France Rejects Dhaka’s Offer
After being invited to the forum, Bangladesh had made a special effort to ask for a one-on-one meeting between Macron and Yunus. French authorities, however, told Dhaka that President Macron would not be able to make it. They referred to a busy diplomatic schedule and several earlier bilateral meeting requests by other participating nations.
Additionally, Paris clarified not holding side meetings during the summit. Instead, France requested that Yunus appear at the conference itself without seeking a formal bilateral engagement. The French side also wanted clarification on why the meeting was being convened, showing reluctance to hold talks simply for diplomatic purposes.
Dhaka Scraps Yunus’ France Visit
After the strong message from the France, Bangladesh canceled Yunus’ trip plans. The move is a setback to the interim regime’s bid for international legitimacy through symbolic gestures.
The snub from Macron also comes in the wake of Bangladesh’s stalled negotiations with France over the purchase of civilian aircraft — an issue that had earlier fueled bilateral interest but has lost steam since.
Yunus’ Push for Global Recognition
Muhammad Yunus has actively attempted to reach out to global leaders in the past few months. His attempts are made during a time of political transition in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina’s departure. Last month, Yunus had met Indian PM Narendra Modi for the first time at the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. That encounter had raised hopes in Dhaka for wider international acceptance.
Yet Macron’s move indicates that not all diplomatic avenues are available. France’s dismissal of even symbolic talks shows how more difficult it has become for Yunus to project Bangladesh’s new political narrative internationally.
