The upcoming visit of Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to Saudi Arabia has been canceled. He was scheduled to attend the 9th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII9) Conference, to be held from October 27–30.
Dr. Yunus had been invited by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Instead, the Bangladesh delegation will be led by the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, Dr. Lutfe Siddiqui, according to sources from the Chief Adviser’s office.
Officials stated that the decision to cancel the visit was due to the Chief Adviser’s preoccupation with the country’s ongoing political situation, particularly the implementation process of the July Charter and preparations for the upcoming national elections.
Earlier in July, Saudi Ambassador to Dhaka, Dr. Abdullah Jafar bin Abiyah, handed over the invitation from the Saudi Crown Prince to the Chief Adviser during a meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna. Preparations for his Riyadh visit had been underway since then.
According to related sources, an inter-ministerial meeting regarding the visit had already taken place, and a preliminary schedule had been finalized. However, due to political priorities, the visit has been temporarily postponed.
The Future Investment Initiative (FII) is considered one of Saudi Arabia’s largest global economic forums, attracting top investors, world leaders, and policymakers each year.
A government source confirmed that Bangladesh’s delegation will still participate in the conference, led by Dr. Lutfe Siddiqui, and will highlight the country’s investment potential.
However, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Jago News that two advisers, including the Energy Adviser, were initially expected to accompany the Chief Adviser, but it is not yet confirmed whether they will attend.