Yunus-Marco Rubio Phone Call: Discussed Elections, Stability and Trade Relations

Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, on Tuesday evening. The 15-minute call, which began at 7:30 pm, was described as warm, cordial, and constructive, reflecting the strong bilateral engagement between the two nations, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam.

During the conversation, the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest, including Bangladesh’s trade talks with the United States, ongoing reform efforts, the country’s transition to democracy, the upcoming general election, and aid for Rohingya refugees. Secretary Rubio expressed support for Bangladesh’s reform agenda and its plan to hold elections early next year.

Highlighting the fact that the US is Bangladesh’s largest export destination and the top source of remittances, both leaders expressed hope for concluding talks on tariffs soon, paving the way for increased bilateral trade.

Prof Yunus noted that his National Security Adviser had recently held a productive meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Landau in Washington, DC, and reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

The Chief Adviser also thanked President Trump for responding positively to his request to suspend reciprocal tariff measures on Bangladesh for 90 days. “We are working with your officials to finalise a package of measures that will effectively respond to President Trump’s trade agenda,” he added.

Seeking US support for the country’s democratic transition, Prof Yunus reaffirmed that elections would be held "in the early part of next year," and said that ongoing dialogue between the government and political parties would result in much-needed reforms to the country’s political system.

He added that the Election Commission is working diligently to reorganise the electoral system, which, he said, had been undermined by the previous government. “Our young people will vote for the first time in their lives,” he noted.

The Chief Adviser praised Washington for its continued generous support to Rohingya refugees, adding that the US has been the top donor to the Rohingya humanitarian response since 2017. “The prospect for a viable solution and the repatriation of Rohingyas to Myanmar is now better than ever before, and Bangladesh is actively working toward that goal,” Prof Yunus said.

The two leaders also touched on broader geopolitical issues, including the importance of a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific region, and Bangladesh’s relations with its neighbours.

Prof Yunus invited Secretary Rubio to visit Bangladesh ahead of the general election to witness the country’s democratic transition firsthand, saying, “It will inspire our young people.”