World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has congratulated Prof Muhammad Yunus on his assumption as the chief adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, expressing interest in working closely with him.

In a letter sent to Prof Yunus on Monday, she said, “I write this letter to congratulate you on your appointment as the interim Prime Minister [chief adviser] of Bangladesh. Your premiership comes at a time of increasing geopolitical tensions and also of challenging times for Bangladesh. I am convinced that under your leadership, stability and prosperity will prevail.”

The WTO director general said as a core participant in the multilateral trading system, Bangladesh has enjoyed the benefits of global trade and has always been a strong supporter of the WTO.

“At the WTO, we are working on several pressing trade issues, and I look forward to working closely with you in maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system.”

Okonjo-Iweala said she will always have very good memories of the times when they worked closely together at the Board of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

She offered her best wishes and prayers for a new chapter in Bangladesh's history.