Interim govt to carry out vital labour reforms

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday said the interim government would carry out vital labour reforms to attract more foreign investments in the country's manufacturing sector.

He made the comments during a meeting with former British prime minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the COP29 global climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

"The labour issue is one of our top priorities. We want to resolve all labour issues," Prof Yunus told her as they discussed Bangladesh's recent developments.

May expressed her desire to work on the issue. She also discussed human trafficking and migration with Bangladesh's interim leader.

Prof Yunus called for increased migration to Europe from Bangladesh through legal channels, saying that it will cut risky and irregular migration and act as a deterrence against human trafficking.

He gave her a copy of the Art of Triumph, a book on graffiti and murals painted by Bangladeshi young people during the uprising.

Meanwhile, Prof Yunus returned home yesterday evening wrapping up his Baku tour, reports BSS.

In Baku, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev told him that his country would deepen ties with Bangladesh and take its bilateral relationship to a new height.

Azerbaijan was also keen to invest in Bangladesh and explore the possibility of opening an embassy in Dhaka as both nations see increasing opportunities for trade, commerce, and international cooperation.

Aliyev said this when he met Prof Yunus on the sidelines of the COP29.

The Azerbaijan president said a high-level team of the Azerbaijani government will visit Bangladesh early next year in a move to sign a comprehensive arrangement with Bangladesh.

Aliyev praised the student-led uprising, saying that he has been following events in Bangladesh for months.

He congratulated Prof Yunus for assuming the leadership of the interim government and said Bangladesh will grow and prosper under his leadership. "Your task is very challenging. But I know you are the one who can face the challenge."

The chief adviser also called for stronger ties between the two nations.

He said both nations could prosper if there were increased bilateral trade, people-to-people interactions, and cooperation in major international forums.

Prof Yunus also stressed the need for job opportunities for Bangladeshis in the oil-rich central Asian nation.

Hundreds of Bangladeshis have found jobs in shipbuilding industry in the country in recent years.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan has fought corruption through the digitisation of its services.

He expressed his interest in sharing their digitisation experience with Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Lu Alckmin, the wife of the vice-president of Brazil, Geraldo Alckmin, called on Prof Yunus at the conference venue yesterday.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest. The Brazilian second lady handed over a book she wrote on Prof Yunus to him.

She said she has translated the books of Prof Yunus and launched social business enterprises after being inspired by his work.

Prof Yunus stressed the need for increased trade and cooperation between Bangladesh and South America's largest economy.

Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and principal coordinator of the SDG Affairs, was also present during the meeting. 

Waiting lounge opened at HSIA

Prof Yunus yesterday inaugurated a waiting lounge for the migrant workers and their relatives at the multilevel car parking area of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka, reports BSS.

He opened the lounge after returning home from the global climate conference.

Prof Yunus said before going to Azerbaijan, he inaugurated a lounge at the airport for expatriate workers, which is dedicated for the workers so that they can use it comfortably while going abroad and returning home.

The chief adviser sought opinions and suggestions from the relatives of expatriates so that this waiting lounge can be made more comfortable for them.

Saying that he was very happy to inaugurate the lounge for the relatives of expatriates, Prof Yunus spoke to the relatives of the expatriates who were present there.

The lounge has a waiting room, a baby care room, and prayers places for men and women and a low-cost cafeteria.

On November 11, Prof Yunus opened a special lounge named "Probashi Lounge" for the country's migrant workers inside the HSIA.