Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus began his extensive engagements here on Tuesday with his first meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who conveyed to Dr Yunus that Germany would do its best to support Bangladesh in its transition to democracy.

"You can be rest assured that we will support you," the German Chancellor said when he met Dr Yunus on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss city.

The Chief Adviser briefed him on the reform agenda of the interim government and discussed issues of mutual interest.

Dr Yunus invited more German investment in Bangladesh. "We can be your factory," he said.

He also sought Scholz's support in creating a safe zone for Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine State under the supervision of the United Nations, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.

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The Chief Adviser said he was leading a consensus commission in an effort to facilitate consensus building among the political parties on major reform reports submitted by six commissions.

He said after the consensus is reached, the political parties will sign a ‘July Charter’ that will uphold the democratic spirits of the student-led uprising in July and August.

The two leaders spoke about a wide range of issues, including the circumstances that led to the July uprising, Bangladesh's relationship with its neighbours, the Rohingya crisis, and the security situation in Myanmar.

The Chief Adviser explained to the German chancellor how young people joined the July uprising to bring an end to years of misrule in Bangladesh.

A student as young as 12 years old wrote a letter to his mother before joining the uprising and embraced martyrdom, the Chief Adviser told Scholz.

Prof Yunus called for greater business links between the two nations and urged him to send a team of German businessmen to Dhaka to explore business opportunities in Bangladesh.

He said that Bangladesh still holds the idea of SAARC and would continue its endeavour to revive the platform.

The Chief Adviser also explained to the German Chancellor how hydroelectric power from Nepal can benefit multiple South Asian countries, helping all in their transition to renewable energy.

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The Chief Adviser also met Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum and discussed issues of mutual interest.

Dr Yunus arrived at Zurich International Airport, Switzerland in the afternoon to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos where he started engaging with the global leaders on pressing issues in addition to his bilateral meetings.

Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam received the Chief Adviser at the airport upon his arrival.

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The Chief Adviser and his delegation members arrived at the Zurich International Airport at 12:27pm (Zurich time) by an Emirates flight.

The Chief Adviser is scheduled to hold a number of meetings on the first day, including his joining in the opening dinner at Kurpark Village.