Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday stressed the need for stronger trade, energy and economic ties between Bangladesh and Azerbaijan.

He discussed the issues when Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva, daughters of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna.

This marked the first visit to Bangladesh by the daughters of the Azerbaijani President.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to deepen cultural, environmental, and people-to-people exchanges between the two friendly nations, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad.

Prof Yunus recalled his many visits to Baku and his meeting with President Aliyev during the COP29 summit late last year.

Leyla Aliyeva, Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and founder and head of IDEA Public Union, conveyed President Aliyev’s warmest greetings to the Chief Adviser.

She called for enhanced environmental cooperation, particularly in wildlife protection.

The meeting was informed that Leyla Aliyeva and Arzu Aliyeva had visited a local institution in Dhaka that supports orphans and children without parental care.

The sisters also stated that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the IDEA Public Union are eager to implement joint humanitarian, social, youth, volunteer, environmental, and nature-protection projects in collaboration with relevant Bangladeshi organisations.

Non-resident Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Bangladesh Elchin Huseynli informed the meeting that efforts are underway to open an Azerbaijani embassy in Dhaka after the upcoming election.

The move follows the Chief Adviser’s request to President Aliyev last November, noting that an embassy in Dhaka would elevate bilateral relations to new heights.

SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator and Senior Secretary, Lamiya Morshed, was also present at the meeting.