'CA’s meetings with 4 world leaders boosted Bangladesh’s bilateral ties'

Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus held high-level meetings with the leaders of Italy, Pakistan, Finland, and Kosovo on Wednesday, elevating Bangladesh’s bilateral relations, according to his Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the Chief Adviser met Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the UN Headquarters. Earlier, he held a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, followed by discussions with Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani.

“These meetings were very significant,” Shafiqul Alam said. “They have taken our relations with these countries to a new height.” Discussions also included Bangladesh’s upcoming elections.

During the meeting with Italy’s Prime Minister, Professor Yunus called for stronger trade ties, leading to a proposal for the formation of an Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum. Both Finland and Italy reiterated support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition, and Meloni expressed her intention to visit Bangladesh in December.

The Rohingya issue featured in all four meetings. Italy pledged to send a high-level delegation to the UN’s Rohingya conference on September 30, and participants discussed ways to increase funding for relief efforts.

Shafiqul Alam added that the Chief Adviser expressed condolences to Pakistan’s Prime Minister over recent flood fatalities and discussed enhancing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Additionally, Professor Yunus addressed the U.S.-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable, titled “Advancing Reform, Resilience and Growth,” urging top U.S. companies, including MetLife, Chevron, and Excelerate Energy, to invest more in Bangladesh. Six Bangladeshi political leaders accompanying him were introduced to leading U.S. business figures.