Netherlands Vice Minister for International Cooperation Pascal Grotenhuis met Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Tuesday to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, technology, and youth development. The meeting also covered the formation of a social business fund for young and women entrepreneurs. Yunus reaffirmed his government’s commitment to holding a free, fair, and participatory election in early February, noting that the Awami League remains barred from contesting due to its suspended registration. He described the upcoming polls as a historic moment for new voters who were previously unable to vote. Grotenhuis praised Bangladesh’s progress in election preparations despite limited time and welcomed recent labor law reforms, saying they would attract more European investment. He also announced plans for a memorandum of understanding on public-private partnerships between the Netherlands and Bangladesh, aiming to elevate bilateral relations from development cooperation to equal political and economic partnership.