Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday said that his government was prepared to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful general election in the first half of February in Bangladesh as he had a meeting with United States special envoy Sergio Gor in New York.
鈥楾he election will be held in February. It will be free, fair, and peaceful. The country is fully prepared,鈥� he told the special envoy for South and Central Asia and the US ambassador-designate to India on Monday (NY time).
Sergio Gor commended the chief adviser鈥檚 leadership and reiterated the United States鈥� willingness to support the country's efforts.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including trade, South Asian regional cooperation, the revival of SAARC, the Rohingya crisis, and the proliferation of disinformation targeting Dhaka.
The chief adviser sought continued US support for more than one million Rohingya people currently residing in camps in Cox鈥檚 Bazar. In response, the US official said the life-saving aide for the Rohingyas would continue.
Professor Yunus noted that the interim government has intensified efforts to revive SAARC, which has not held a summit in over a decade.
He also expressed Bangladesh鈥檚 interest in joining ASEAN, stating that integration with Southeast Asian economies could significantly accelerate the country鈥檚 development.
Additionally, he emphasised the importance of strengthening economic ties with landlocked Nepal and Bhutan, as well as with India鈥檚 seven Northeastern states.
鈥榃e can accelerate our economic growth through closer regional cooperation,鈥� he said.
The chief adviser extended an invitation to Sergio Gor to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenience.
