"CA to Boost Connectivity with Baku and Attract Azerbaijani Investment"

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today expressed Bangladesh’s commitment to enhancing connectivity with Azerbaijan to promote trade, education, and cultural exchange. He made the remarks during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

The Chief Adviser emphasized the importance of launching a direct Dhaka-Baku flight and opening an Azerbaijani embassy in Dhaka, which he said would ease visa processes and strengthen bilateral engagement. “For Bangladeshi students, Azerbaijan is a remote country,” he noted, adding that improved air connectivity could open opportunities for Bangladeshi students in the energy sector and attract Azerbaijani students to Bangladesh’s renowned textile industry.

Recalling his previous meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during COP29 in Baku last November, Prof Yunus conveyed his appreciation for Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of the summit and thanked the Azerbaijani government for sending a high-level delegation to Bangladesh, as agreed during the earlier meeting.

He also invited Azerbaijani investors to explore Bangladesh’s market, highlighting its youthful workforce of nearly 180 million people. “We invite your investors to explore the potential of Bangladesh,” he said.

The Azerbaijani Deputy Minister said his country is eager to build strategic relations with Bangladesh, particularly as the two nations approach the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He introduced Azerbaijan’s ASAN and DOST service models aimed at curbing corruption and enhancing public service delivery. The Chief Adviser welcomed these innovations and expressed interest in potentially adopting similar systems in Bangladesh.

Mammadov also handed over a formal invitation from President Aliyev for Prof Yunus to attend the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Azerbaijan in July 2025.