Online Desk:
Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed his determination to deepen and expand the relations between Bangladesh and East Timor.
Professor Yunus said at a joint press conference held at the Chief Advisor’s office in Dhaka on Sunday, “Our relations are getting stronger. We have signed some agreements. However, beyond the agreements, we are ensuring that our trade and investment relations will continue and expand.”
He said that the President of East Timor has already invited all Bangladeshi investors to invest in his country and encouraged the relations between the two countries to further grow.
Professor Yunus recalled that when he first visited East Timor, he saw that many daily necessities of Bangladesh were also being sold in village shops in that country. He urged Timor-Leste to produce Bangladeshi products in its own country, as there are big markets around it.
Noting that many Bangladeshis are still working in Timor-Leste, he said, “Bangladesh is an important part of Timor-Leste’s history. We will continue this relationship.”
The Principal Advisor said that Timor-Leste will soon become a member of the ASEAN Forum and the Timor-Leste President has assured Bangladesh that as an ASEAN member, his country will do its utmost to ensure ASEAN’s support in resolving the Rohingya issue.
The Principal Advisor said that both leaders discussed how the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar is possible and sought Timor-Leste’s support in the international forum on this issue.
Dr. Yunus thanked Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on behalf of the people of Bangladesh for attending the Victory Day celebrations.
Highlighting the formation of an interim government after the overthrow of the dictatorial government in the July-August revolution, he said, “We must respect the sacrifices of our young generation and the expectations of the people for their supporters.”
Referring to the contribution of the President of Timor-Leste to global peace, Professor Yunus said that Ramos-Horta, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, is a freedom fighter and a great writer. He works not only for the people of East Timor, but also for the people of the whole world.
Expressing his satisfaction at being a friend of Ramos-Horta, the Chief Advisor said that he was surprised when Ramos-Horta donated all the Nobel Prize money to microfinance.
Professor Yunus said that Ramos-Horta invited him to East Timor to promote microfinance. He commented that the President of Timor-Leste is a good friend of microfinance.
Professor Yunus said that more than 100 international dignitaries have repeatedly issued statements to protect him from the wrath of the previous government. Ramos-Horta was the first or second signatory to that statement.
He noted that the birth of East Timor is related to Bangladesh. This country was created under the auspices of the United Nations.
Recalling the role of the then Special Representative of the United Nations Mission, Amira Haque, the Chief Advisor said that the Bangladeshi peacekeeping police force played a significant role in maintaining law and order in East Timor.
He said that during his visit to East Timor at the invitation of Amira Haque in 2004, he saw how Bangladeshis were respected. He said that at that time, Bangladeshis were the ones who were practically running the country.
Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta also addressed the joint press conference.
Earlier in the day, Ramos-Horta met with Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus, which later evolved into a delegation-level discussion.
Source: BSS.
