Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that the government is planning to make the next election in Bangladesh the best ever, so that it becomes a historic example of democracy.
Norwegian Ambassador to Dhaka Haakon Arald Gulbrandson said this when he met Professor Dr. Yunus at the Chief Adviser's office on Sunday (January 12).
The Chief Adviser urged Norway to use Bangladesh as a regional distribution center for Norwegian products in Asia and to invest more in the country by utilizing the youth power of Bangladesh.
He told the Norwegian ambassador, “Use Bangladesh as a hub for distributing Norwegian products to Asia, so that you don’t have to bring people from Norway and you can use our young population.”
Professor Yunus cited Grameenphone, the first venture of Norwegian telecom giant Telenor abroad, as an example, which has become the most profitable venture of the Telenor family in recent years.
Ambassador Gulbrandsen handed over a letter from Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gaard Storting, expressing Norway’s strong support for the interim government in Bangladesh.
The ambassador said, “The Prime Minister expressed his strong support for your necessary reform initiatives and efforts to hold free and fair democratic elections. He praised the interim government of Bangladesh’s commitment to protecting human rights and environmentally sustainable development. Norway is interested in working closely with Bangladesh in the shipbuilding industry and the green energy transition.”
The Chief Adviser sought Norway's assistance in resolving the Rohingya crisis in the changing political situation in Myanmar.
He said, "Norway has played a major role in establishing peace. Therefore, your assistance is needed in resolving the Rohingya crisis."
Ambassador Gulbrandsen also said that Norway is interested in working closely with Bangladesh in global forums on the Palestinian issue, international taxation and plastic pollution.
Marianne Rabe Nvelsrud, Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka, expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for sponsoring the Norway-led UN resolution on humanitarian aid to Palestine.