Desk Report: Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus today called upon the world's leading charity organisation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to increase support to the health sector of Bangladesh.

He made the call when Mark Suzman, CEO of the foundation, called on him at the UN headquarters here on the sidelines of the UNGA session on Wednesday (local time).

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said Prof Yunus requested the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to increase assistance in the health and other sectors of Bangladesh.

Mark Suzman responded positively to the chief adviser’s call and showed interest in increasing their involvement in Bangladesh, he said.

Alam said Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation conducts financial support and charitable programmes in the health sector worldwide.

He said the foundation is involved in vaccine production in Bangladesh and the programmes of ICDDR,B, an international health research organisation located in Dhaka.

About the outcomes of the meeting, the press secretary said the interest the Gates Foundation showed to increase its support in the Bangladesh’s health sector means enhancing the quality of the health services and creating new jobs in Bangladesh.

During the meeting, he said the chief adviser called for conducting social business in other sectors apart from the health sector in Bangladesh.

Biniyougbarta/sam//