Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, met with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York on Tuesday. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser's Office, President Biden expressed the United States' full support for Bangladesh's interim government.

Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, briefed Biden on the sacrifices made by students who "rose against the tyranny of the previous government" and gave their lives to create an opportunity to rebuild the nation. Yunus sought the US’s cooperation in this rebuilding process, the statement said. During the UN session, Yunus also met with several other global leaders, including World Bank President Ajay Banga and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

Yunus, renowned for founding Grameen Bank and pioneering microfinance, was sworn in as the Chief Adviser on August 8, following the resignation and subsequent flight of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after a violent, student-led uprising. 

Allegations have surfaced in the past accusing the US of orchestrating regime change in Bangladesh, with Sheikh Hasina hinting at possible American interference. The US government has denied any involvement in Bangladesh's political situation. 

On September 15, a high-level US delegation visited Yunus in Dhaka, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening economic and political ties to foster a more inclusive and equitable future for Bangladesh. Biden’s meeting with Yunus on the margins of the UN summit has been seen as a significant gesture of support for the interim government after the fall of the previous autocratic regime.

In the meeting, Biden offered continued US backing as Bangladesh implements its reform agenda. The White House emphasized the strong US-Bangladesh relationship, which is built on "shared democratic values and strong people-to-people ties."

According to a readout from Bangladeshi officials, Yunus reiterated that his government needs US assistance to rebuild the nation. Biden acknowledged the sacrifices made by students during the uprising and emphasized that the US must do more to support Bangladesh in its rebuilding efforts.

This meeting marked a historic moment, as it was the first time a sitting US President has met with a head of the Bangladesh government at the UNGA, signaling a strengthening of bilateral relations. Yunus described the meeting as a rare and significant gesture that would help elevate the positive relations between the two countries to a new level. 

Earlier in the month, a senior US diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu, traveled to Bangladesh to reaffirm US support for the country's economic growth and development, further underscoring the growing ties between the two nations.