Next election will be ‘best ever and historic’: Yunus

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today said the government is planning to make the upcoming general election of Bangladesh "the best ever and historic." 

"We want to make it an example, a historical example," Yunus said during a meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Hakon Arald Gulbrandsen, report The Daily Star. 

Yunus also encouraged Norway to use Bangladesh as a regional distribution hub for their products and to invest more in the country.

"Use Bangladesh as a base for distributing Norwegian products in Asia so that you don‍‍`t need to bring your people from Norway and can use our young people," he said. 

Highlighting the success of Grameenphone, the first overseas venture of Norwegian telecom giant Telenor, Yunus emphasised its transformation into the most profitable entity within the Telenor group. 

Ambassador Gulbrandsen presented a letter from Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, which expressed strong support for Bangladesh‍‍`s Interim Government.

"The prime minister has strong support for your efforts to initiate much-needed reforms and conduct free and fair democratic elections," the ambassador said. 

The Norwegian ambassador also conveyed his country‍‍`s appreciation for Bangladesh‍‍`s commitment to protecting human rights and promoting environmental sustainability.

He added that Norway is keen to collaborate with Bangladesh in the ship recycling industry and in advancing the green energy transition.

The chief adviser sought Norway‍‍`s assistance in resolving the Rohingya crisis amid the changing political situation in Myanmar.

"Norway played a big role in peacekeeping. So, we need your help in resolving the Rohingya crisis," Yunus said. 

Ambassador Gulbrandsen expressed Norway‍‍`s eagerness to work closely with Bangladesh in international forums on issues including the Palestinian conflict, international tax regulations, and plastic pollution.

Marrianne Rabe Knaevelsrud, Norway‍‍`s deputy head of mission in Dhaka, expressed gratitude for Bangladesh‍‍`s support of the Norwegian-led UN resolution on humanitarian access in Palestine.