“I have been advocating for social business as an alternative to grant money, which is essentially charity,” Yunus said. He highlighted healthcare as a promising sector for social business investments in Bangladesh.
Yunus also sought Sweden’s support in addressing Bangladesh’s energy crisis by facilitating the import of hydroelectricity from Nepal. “Bangladesh is energy-starved, while Nepal has vast untapped hydropower resources and is ready to export. Sida can play a key role in collaborating with both countries to make this happen,” he said.
Sida, which implements Sweden’s global development policies, has allocated nearly one billion SEK (Swedish Krona) in 2024 for various programs in Bangladesh. This includes 127.7 million SEK in humanitarian assistance, primarily for Rohingya refugees and host communities in Cox’s Bazar. Sweden’s current cooperation strategy with Bangladesh spans from 2021 to 2025.
Jakob Granit, Sida’s Director General, expressed interest in ensuring their assistance is effective amid the changing geopolitical landscape and during what he described as a “critically important period” for Bangladesh. “We are exploring ways to support the Bangladesh government and provide the right type of assistance,” he said.
Granit also inquired about the government’s ongoing reform initiatives. In response, Yunus emphasized the interim government’s efforts to lay a strong foundation for the country’s transformation. “Although our time is limited, we are working to rebuild what collapsed during the previous regime, piece by piece,” he said.
Sweden’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Nicolas Weeks, reiterated Sweden’s commitment to addressing the Rohingya crisis and pledged continued support. The meeting was also attended by Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed and Economic Relations Division Secretary Shahriar Kader Siddiky.
Yunus expressed hope that Sweden’s support would contribute significantly to Bangladesh’s development and transformation, particularly through innovative approaches like social business and sustainable energy solutions.
