Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has said that the upcoming national election on February 12 will set a benchmark for all future elections in Bangladesh. He stated that the government is fully prepared to hold a free, fair, and participatory vote. Yunus made the remarks on Thursday during a courtesy meeting with newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Brent Christensen at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the upcoming election, major labor law reforms, the proposed Bangladesh–U.S. tariff agreement, and the Rohingya crisis. Yunus said the election would be transparent and festive, with a large number of European Union observers expected. He also highlighted Bangladesh’s initiatives to join ASEAN and to revitalize SAARC for stronger regional cooperation.

Ambassador Christensen expressed willingness to work with whoever wins the February election and praised the interim government’s reforms and Yunus’s leadership. The two also discussed trade progress, U.S. humanitarian support for Rohingya refugees, and recent U.S. visa restrictions affecting 75 countries.