Chief adviser seeks Ban Ki-moon's support for democratic transition
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus today (27 March) sought support and advice from former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for a smooth transition to democracy in Bangladesh.
"We want to start anew; we need your support and advice. We are having a great opportunity now," Chief Adviser told Ban Ki-moon as they met on the sidelines of the BOAO Forum Asia Annual Conference in Hainan, China.
Ban Ki-moon praised the leadership of Professor Yunus and said that under his leadership, Bangladesh will do much better, reads a press release.
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"Bangladesh now has a leader in you who is respected worldwide," said Ban Ki-moon.
The former UN Secretary-General recalled his role in seating up diplomatic relationships between Bangladesh and South Korea when he was a young diplomat posted in New Delhi.
"It was my pen that was used to sign the agreement to formalise Korea's diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh," he recalled.
Ban Ki-moon said that Bangladesh progressed a lot but should have done better politically and democratically.
Professor Yunus said that once Korea and Bangladesh were on the same line, but now Korea has zoomed ahead.
"People of Bangladesh are wonderful, but political leadership destroyed us," he said.
Ban Ki-moon said that he introduced Bangladesh to Kihak Sung, the Chairman of Youngone Corporation and one of the most respectful business leaders in Korea, who later went on to expand his business in a specialised economic zone in Bangladesh.
The Chief Adviser said that Bangladesh recently settled a long-pending land issue with the Korean EPZ in Chattogram, hoping that it would encourage more Korean business people to invest in Bangladesh.
Ashik Mahmud, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Authority, informed the meeting that Kihak Sung would lead a 26-member strong business delegation from Korea in the upcoming Business Summit in Dhaka.
The Chief Adviser also sought Ban Ki-moon's support in settling the Rohingya crisis and invited him to visit Bangladesh at an opportune time.
