Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and diplomats from European Union countries pose for a photograph at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka on Monday (December 9). Photo: CA Press Wing
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday requested the diplomats of European countries to relocate their visa centers from Delhi to Dhaka, or to another neighboring country.
The Chief Adviser said due to India's restrictions on visas for Bangladeshis, many students are unable to go to Delhi to get visas for Europe. As a result, they face uncertainty about their education. Consequently, European universities are missing out on Bangladeshi students.
If the visa offices are relocated to Dhaka or a nearby country, both Bangladesh and European Union (EU) will be benefited, he added.
Yunus made the request during a meeting with diplomats from EU countries in Dhaka at his office at Tejgaon on Monday, reads a statement from the CA's press wing.
The meeting was attended by a 19-member delegation led by Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, who was present at the meeting, said that Bulgaria has already shifted its visa centre for Bangladeshis applicants to Indonesia and Vietnam. He urged other countries to follow the same process.
Besides, Yunus also urged the EU to provide support for Bangladesh to transform its energy sector.
He said, "We look forward to your cooperation on that. And we also talked to other countries to provide us support for transformation of the energy sectorof Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a victim of environmental degradation that is taking place, Prof Yunus said, adding that "In one area, I get very interested - renewable energy". He informed that Bangladesh is going to open a door with Nepal in this regard.
Meanwhile, the meeting covered various other issues, including labour rights, trade benefits, climate change, human rights, the International Crimes Tribunal Act, Rohingya repatriation, and mutual commitments toward building a sustainable future.
