Staff Reporter :
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has stated that the interim government is committed to hold a free and fair election which is likely to be held in December this year.
He made this remark on Monday during a meeting with the European Union’s (EU) Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka.
During the meeting, EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib announced that the EU would provide €68 million this year to address the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and to assist people trapped in conflicts in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state.
She noted that while this funding exceeds the EU’s initial contribution from last year, it is still insufficient to prevent the significant deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the camps, as the funding gap continues to grow.
Professor Yunus reaffirmed his government’s continued support for addressing the Rohingya crisis, acknowledging that it remains a major issue for Bangladesh.
“This has been ongoing for many years, but there is no solution in sight. There is no expiration date for this crisis,” he said.
Professor Yunus also welcomed the EU Commissioner’s visit, mentioning that the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would also be visiting soon.
“We are trying to draw international attention to the Rohingya crisis,” he said.
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres is scheduled to visit Dhaka on March 13-16 to continue his support for the Rohingyas. Besides, UN is going to hold an international conference in its headquarters in the latter half of this year to rally support of the world leaders to resolve the crisis.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, EU Commissioner Lahbib emphasised that the only solution to this crisis is peace.
She highlighted the need to be prepared for all types of disasters, including human-made crises, and warned about the spread of misinformation during such times.
During the hour-long meeting, they also discussed hydropower imports, flood management, climate change, and reform initiatives of the interim government.
Professor Yunus sought EU support for importing hydropower from Nepal, as it would facilitate Bangladesh’s transition to renewable energy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
“We talk about renewable energy, and this is exactly that. Both Nepal and Bhutan are interested in selling us energy,” the chief adviser added.
The EU Commissioner stressed the importance of increased cooperation in disaster preparedness, management, and climate change adaptation, particularly in flood control.
