New Work, Sep 23 (V7N) - The upcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, is generating considerable attention during the United Nations General Assembly. This meeting highlights the significance the U.S. places on Bangladesh, marking its elevated status in international relations.

According to sources from the Bangladesh mission to the UN, it is rare for an American president to engage with a leader from a developing country like Bangladesh during such a high-profile event in the past three decades.

If all goes according to plan, the meeting is scheduled for September 24 at noon local time at the UN headquarters. Dr. Yunus will be joined by Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain. Four key proposals will be presented to outline Bangladesh's expectations from the U.S., including an overview of the country's situation and necessary reforms following August 5.

The second proposal seeks an extension for repaying loans owed to U.S. agencies and companies. The third aims to encourage increased U.S. investment in Bangladesh, while the fourth invites U.S. representatives to visit Bangladesh for firsthand assessments.

High-level sources from Dhaka and New York confirm that the meeting was finalized by Washington on Thursday. Dr. Yunus left for New York on September 23, just before the meeting.

Additionally, after the interim government took office on August 8, a high-level U.S. delegation visited Dhaka on September 15. Now, two weeks later, President Biden is set to engage with the interim government's advisor, indicating U.S. readiness to provide support for Bangladesh’s development following the political transition.

Typically, U.S. presidents arrive in New York on the morning of their scheduled UN address. They deliver their speech and later host a reception for attending heads of state, where Dr. Yunus is expected to meet Biden again. Such bilateral meetings during the General Assembly are exceptionally rare.

This visit will mark Dr. Yunus's first international trip since assuming office, during which he will also meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

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