During the meeting, the Norwegian State Secretary conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and highlighted Norway’s longstanding relationship with Bangladesh.
“You are a well-known figure in Norway,” she told the Chief Adviser. “Our Prime Minister often speaks of you with great admiration. You have been friends for a long time.”
Prof Yunus reflected on the deep and historic ties between the two countries.
“Norway has always stood by Bangladesh during critical moments. Your role in our development journey is undeniable,” he said.
Haheim emphasized Norway’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and democratic transitions. “We came here to show our support for the democratization of Bangladesh,” she said.
“The responsibility on your shoulders is immense and expectations are high among the people of Bangladesh,” she added.
Prof Yunus spoke about the challenges the nation has faced in recent months.
“Many lives were lost during the July uprising and our economy suffered immense damage. The previous regime enabled the laundering of an estimated $16 billion annually,” he said.
“Loans were treated like gifts, and we inherited a staggering pile of unpaid bills,” he added.
Despite the hardships, Prof Yunus said global confidence in Bangladesh is growing. “At the recent BIDA Summit, the world’s top companies came to see our situation first-hand, including some from Norway. They came not out of obligation, but out of curiosity and belief in what’s possible here,” he said.
The Chief Adviser also urged Norway to continue supporting Bangladesh on humanitarian fronts, particularly in regard to the forcibly displaced Rohingya population.
“These are real people with real aspirations. The young people of the Rohingya community need hope,” he said.
“Many of them came as children, aged 7 or 10, and are now teenagers. They’ve grown up in camps. Every day, more children are born into a future with no certainty. They want to go back home, but they’re stuck in limbo. We must not forget them,” he mentioned.
Haheim acknowledged the scale of the humanitarian challenge and reiterated Norway’s commitment.
“We deeply appreciate how Bangladesh has taken the lead in addressing this crisis. We want to expand our relationship beyond development assistance toward a broader and dynamic partnership,” she said.
The meeting was also attended by Senior Secretary and SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md Mosharaf Hossain.
