Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin calls on Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Photo : CA's Facebook

DHAKA, April 5, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus had a meeting with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok on Friday.

During the meeting, Prof Yunus enquired about the health of Thaksin, an old friend of the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told BSS.

Soon after taking office in 2001, then PM Thaksin visited Bangladesh and Grameen Bank with his colleagues and designed a microcredit programme for Thailand inspired by the success of the Grameen Bank microcredit programme.

Prof Yunus had been invited by Thaksin as chief guest in the national launching of the programme that year.

They also discussed the possible relaunch of the airline route between Chiang Mai and Chattogram, which had brought the flight time between Bangladesh and Thailand to one hour.

Thaksin recalled flying with then Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from Chattogram to Chiang Mai on the inaugural flight.

Prof Yunus and Thaksin discussed other issues of mutual interest.

The chief adviser sought Thaksin's support for Bangladesh's plan to become an ASEAN member.

Prof Yunus also thanked the former Thai prime minister for his efforts to expand Thai-Bangladesh trade and cooperation during his time as the premier of the South East Asian nation.

He also sought his valuable support for cementing ties between the two countries and for helping resolve the Rohingya crisis and bring peace to that region.

During the meeting, they also discussed the global trade issues and expansion of microcredit and social businesses in rural Thailand.

Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and SDG Affairs coordinator of the Bangladesh government, was present during the meeting.