands ready to support those efforts.
This year's UNGA is particularly significant for Bangladesh as it marks the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s membership in the United Nations.
Earlier, a Qatar Airways flight, carrying Dr Yunus and his entourage, left the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka in the early morning.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan are accompanying the Chief Adviser.
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith and CDA of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Washington, DC Salahuddin Mahmud will receive the Chief Adviser at JFK International Airport on his arrival.
Dr Yunus will stay in New York for three days and leave for Bangladesh on September 27 after delivering his speech. The Chief Adviser leads a 57-member delegation at the UNGA.
Dr Yunus will present at the 79th UNGA the interim government’s vision of building a democratic Bangladesh where human rights will be upheld.
He will also address the General Debate of the UNGA on September 27 the theme of which will be ‘Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.’
On the sideline, he is also likely to hold bilateral meetings with the Italian President, Kuwait Crown Prince, and Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Pakistan and Nepal.
Dr Yunus will also attend a high-level side event on the Rohingya crisis. Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi is scheduled to call on the Chief Adviser. He will have a bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines.
