Yunus, ex-Thai PM Thaksin discuss Ctg-Chiang Mai direct flights, ASEAN membership
During the meeting, Yunus enquired about the health condition of Thaksin, an old friend of the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday (4 April) discussed the potential of relaunching direct flights between Chattogram and Thailand's Chiang Mai and Bangladesh's full membership in ASEAN.
According to a statement by CA's Press Wing issued today (5 April), the meeting was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok on the sidelines of the sixth Bimstec Summit, prior to CA Yunus's departure for Dhaka.
During the meeting, Yunus enquired about the health condition of Thaksin, an old friend of the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate.
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They discussed the possible relaunch of the airline route between Chiang Mai and Chattogram, which had brought the flight time between Bangladesh and Thailand to one hour, with Thaksin recalling then prime minister Khaleda Zia flying together from Chattogram to Chiang Mai on the inaugural flight.
At the meeting, Yunus and Thaksin discussed other issues of mutual interest, with the chief adviser seeking Thaksin's support for Bangladesh's plan to become an ASEAN member.
Yunus also thanked the former Thai prime minister for his efforts to expand Thai-Bangladesh trade and cooperation during his time as the premier of the Southeast Asian nation.
Yunus also sought Thaksin's valuable support for cementing ties between the two countries and to help resolve the Rohingya crisis and bring peace to that region.
During the meeting, they also discussed the global trade issues and expansion of microcredit and social businesses in rural Thailand.
Soon after taking office in 2001, then prime minister Thaksin visited Bangladesh and Grameen Bank with his colleagues and designed a microcredit programme for Thailand inspired by the success of the Grameen Bank microcredit programme.
Yunus was invited by Thaksin as chief guest in the national launching of the programme later that year.
Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and SDG Affairs coordinator of the interim government, was present during the meeting.
