Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser, called for increased cooperation with the UK today in order to improve Bangladesh’s healthcare system.
At the State Guest House Jamuna here, he discussed the significance with Baroness Rosie Winterton, the UK’s trade envoy to Bangladesh.
Baroness Winterton acknowledged the “long and trusted history” between the two countries as they reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties during the meeting.
“We have a long history together, and we are pleased to see the direction of reforms being undertaken,” she said.
Prof Yunus remarked that the country is passing through a transformative moment. “It’s a very critical time for us. We are focused on rebuilding institutions and reshaping priorities,” he said.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s pressing need for a skilled healthcare workforce, Prof Yunus said, “We currently have a shortage of nurses. But nursing is not just a national concern—it’s a global necessity. We want to train more nurses not only for Bangladesh but also for the world.”
The Chief Adviser invited UK support to strengthen Bangladesh’s under-resourced health sector.
“Government-run health programmes are nearly non-functional,” he noted.
“This is where the UK can play a vital role. Another promising area is pharmaceuticals. We urge you to support global access to vaccines by advocating for lifting patent protections so that every country can produce them affordably under a social business model,” the Chief Adviser said.
The both sides also discussed broader areas of strategic cooperation, including education, the textile industry, defence, and aviation.
Prof Yunus said, “We welcome UK support in improving our education system, modernising our textile sector, and exploring new areas of collaboration in defence and aviation.”
Both CEOs indicated a need for more training, technology sharing, and long-term collaborations between these industries.
Professor Yunus went on to highlight the government’s emphasis on gender equality, saying, “We always prioritise women’s participation in every sector.” A key component of our development approach is the empowerment of women.
The UK government supports the present reform program, according to Baroness Winterton.
Ali Riaz, the leader of Bangladesh’s constitutional change campaign, met with her as well.
Regarding the timing of the next general election, the Chief Adviser stated, “If political parties agree on a shorter reform process, elections could take place in December. But if a more extensive reform path is chosen, the election can be held by June.”
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed attended the meeting.
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