Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday expressed that Bangladesh would welcome foreign observers for the upcoming elections in the country.
He assured that the elections would be held in free, fair and peaceful environment.
Momen made the remarks during his meeting with Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Reto Siegfried Renggli referring to the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh.
The foreign minister congratulated Renggli on his appointment as the Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh.
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Momen termed Switzerland as ‘the country of peace and stability’ and recalled Bangabandhu’s vision of transforming Bangladesh into ‘Switzerland of the East’.
Highlighting that return on investment in Bangladesh is higher than many other neighbouring countries, Momen invited more Swiss investment into Bangladesh, particularly in the fields of renewable energy and agro-food processing.
Mentioning Bangladesh as the ‘land of opportunity and vibrant economy’, he underscored the importance of exchange of business delegations to further the trade and investment cooperation between the two friendly countries.
The Swiss ambassador recalled the visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Switzerland in 1972.
He expressed satisfaction at the fact that bilateral trade between the two countries exceeded US$ 1 billion last year and highlighted opportunities for more bilateral trade between the two countries and Swiss investment into Bangladesh.
Recognising the need for continued global attention to the Rohingya crisis and humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas, sheltered in Bangladesh, the Swiss envoy assured extending his government’s support towards safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The foreign minister thanked the Swiss government for their support to the Rohingya crisis and hoped for more Swiss support towards early repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar for the sake of peace and stability in the region.