German chancellor tells Yunus
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz yesterday pledged Berlin's full support for Bangladesh's democratic transition.
He made the remark in a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss city of Davos.
"You can rest assured that we will support you," Scholz said.
Prof Yunus, who arrived in Davos in the evening, briefed Scholz on the interim government's reform agenda and discussed issues of mutual interest.
He also urged the chancellor to encourage German businesses to invest in Bangladesh, inviting a delegation to explore opportunities in Dhaka, stating, "We can be your factory."
Yunus sought Germany's backing for the establishment of a United Nations-supervised safe zone for Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine State, said CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
The two leaders also discussed a wide range of topics, including the circumstances surrounding the July uprising, regional cooperation, and the potential of Nepalese hydroelectric power to support South Asia's renewable energy transition.
Yunus also reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to SAARC and its efforts to revive the regional platform.
On the government's reform initiatives, Yunus explained that a commission under his leadership is working to build consensus among political parties on key recommendations proposed by six reform commissions.
Once consensus is reached, the political parties will sign a 'July Charter,' inspired by the democratic spirit of the student-led July uprising, which ended years of misrule in Bangladesh.
Later, Yunus met Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta to discuss mutual interests.
Meanwhile, Munich Security Conference Chairman Ambassador Christoph Heusgen yesterday invited Yunus to join the key annual security conclave to be held in the German city of Munich in February this year.
Heusgen extended the invitation to Yunus when he met the chief adviser on the sidelines of the WEF in the Swiss city.
Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy of the chief adviser and Lamiya Morshed, SDGs affairs principal coordinator, also joined the meeting.
The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) will take place from February 14 to 16, 2025, at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich..
Earlier, Yunus arrived at Zurich International Airport around 12:30pm and was received by Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam.
