Yunus to discuss law and order with top cops today

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus will hold a special meeting today with senior police officers on law and order issues.

A total of 127 officers, including those holding the rank of superintendent of police, will attend the meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office in Tejgaon.

Yunus will listen to field-level officials and give necessary directives regarding law and order, CA's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy yesterday.

Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam will deliver a welcome speech while six field-level officers will speak on six focal points.

Speaking at the briefing, CA's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Yunus' scheduled visit to China from March 26-29 would be the "most important visit" by a Bangladesh leader over the last 50 years as the two countries were eyeing to take the relations to a new height.

He said that Prof Yunus will address the Boao Forum for Asia conference, called the "Davos of the East", on March 27 with the focus on the changing role of Asia in the world, reported BSS.

Top Asian leaders and CEOs of leading firms will participate in the conference.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen called on Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna yesterday to discuss the upcoming tour.

After the meeting with the ambassador, Shafiqul said that the chief adviser was likely to meet CEOs of some companies on the sidelines of the forum.

The Chinese envoy informed Yunus that Chinese companies made larger investments in Bangladesh after the interim government took charge last year.

"We hope that more Chinese companies will come to Bangladesh with their investment after the visit," Shafiqul added.

He said the chief adviser would hold talks with Chinese hospital chains to invite them to explore business potential and set up hospitals in Bangladesh under joint venture initiatives.

The first bilateral meeting between Prof Yunus and Chinese President Xi Jinping will be held in Beijing on March 28, the press secretary said.

He said that issues related to bilateral interest will be discussed in the meeting.

Bangladesh wants to take its relations with China to a new height aiming to turn Bangladesh into a manufacturing hub, he said, adding, "They [China] think that this would be the most important visit by the Bangladeshi leader."

The government's focus will be on attracting Chinese companies to relocate their factories to Bangladesh, Shafiqul said.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last year, the chief adviser talked to the Chinese foreign minister and sought Chinese investment in Bangladesh's solar energy sector.

In response, two Chinese companies, including the world's leading supplier of solar PV solutions Longi, will soon set up their offices and manufacturing plants in Bangladesh, according to Shafiqul.

During the visit, Prof Yunus would deliver a lecture at Peking University, which would confer an honorary doctorate on the chief adviser, said the press secretary.

The chief adviser will also visit the Chinese Hi-Tech parks.

Regarding the government's reform initiatives, Shafiqul said that Bangladesh had the full support of its friendly partners and well-wishers in its reform agenda, but the reform initiatives were completely "homegrown" and they would remain so, reported UNB.

"The reform process is fully homegrown. We are maintaining the highest transparency," he added.