Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser, has expressed interest in deepening ties with Azerbaijan to boost trade and business cooperation and expand scholarship opportunities for students. He emphasized that an increased Azerbaijani presence in Bangladesh would be valuable in fostering stronger bilateral relations.

He made these remarks during a meeting on Tuesday (April 29) at the State Guest House Jamuna with Elnur Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister. The Chief Adviser underlined the importance of establishing an Azerbaijani embassy in Dhaka and launching direct flights between Dhaka and Baku to facilitate closer connectivity.

Describing Azerbaijan as a distant destination for Bangladeshi students, he noted that direct air links would provide better access for studying energy-related disciplines in Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijani students could gain valuable experience from Bangladesh’s thriving textile industry. He also pointed out that the presence of an embassy would help resolve visa-related issues.

The two sides discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, energy, education, technology, infrastructure, and cultural exchange. Recalling his meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the COP-29 summit in Baku last November, the Chief Adviser congratulated Azerbaijan on the successful hosting of the event and expressed appreciation for the subsequent decision to send a high-level delegation to Bangladesh.

He encouraged Azerbaijani investors to explore opportunities in Bangladesh, highlighting the country’s large and youthful population of around 180 million as a key strength for industrial development.

Deputy Minister Mammadov shared that Azerbaijan aims to strengthen strategic ties with Bangladesh ahead of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in two years. He also presented brief insights into Azerbaijan’s public service delivery models—ASAN and DOST—designed to combat corruption and improve governance efficiency.

The Chief Adviser praised the ASAN and DOST concepts and expressed optimism about adopting similar platforms in Bangladesh. Minister Mammadov also delivered an official invitation from the President of Azerbaijan for Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming 17th ECO Summit scheduled for July.