Principal Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus urged Canada to invest in Bangladesh to help rebuild from the ongoing economic crisis.
The Chief Adviser of the Interim Government made this call during a meeting with Lily Nichols, Canada’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh at the Rashtriya Guest House Yamuna on Wednesday (August 28).
Dr. Yunus recalled Bangladesh’s long relationship with Canada, including politics and economic development, and said that his government needs Canada’s support to increase economic growth. Dr. Yunus also mentioned the inclusion of his life story in school textbooks in Canada.
Highlighting the country’s huge debt and troubled economy, he told the Canadian High Commissioner, “We need big investment.” Because our first priority is to fix the economy.
Dr. Yunus said that efforts were being made by the previous government to restore fragile important institutions and bring order and transparency to the government.
In response, High Commissioner Lilly said the Government of Canada stands ready to support him (the Chief Adviser) and his interim government.
He said that Canada is interested in strengthening food security in Bangladesh by supplying fertilizers and essential commodities.
Canada’s high commissioner said Bangladesh must ensure workers’ rights in factories in an effort to continue business from the North American country.
Dr. in response. Yunus said his government would uphold labor rights “at par with ILO (International Labor Organization) standards” to address the concerns of brands buying apparel from Bangladesh and international investors.
At the time, Lily Nichols said Canada is also interested in supporting the UN fact-finding mission to establish justice and accountability for the massacres that took place in July and August.
Dr. in response. Yunus said the student-led revolution has ushered in new hope for the country. He said, “This is a historic opportunity. These opportunities may never come back.
Pointing out that the Election Commission was turned into a factory of electoral rigging during the previous government, he said that important electoral reforms will be carried out before the elections in the country.
The Canadian High Commissioner expressed his “deep concern” over the security situation in the Rohingya camps in southeastern Bangladesh and the growing violence against Rohingyas living in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
He said Canada has contributed more than $600 million in humanitarian aid to the Rohingya and called for creating livelihood opportunities for the Rohingya people.
In response, the Chief Adviser called for the relocation of some Rohingya from the Cox’s Bazar camp to ease the growing pressure on the Rohingya camp. He said that his government will try its best to give hope to the Rohingya youth.
