CA returns home wrapping up hectic Switzerland tour

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Saturday arrived in Dhaka from Switzerland after attending the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos where he was hailed as a "beacon, hero and an amazing image of stability."

A commercial flight of the Emirates Airlines carrying the Chief Adviser and his small entourage landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:06 pm.

Dr Yunus departed the Zurich International Airport at 9:50 pm (Swiss time) on Friday night (24 January).

Top private companies are "convinced" about the country's "potentials and its stability" in the post revolution months, said Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, adding that they are impressed with the latest economic numbers.

"One thing was quite clear that the biggest decision the students made just after the fall of Hasina was to persuade Prof Yunus to head the interim government. And that has made all the difference," Alam said.

Bangladesh's Davos mission concluded on a high note, said the Press Secretary, adding that the Chief Adviser and his small Davos team is back home "with their heads held high".

Prof Yunus joined a total of 47 formal events during the WEF summit.

He attended meetings with four heads of government or state, four minister-level dignitaries, 10 heads or top executives of UN/similar organisations, 10 CEOs/high-level business persons, 9 WEF-organised programmes, 8 media engagements and two other events.

Top European leaders are firmly backing the interim government and its reform agenda to restore democracy, Alam said.

Top journalists from some of the world's best news outlets have queued to take Prof Yunus' interviews.

"Nobody seems to be bothered by the propaganda campaign by the Indian outlets. They are very much aware of the dirty jobs that Indian media does for their political masters," said the Press Secretary.

"The Tulip Siddiq saga in the UK added some extra layers to Hasina's "Highway Robbery" story. The Western press now know the kind of plunder and looting that took place during the Sheikh Hasina dictatorship," Alam said.

Prof Yunus also spoke about data manipulation, blaming the world for being blind during the "dictatorship".