US President offers his country’s full support to Prof Yunus-led Interim Government of Bangladesh
UNB
Publish: 25 Sep 2024, 01:58 PM
New
York (USA), Sept 24 (UNB) - US President Joe Biden has offered his country's
full support to Prof Muhammad Yunus-led Interim Government of Bangladesh during
his bilateral meeting with the Bangladesh Chief Adviser on the sidelines of the
UN General Assembly in New York.
Chief Adviser Prof Yunus
held the meeting with the US President on Tuesday morning (NY Time) which is
seen as a "rare occasion" and will help take the existing good
relations to a new level between the two countries.
The meeting with the US
President reflects growing relations between the two countries, Bangladesh
said.
"This is an
important day. It is very rare (to see such a meeting) at the UNGA," Chief
Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said.
Alam said Bangladesh in
any case maintains very good relations with the US and with this meeting the
relationship will reach a new level.
"It's a good news
that the US stands beside Bangladesh in this period of transition," he
added.
Bangladesh and the US
are working on a number of issues closely including labour sector reforms and
the Rohingya crisis.
It is very significant
as no US president has held a bilateral meeting with any Bangladesh head of
government in the past decades in New York, a senior official told UNB.
Although that gives them
little time to discuss anything in depth, there is tremendous messaging and
symbolism associated with it.
By having this meeting
at all, Washington is signaling not just bilaterally or regionally, but to the
world at large that it is standing by Bangladesh during the period of upheaval
it is going through.
It is not usual for a US
President to hold bilateral meetings during the UNGA and Dhaka hopes to see a
new strategic partnership emerge out of this meeting that will strengthen the
ties with the US on all fronts.
Biden is visiting New
York City to participate in the 79th session of the UNGA.
In addition to
addressing the General Assembly on September 24, President Biden will meet with
world leaders to discuss cooperation in tackling threats to international peace
and security, advancing global prosperity, and protecting human rights, said
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on President Biden's trip to New York City.
The US has already
affirmed their dedication to fostering inclusive economic growth, institution
building, and development to benefit the people of Bangladesh.
As Bangladesh looks to
chart a more equitable and inclusive future, the US said it stands ready to
support those efforts.
This is Prof Yunus's first
visit to the United States as a head of government, where he will attend the
79th UNGA. Coincidentally, it is also his first visit abroad since the
formation of the interim government on August 8.
END/UNB/MK/FH/ssk