Sheikh Hasina did not figure in Bangladesh-US talks — official

United Nations, New York — Talks between Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the Bangladesh government and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York were purely bilateral in nature and the former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India during August 2024 revolution, did not figure in their conversation, a Bangladeshi official has told TRT World.

"I do not think so, no," Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Yunus, told TRT World on the sidelines of UNGA, when asked if Hasina, who has reportedly blamed that US for her ouster, was discussed by the two leaders.

Last month, the US said it had no role in ousting the former ironfisted prime minister, who quit her position and fled the South Asian nation for India, calling allegations of Washington's interference "simply false."

Alam told TRT World that during the meeting between Yunus and Biden, the latter offered his "full support to Bangladesh."

The 84-year-old economist was appointed as the country's "chief advisor" in August following the bloody, student-led movement that ousted Hasina.

Yunus has demanded New Delhi to extradite Hasina.

Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding Grameen Bank and his revolutionary concepts of microcredit and microfinance, has received several awards in the United States, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2010.

"Professor is a well-known person here," Alam said, adding he has won many awards in the US and he has friends across both American parties.

"He has friends within the Democratic Party and he has friends within the Republican Party as well."

Alam said both sides discussed the movement which toppled the previous government and "what they (US government) can do for Bangladesh."

Yunus to seek climate justice at UNGA

According to a statement provided by Bangladeshi officials to media later, Yunus briefed Biden on how the students "rose against the tyranny of the previous government and gave their lives to create this opportunity to rebuild Bangladesh."

Meanwhile, the White House said that Biden congratulated Yunus on his recent appointment as the head of the interim government and welcomed further engagement between the two governments and "offered continued US support as Bangladesh implements its new reform agenda."

The Bangladeshi official, meanwhile, told TRT World that his country is going to raise the issue of climate justice at the UNGA.

"I think everything will be there. We are one of the most climate vulnerable countries. Obviously, whenever our chief of government speaks about it, climate justice, climate vulnerabilities and also the kind of challenges we face due to climate change are always there," Alam said.