Muhammad Yunus to Attend BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will attend the sixth BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, marking his first foreign visit since becoming the head of an interim government after the ousting of Sheikh Hasina. The summit will focus on maritime transport cooperation to enhance trade among member states.

Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus will attend the sixth BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok next month, according to media reports on Tuesday. This marks his first foreign visit since assuming the role of interim government head following the ousting of former premier Sheikh Hasina.

The 84-year-old Nobel laureate took the oath of office on August 8, replacing the 76-year-old Hasina, who fled to India amid deadly protests over a controversial quota system in jobs. Yunus's visit to the Thai capital from September 3-5 will center on the sixth Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit, as reported by the Dhaka Tribune, citing a senior foreign ministry official.

This summit will be crucial, as it aims to finalize an agreement on maritime transport cooperation, potentially boosting trade among the participating nations, which include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Following the summit, Bangladesh is set to assume the role of chairmanship of BIMSTEC.

(With inputs from agencies.)