Dhaka: Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has stated that the February 12 general elections will establish a benchmark for all future polls in Bangladesh, emphasizing that the government is fully prepared to conduct ‘free, fair, and transparent’ elections.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Prof Yunus mentioned that the European Union plans to deploy a large number of election observers and expressed hope that other development partners would also send observers to monitor the polls. During a meeting with the newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen, at the State Guest House Jamuna, Prof Yunus described the upcoming election as a ‘festive’ event that could set the standard for future elections.
The discussions between Prof Yunus and Ambassador Christensen covered various topics, including the upcoming general elections, new labor laws approved by the Interim Government, the planned Bangladesh-US tariff agreement, and the Rohingya crisis. Prof Yunus also highlighted foreign policy initiatives, such as Bangladesh’s bid for ASEAN membership and efforts to revive SAARC as a platform for regional cooperation.
Ambassador Christensen, who recently arrived in Bangladesh, expressed eagerness to work with the winners of the February elections. He praised the Interim Government’s reform efforts and commended Prof Yunus’s leadership over the past 18 months. The US envoy also appreciated the newly implemented labor laws.
Prof Yunus thanked President Donald Trump for reducing tariffs on Bangladeshi exports to the US and expressed hope for further tariff reductions through ongoing trade talks. Ambassador Christensen welcomed the progress in trade negotiations and emphasized the importance of expanded agricultural trade in Dhaka-Washington discussions.
Prof Yunus acknowledged the United States for its continued humanitarian support to the over one million Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s strategic role as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia, seeking ASEAN membership and a Sectoral Dialogue Partnership with the regional bloc.
Efforts to revive the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) were also discussed, with Prof Yunus expressing hope that the next government would continue these initiatives. The meeting also addressed recent US visa restrictions imposed on 75 countries, including Bangladesh.
The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman and SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed.