Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today vowed that the relationship between Bangladesh and Timor-Leste will continue to grow and expend.
“Our relationship continues to grow. We have signed some agreements. Beyond the agreements, we also make sure our relationships in trade and investment continue and expend,” he said.
Speaking during a joint press conference at the Chief Adviser’s Office (CAO) here, the chief adviser made the remarks.
He claimed that Jose Ramos-Horta, the president of Timor-Leste, had already extended an invitation to all Bangladeshi investors to visit his country and promoted the growth of the already existing ties between the two countries.
Since there is a larger market nearby, Prof. Yunus invited Timor-Leste to produce Bangladeshi goods there after he first visited East Timor and noticed that many Bangladeshi everyday goods were being sold there, even in the countryside.
Noting that many Bangladeshis have still been working in Timor-Leste, he said: “Bangladesh is very much part of Timorese history. We continue to have the relationship.”
He said Timor-Leste will be a member of ASEAN forum soon and the Timor-Leste president has assured Bangladesh that as an ASEAN member, his country will try its best to make sure ASEAN supports Bangladesh in Rohingya issue.
The chief adviser said they discussed how Rohingyas could be repatriated to Myanmar, seeking the support of Timor-Leste in all international forums to this end.
On behalf of the people of Bangladesh, the chief adviser thanked Jose Ramos-Horta for joining the programme of the Victory Day celebration.
Describing how the interim government was formed after the fall of the ousted regime in the July-August revolution, he said: “We have to honour the expectation of the sacrifices made the young generation and their supporters from the people.”
Highlighting the contribution of the Timor-Leste president to global peace, Prof Yunus said Ramos-Horta, also the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, is a freedom fighter and a great writer who stands up for the people of the world, not only for the people of East Timor.
Claiming that he is very happy to be a friend of Ramos-Horta, the chief adviser said he was surprised when Ramos-Horta gave all the prize money of the Noble Prize to microcredit.
He informed that Ramos-Horta also invited him to East Timor to promote microcredit, saying the Timor-Leste president is a good friend of microcredit.
Prof Yunus said over 100 international dignitaries signed statements again and again to protect him from the previous regime’s anger against him and Ramos-Horta was always the first one or two who signed the statements.
Mentioning that the birth of East Timor is connected to Bangladesh, he said the country was created under the supervision of the United Nations.
Recalling the role of Bangladeshi Ameerah Haq, the then Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) in the UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste, the chief adviser said Bangladeshi peacekeeping police force played a significant role in maintaining law and order in East Timor.
He said when he visited Timor-Leste in 2004 at the invitation of Ameerah Haq, he saw how much respect was shown to Bangladeshis, while Bangladeshis were ultimately running the country.
President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta also spoke at the joint press briefing.
Earlier, in the day, Ramos-Horta held talks with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, followed by a delegation-level meeting.
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