Dhaka, Oct 08 (V7N) – Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has emphasized that there is no alternative to ending dependency and building a self-reliant Bangladesh, which he described as the essence of “New Bangladesh.”

Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy on Wednesday afternoon (October 8) following a meeting on Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation.

“The Chief Advisor said that the nation must be freed from the legacy of dependency and slavery. The power of youth must be harnessed to move the country forward,” the press secretary told journalists.

Dr. Yunus chaired the LDC graduation meeting, where it was discussed that the United Nations will assess Bangladesh’s LDC graduation status this month, with a formal announcement expected by January 15.

The press secretary also informed that rice prices have begun to decline, and that the Chief Advisor will travel to Rome on October 12 to attend the World Food Global Meeting, where nine leasing companies will be canceled.

Commenting on the state of the banking sector, he said that banks have struggled to recover from the depletion that occurred during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. He noted that visa complications in several countries remain due to past administrative issues, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been instructed to resolve them.

He added that discussions are ongoing with Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea regarding free trade agreements (FTAs). The government has also decided to increase incentives for professionals in ICT and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors.

The Chief Advisor further stressed the importance of building skilled manpower, saying that while the country produces a large number of BBA graduates, there is now an urgent need to focus on scientific and technical education to meet global demand.

END/SMA/AJ