Dhaka, Sep 27 (Representative) Bangladesh will receive US assistance for a free and fair election that will determine the country’s future inclusive, democratic, and equitable for everyone, according to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, media reports said. According to US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, he also emphasised US support and aid for Bangladesh’s interim administration as it steered the nation towards economic stability and emphasised the significance of reforms to guarantee ongoing foreign direct investment, The Daily Star reported. The significance of establishing robust institutions to combat corruption, preserve media liberty, honour globally acknowledged labour rights, and safeguard human rights for all Bangladeshis—including Rohingya refugees and members of marginalised communities—was deliberated by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus and Blinken on Thursday, he said. On the fringes of the UN General Assembly, Secretary Blinken and Prof. Yunus met.
The top adviser’s Facebook page states that throughout their discussion of counterterrorism, labour concerns, economic cooperation, the Rohingya catastrophe, and the recovery of laundered money, Blinken fully supported the interim administration, the report said. During their meeting at the UN headquarters, UN Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed the UN’s willingness to assist Bangladesh in its ongoing process of reform and transformation. According to a UN statement, the secretary general conveyed gratitude for Bangladesh and the UN’s strong collaboration. Climate change and the Rohingya refugee crisis were additional discussion topics between the Secretary-General and the Chief Advisor. According to reports, during his bilateral meeting with Muhammad Yunus earlier on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden pledged his nation’s complete support to Bangladesh’s interim government. Their meeting on the fringes of the UNGA in New York marked a turning point in their bilateral ties. While Professor Yunus stated that US assistance would be necessary for his government to successfully reconstruct the nation, President Biden applauded the continued collaboration between the two administrations.