Yunus urges China to relocate solar panel factories to Bangladesh
Dhaka (PTI): China, facing growing export restrictions for its solar panels, should explore the possibility of relocating some of its solar panel factories to Bangladesh to boost the country's green transition and exports, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said on Sunday.
Yunus, who assumed charge of the interim government on August 8, days after the fall of the government led by Sheikh Hasina, made the call when the Chinese Ambassador in Dhaka Yao Wen called on him here.
During the meeting, Yunus called for close economic collaboration between Beijing and Dhaka and asked the Chinese investors to relocate their plants to Bangladesh, the official BSS news agency reported.
Yunus noted that China has emerged as one of the largest manufacturers of solar panels, but the country increasingly faced restrictions in the export market.
China is the largest market in the world for both photovoltaics and solar thermal energy.
Chinese manufacturers "can relocate" solar panel factories to Bangladesh, which will help Bangladesh diversify exports and transition into a green economy, the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate said.
He also stressed the need for increased imports of Bangladeshi goods to China to increase economic cooperation between the two nations.
The chief adviser put emphasis on technological transfer and increased collaboration in disaster management, education and farming.
Ambassador Yao conveyed greetings of the Chinese leadership and its people to Prof Muhammad Yunus on his assumption of the leadership of the Bangladesh Interim Government.
He said Beijing was ready to work with Dhaka and hoped that he would "fulfil expectations of a poverty-free Bangladesh".
"The future of Bangladesh will be better and brighter under your leadership," he told the chief adviser.
Yao pointed out that China and Bangladesh have recently upgraded their relationship to a "comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership" and added that both nations would celebrate the 50th year of diplomatic ties next year.
During the meeting, the Chinese envoy conveyed an invitation from the Chinese leadership to Prof Yunus to visit Beijing at a convenient time.
He said Bangladesh was at a crossroads but "the people of Bangladesh will overcome the challenges".
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Ex-CJI Chandrachud removed fear of law from political defectors, claims Sanjay Raut
Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday slammed former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, alleging that he had removed the fear of the law from politicians who defected from parties in Maharashtra.
Raut claimed that by not deciding on the disqualification petitions, Chandrachud kept doors and windows open for defections.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader's statement comes after his party faced a severe drubbing in the state assembly elections, as it managed to clinch only 20 out of 95 seats it contested as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
The performance of the party's alliance partners was no better, with the Congress winning only 16 out of 101 seats and NCP (SP) getting only 10 out of 86 seats it contested.
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged, "He (Chandrachud) has removed the fear of the law from defectors. His name will be written in black letters in history."
Following the split in the undivided Shiv Sena in 2022, the party's faction headed by Uddhav Thackeray filed petitions in the Supreme Court on the disqualification of party MLAs who defected along with Eknath Shinde. The apex court put the onus on the assembly Speaker to decide on the disqualification petitions, which he did earlier this year, declaring the Sena bloc led by Shinde as the “real political party”.
Raut alleged that the results of the assembly election were pre-decided. If the then CJI had decided on the disqualification petitions on time, the outcome would have been different.
"We are sad but not disappointed. We will not leave the fight incomplete. Division of votes was also a factor, and the RSS played an important role in the election. The poisonous campaign impacted us negatively," he said.
He said the swearing-in ceremony for the new government should be held in neighbouring Gujarat.
Meanwhile, in his weekly column "Rokhthok" in the party mouthpiece "Saamana", the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader claimed that it was time to offer condolences to the Election Commission, which turned a blind eye to the use of money power.
"The courts have been in the ICU for a long time," he alleged.
