Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus yesterday called on Bangladesh's international allies to help in the recovery of substantial amounts of stolen money.

Prof Yunus made the call during his meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, Switzerland.

The chief adviser met Antonio Guterres, UN secretary general; Wolfgang Schmidt, head of the Federal Chancellery and Federal Minister for Special Tasks, Federal Chancellery of Germany; King Philippe of Belgium; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, prime minister of Thailand; Ignazio Cassis, federal councillor, Federal Department for Foreign Affairs, Switzerland; and Felix Tshisekedi, Congolese president; among others.

The chief adviser urged the global leaders to send top experts, think tanks, journalists, and international organisations to Bangladesh to look into how the "plain and daylight robbery" was committed in Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina's 16-year-long rule, his Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB after the meetings.

Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy to the chief adviser, Lamiya Morshed, principal coordinator on SDGs Affairs (senior secretary); and Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Bangladesh permanent representative in Geneva, were among others, present in the meetings, said Azad.

Lutfey briefed German minister Schmidt of the government's efforts in recovering the laundered money and said that the government formed an Asset Recovery Committee and a Task Force, led by the Bangladesh Bank governor.

He said the government had targeted initially top 20 money launderers.

Highlighting the interim government's efforts to build a corruption-free Bangladesh, Prof Yunus told the German minister, "When we talk about new Bangladesh, we also talk about clean Bangladesh."

The chief adviser sought German support to this effect and discussed potential fields of economic cooperation with the minister.

The minister said a German business delegation would visit Bangladesh in April.

Prof Yunus said Bangladesh intends to create an economic platform, also involving India, Nepal, and Bhutan, to explore the hydroelectric potential of Nepal. "Nepal is really ready to sell, and Bangladesh is a good market. It can create a lot of jobs and lessen dependence on fossil fuels."

The chief adviser also discussed elaborately with Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis regarding the issues of mutual interests, including economic cooperation and climate financing.

He requested Switzerland to support Bangladesh in its carbon retention efforts in the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.

Prof Yunus also urged Switzerland to invest in Bangladesh to cash in on the potentials of Bangladesh's youth, with young people under 27 years making up half the country's population.

He briefed the global leaders about the reform plans of Bangladesh's interim government and the plan for the next general election.

In his meetings with the German minister and the Swiss councillor, he also discussed Bangladesh's energy security.

In another development, the chief adviser also discussed with Thailand Prime Minister Shinawatra the Rohingya crisis and areas of economic cooperation, including shipping. "We want to resolve the Rohingya crisis quickly as more and more Rohingyas are coming to Bangladesh."

Shinawatra, one of the youngest prime ministers in the world, expressed her interest in increasing youth engagement between the two countries following the July uprising in Bangladesh.

The chief adviser briefed the Thai premier about the Three Zero ideas, which he said aimed at rescuing a self-destructive civilisation by reducing poverty, wealth concentration, unemployment, and carbon emissions.

He told Shinawatra that currently there are about 5,000 Three Zero clubs in 58 countries.

The Thai PM said the Bimstec summit will be held in Bangkok in April this year.

Prof Yunus said he looks forward to taking over as chairman of the Bimstec during the planned summit of the organisation.

Bimstec comprises seven countries of the Bay of Bengal region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The chief adviser also sought Thailand's support for Bangladesh to become a sectoral dialogue partner of Asean and in turn become a full member of the body.

During his meeting with Belgium King Philippe and Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, the chief adviser was informed how a microcredit programme launched by a group led by a Belgian prince helped expand the size of tropical forest reserves in the African country.

Prince Emmanuel de Merode, whose group launched microcredit in Congolese conflict-prone areas, said microcredit programmes have played a big role in bringing peace to parts of the region.

The chief adviser also held meetings with Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairperson, Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; John Kerry, former US secretary of state; and Tony Blair, former British prime minister; on the sidelines of WEF summit.