French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie Masdupuy, Canadian High Commissioner Lilly Nicholls and Malaysian High Commissioner Haznah Md Hashim on Wednesday met with interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.
In their separate meetings, the envoys discussed issues of bilateral interest with the Chief Adviser.
Sustainable Development Goals affairs principal coordinator Lamiya Morshed, among others, was present at the meetings held at state guesthouse Jamuna.
The French Ambassador on Wednesday said interim government's agenda to fight corruption would be a 鈥榢ey enabler鈥� to further enhance trade and investments in Bangladesh as many were facing hurdles with customs and investment authority.
She said French firms were interested in setting up three solar parks in Bangladesh and installing 鈥榣ightning arresters鈥� in 15 lightning-prone districts in the country
France is ready to support Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and the Interim Government in their efforts to rebuild the country, the ambassador of France said.
The envoy said French President Emmanuel Macron has invited him to visit France at a convenient time.
She also expressed her condolences at the death of students and people who were killed in the July-August revolution.聽
Professor Yunus said the student-led revolution has given the Interim Government an opportunity to rebuild the country like never before.
鈥業t is a big task. But we see it as a big opportunity. If we don't use the opportunity, it will be a big failure,鈥� the Chief Adviser said.
He said the Interim Government to stay 鈥榓s short as the people want or as long as they want鈥�.
Professor Yunus said he has called for reconciliation in the country, urging the people to see themselves as part of 鈥榓 big family鈥�.
鈥楽ometimes we disagree very strongly. But that does not mean we are enemies,鈥� he said.
He said his government is committed to protecting the rights of every citizen.
鈥楲et's establish human rights. Our job is to make the constitution work for us,鈥� he said.
Ambassador Masdupuy said France was already working with Bangladesh's civil defence forces and was interested in extending expertise to fight corruption, human trafficking, forensic cyber crime, port and airport security and financial crime.
The French envoy said the Alliance Francaise Dhaka would celebrate its 65th anniversary next October and she invited Professor Yunus at the ceremony.
She said France was also preparing a two-week long Bangladesh cultural season in Paris in April 2025.
The chief adviser sought Malaysia鈥檚 support for Bangladesh to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
He said Bangladesh has a very good relationship with Malaysia and recalled his friendship with Malaysian leaders, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.
鈥楲et鈥檚 give our best to enhance relationship,鈥� the Chief Adviser told the Malaysian High Commissioner.
He sought Malaysian support when Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Haznah Md. Hashim, paid a courtesy call on him.
Bangladesh can be a bridge between ASEAN and SAARC, Chief Adviser's press wing quoted Prof Yunus as saying.
Hashim said Kuala Lumpur was going to be the next chair of ASEAN and she would convey Professor Yunus鈥檚 message to the Malaysian authorities regarding the ASEAN membership.聽
She said Malaysia would work with the Professor Yunus-led Interim government. 鈥榃e trust in you. We wish you all the best,鈥� she said.
Yunus said that at least seven Malaysian universities have Yunus Centre, promoting social business ideas he champions and his three zero concepts.
The High Commissioner, who is leaving Bangladesh after a tenure of four years, raised tax issues being faced by Robi Axiata and other Malaysian companies, saying some 50 per cent of Robi鈥檚 revenue is paid as taxes.聽
She said Malaysian companies including several owned by its sovereign funds have invested more than $5 billion in Bangladesh and were now willing to invest more including in education.
She said a second Malaysian car manufacturer has signed an agreement with a Chittagong-based company for distributing and assembling cars.聽
The Malaysian High Commissioner said Kuala Lumpur could be a desired destination for medical tourism, saying the Bangladeshi people can do essential medical treatment in the country at an affordable price.
The Chief Adviser urged Canada to invest in Bangladesh in an effort to help rebuild the country from an economic mess.
鈥榃e need big investment,鈥� he said, adding that the interim government inherited an economy, which was in total mess with a huge amount of debt being accumulated.
Prof Yunus said his story has been included in the Canadian school textbooks, according to Chief Adviser鈥檚 press wing.
He said the government was also restoring vital institutions broken by the previous regime and was bringing order and clarity in governance. 鈥極ur first priority is to fix the economy,鈥� he said.
The Canadian High Commissioner said her government was ready to support the Chief Adviser and the interim government.
She said Canada would be keen to boost food security in Bangladesh by supplying fertilisers and essential commodities.
The envoy said Bangladesh must ensure labour rights in factories in an effort to continue to enjoy trade preferences from the North American country.
Prof Yunus said his government would uphold labour rights 鈥榓t par with the ILO (International Labour Organisation) standards鈥� in order to address concerns of the brands who purchase clothing from Bangladesh and international investors.
High Commissioner Nicholls said Canada was also interested in supporting the UN fact-finding mission on its move to establish justice and accountability on the massacre committed in July and August.
Prof Yunus said the students-led revolution has ushered in a new era of hope for the country. 鈥楾hese are historical opportunities. These chances may never come back,鈥� he said.
Prof Yunus said important electoral reforms will be carried out before the country goes to vote.
Under the previous government, 鈥榯he election commission was turned into an election manipulation commission,鈥� he said.
The Canadian High Commissioner expressed her 鈥榙eep concern鈥� over the security situation in the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh's southeast and escalating violence affecting Rohingyas living in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
She said Canada has contributed more than 600 million dollars for Rohingya humanitarian responses and called for livelihood opportunities for the Rohingya people.
The Chief Adviser called for easing overcrowding in the Rohingya camps by relocating some Rohingya from the Cox's Bazar camps.
He said his government would do its best to provide hope to the Rohingya young people.
