BD progressed a lot, but should have done better politically

HAINAN (China), March 27 (UNB): Former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said Bangladesh progressed a lot but 'should have done better' politically and democratically.

He came up with the remarks while holding meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in China on Thursday

Dr Yunus sought support and advice from the former UN Secretary-General for a smooth transition to democracy in Bangladesh.

"We want to start anew; we need your support and advice. We are having a great opportunity now," Dr Yunus told Ban Ki-moon as they met on the sidelines of the BOAO Forum Asia Annual Conference.

Ban Ki-moon, also Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, praised the leadership of Prof Yunus and said under his leadership, Bangladesh will do much better.

"Bangladesh now has a leader in you who is respected worldwide," said Ban Ki-moon.

The former UN Secretary-General recalled his role in seating up diplomatic relationships between Bangladesh and South Korea when he was a young diplomat posted in New Delhi.

"It was my pen that was used to sign the agreement to formalise Korea's diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh," he recalled.

Professor Yunus said once Korea and Bangladesh were on the same line, but now Korea has zoomed ahead.

"People of Bangladesh are wonderful, but political leadership destroyed us," he said.

Ban Ki-moon said he introduced Bangladesh to Kihak Sung, the Chairman of Youngone Corporation and one of the most respectful business leaders in Korea, who later went on to expand his business in a specialised economic zone in Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser said Bangladesh recently settled a long-pending land issue with the Korean EPZ in Chattogram, hoping that it would encourage more Korean business people to invest in Bangladesh.

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, informed the meeting that Kihak Sung would lead a 26-member strong business delegation from Korea in the upcoming Business Summit in Dhaka next month, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told the news agency.

The CA also sought Ban Ki-moon's support in settling the Rohingya crisis and invited him to visit Bangladesh at an opportune time.