This time, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, US President Joe Biden and Dr. Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, are set to have a bilateral meeting. Such a meeting with any head of state or government from Bangladesh has not occurred in the past three decades.
If all goes according to plan, the leaders of Bangladesh and the United States will meet at the United Nations headquarters in New York on September 24, at noon local time. A source from the policy-making level of the interim government confirmed this information to Prothom Alo on Saturday evening.
By TODAY NEWS 24
According to high-level sources in Dhaka and New York, Washington finalized the Yunus-Biden meeting last Thursday afternoon, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Consequently, Dr. Yunus is departing for New York on September 23, instead of September 24.
Five Bangladeshi diplomats, both former and current, who have worked in New York, informed this reporter that the US President typically arrives in New York on the morning of his scheduled speech at the UN General Assembly. He delivers his address on the same day and later in the afternoon, hosts a reception in honor of the heads of state and government attending the session. It is rare for the US President to hold a bilateral meeting with a country’s top leader during the UN General Assembly session. Over the past three decades, there has not been a single meeting between the US President and a Bangladeshi leader on the sidelines of the UN session. Traditionally, the heads of state and government from Bangladesh have only interacted with the US President during the reception.
By TODAY NEWS 24
When asked about the significance of the upcoming meeting between Joe Biden and Dr. Yunus in New York, several senior Bangladeshi diplomats highlighted that a high-level US delegation visited Dhaka on September 15, following the interim government’s assumption of power on August 8. Within just two weeks, President Biden is set to meet the chief advisor of the interim administration. This meeting signals that the United States is likely to extend various forms of support to Bangladesh, including assistance with reforms in different sectors following the political transition.
After assuming office on August 8, Dr. Yunus is set to embark on his first foreign visit to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly session. Along with his meeting with US President Joe Biden, Dr. Yunus will also meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Additionally, he is scheduled to meet World Bank President Ajay Banga and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
Diplomatic analysts believe that Dr. Yunus’ various meetings during his New York visit hold great significance for Bangladesh. These meetings, especially with key figures from the western world and international financial institutions, signal strong support for the current interim government of Bangladesh.
By TODAY NEWS 24
