Davos: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz today said his government would do its best to support Bangladesh in its transition to democracy. The German Chancellor made the comments when he met Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Summit in the Swiss city of Davos.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chancellor Scholz assured Prof. Yunus of Germany’s support, emphasizing the importance of the reform agenda of Bangladesh’s Interim Government. Prof. Yunus is leading a consensus commission aimed at facilitating agreement among political parties on major reform reports from six commissions. The ultimate goal is to have political parties sign a July Charter, reflecting the democratic spirit of the student-led uprising earlier this year.
The meeting between the two leaders covered a range of topics, including the circumstances of the July uprising, Bangladesh’s regional relationships, the Rohingya crisis, and Myanmar’s security situation. Prof. Yunus detailed how the youth of Bangladesh, some as young as 12, participated in the uprising to end prolonged misrule.
The Chief Adviser also sought to strengthen economic ties, inviting German businesses to explore opportunities in Bangladesh. He emphasized Bangladesh’s potential as a manufacturing hub and its commitment to reviving the SAARC platform. Additionally, Prof. Yunus discussed the benefits of hydroelectric power from Nepal for South Asia’s transition to renewable energy.
In addressing the Rohingya crisis, Prof. Yunus requested Chancellor Scholz’s support for creating a UN-supervised safe zone in Myanmar’s Rakhine State to ensure the safety and security of Rohingya refugees.