Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus held one-on-one meetings with four world leaders on the third day of his visit to New York, significantly advancing Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with their respective countries, Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Alam described the meetings as “very important,” noting that they elevated Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagement to a new level.
Prof Yunus met with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the UN Headquarters.
Bangladesh’s upcoming general election was a key topic in all four meetings, Alam said. During his discussion with the Italian prime minister, Prof Yunus emphasized the need to deepen bilateral trade. In response, Meloni proposed the formation of an Italy-Bangladesh Business Forum and expressed her intention to visit Bangladesh in December.
The chief adviser’s meeting with President Stubb focused on shared bilateral interests, while both Finland and Italy reaffirmed their support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition.
Kosovo’s economic progress also featured in the discussions. Alam noted that despite its small size and history of conflict in the 1990s, Kosovo has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies in recent years.
The Rohingya crisis was addressed in all four meetings. Italian Prime Minister Meloni confirmed that her country would send a high-level delegation to the upcoming UN conference on the Rohingya issue, scheduled for Tuesday. Discussions also explored ways to increase international funding for Rohingya refugees hosted in Bangladesh.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Prof Yunus expressed condolences for the victims of Pakistan’s recent floods. The two leaders also discussed enhancing trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Separately, Prof Yunus participated in the US-Bangladesh Executive Business Roundtable, titled “Advancing Reform, Resilience and Growth,” where he urged leading American companies—including MetLife, Chevron, and Excelerate Energy—to expand their investments in Bangladesh.
Six political leaders accompanying the chief adviser were also present at the roundtable and were introduced to senior executives from top US firms.