Brazil President Lula set for visit to Bangladesh

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed his intention to visit Bangladesh in the coming months to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

The announcement came during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday (Rome Time) on the sidelines of the FAO-organised World Food Forum (WFF) in Rome, Italy. Both leaders served as keynote speakers at the forum and later held a bilateral discussion at the FAO headquarters.

During the meeting, Professor Yunus formally invited President Lula to Bangladesh, which the Brazilian leader accepted, aiming to visit by February next year.

President Lula emphasized Brazil’s interest in sharing its experience with universal healthcare and learning from Bangladesh’s pioneering work in social business and microcredit.

The leaders also explored cooperation in deep-sea fishing, pharmaceuticals, climate action ahead of COP30, and strategies to combat poverty. Professor Yunus recalled his past engagements in Brazil, including his 2008 meeting with the then-president and his 2023 tour of Brazilian cities.

President Lula invited Professor Yunus to attend COP30 in the Amazon, but Yunus noted he might not attend due to preparations for Bangladesh’s upcoming general election in February, which he called a “real and landmark” event.

The meeting highlighted the need for deeper trade and collaboration between the countries. In a lighter moment, both leaders celebrated football as a unifying global force, with Professor Yunus noting the strong support for Brazilian football across Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi officials present included Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, along with several Brazilian ministers and senior officials.