Diplomatic Correspondent :
A high-level Bangladesh delegation, headed by the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Dr Muhammad Yunus, is set to attend the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Alongside delivering a speech at the General Assembly, Dr Yunus is scheduled to hold sideline meetings with several heads of state, including US President Joe Biden.
This upcoming meeting with President Biden is seen as particularly significant, as such meetings are not typically scheduled during the UNGA. Dr Yunus, a long-time friend of the US, is expected to discuss the future of US-Bangladesh relations, which had been strained during the previous Sheikh Hasina government.
Diplomatic sources confirmed that the meeting between Dr Yunus and President Biden will take place in the afternoon on 24th September.
Relations between the US and Bangladesh had faced tension in recent times, notably due to the US government’s visa policy changes concerning Bangladeshi nationals ahead of the country’s 12th parliamentary elections.
Bangladesh has been a focal point in South Asian geopolitics, often featuring prominently in discussions among Western nations and the US due to its strategic location.
Even during the recent QUAD Summit, attended by US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the evolving situation in Bangladesh was reportedly discussed.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that Bangladesh’s changing political landscape was a subject of interest during the summit.
“There was an exchange of views on the situation in Bangladesh,” said Misri, while briefing journalists in New York.
“These discussions cover subjects of regional and bilateral interest, with implications beyond the region. Bangladesh was part of the dialogue, and we exchanged views on the current developments.”
India is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh, especially in the wake of the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s government on 5th August, following a mass uprising. India has provided shelter to Sheikh Hasina, who remains in the country indefinitely.
The interim government of Bangladesh has yet to receive updates on Hasina’s status, as she faces over 100 cases and remains in India.
The Bangladesh delegation’s participation in the UNGA, along with the anticipated meeting between Dr Yunus and President Biden, marks an important moment for Bangladesh-US relations, with the potential to reset and strengthen diplomatic ties in the post-Hasina era.
After the dismantling of Hasina’s government and her stay in India, the relations between the two South Asian nations are undergoing some diplomatic strains.
Soon after Dr Yunus assumed office as the Chief Adviser to the Interim Government, Modi in a X handle wrote: “My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities.
We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development.”
But later Dr Yunus said in an interview with Indian media that he wanted to hold a meeting with Narendra Modi during the UNGA in New York and want to take a photo with all the heads of the states and government of the SAARC countries during that time.
However, the Modi-government did not give any response for such meetings and the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh on Saturday made it clear that there would not be any sideline meeting between Yunus and Modi.
The Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said, “They will not both be present in New York at the same time, as Modi is arriving earlier and our Chief Adviser, Dr Yunus, is arriving later.
Therefore, it seems unlikely that they will meet.”
However, there will be a sideline meeting between Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.
Regarding Dr. Yunus’s meetings in New York, the Foreign Affairs Adviser mentioned that he is set to meet with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Pakistan, Nepal, the President of the European Commission, the US Secretary of State, the UN Secretary-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the President of the World Bank Group, and the Administrator of USAID.
It is expected that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the US would be strengthened during Yunus’s visit to New York on the occasion of attending the UNGA.
Even before his visit, the US government sent a high profile US delegation including Donald Lu, the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, to Bangladesh focusing on unblocking trade and investment growth of Bangladesh.
Even the four US Senators on Friday said that they are ready to stand to assist Bangladesh during this critical period to ensure a successful transition to a democracy truly representative of the will of the Bangladeshi people.