Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday agreed to increase connectivity with Azerbaijan to boost trade and commerce and increase the exchange of scholarship programmes for students.

The chief adviser laid emphasis on opening an embassy of Azerbaijan in Dhaka and launching a direct flight between Dhaka and Baku when Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elnur Mammadov met him at the state guest house Jamuna this afternoon.

“For Bangladeshi students, Azerbaijan is a remote country,” the chief adviser told the visiting deputy minister, adding that a direct flight would allow Bangladeshi students to pursue studies in the field of energy, while Azerbaijani students would also feel encouraged to learn from Bangladesh’s textile sector.

Yunus said opening an embassy here would also end the visa hassle. “Increasing your presence in Bangladesh is important for us to have a closer relationship,” he said.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties between Bangladesh and Azerbaijan, particularly in areas of trade, investment, energy, education, technology, infrastructure, and cultural exchanges.

During the discussion, the chief adviser recalled his meeting with Ilham Aliyev, president of Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the COP29 held in Baku last November.

He congratulated the Government of Azerbaijan for successfully hosting the COP29 Conference.

He also requested to convey his thanks to President Aliyev for sending a high-level delegation to Bangladesh in line with the decision of their meeting in Baku.

The chief adviser urged Azerbaijan investors to invest in Bangladesh and take advantage of Bangladesh’s huge human resources.

“We invite your investors to explore the potential of Bangladesh. We have nearly 180 million people, and half of the population is young. So, there will be no shortage of workers if you set up any industry here,” he said.

 The Azerbaijani deputy minister said his country wants to develop strategic relations with Bangladesh ahead of the countries’ 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in two years.

“We are here to deepen our ties,” Mammadov said.

He also gave the chief adviser an overview of the ASAN and DOST Models of Azerbaijan to curb corruption and increase efficiency, transparency and effectiveness in public service delivery.

Yunus appreciated the ASAN and DOST service concepts and expressed hope to explore the possibility of replicating the platforms in Bangladesh.  

Mammadov handed over an invitation from the president of Azerbaijan to the chief adviser for participation in the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization to be held in Azerbaijan in July.