State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said Bangladesh looks forward to Sweden's continued support to make the LDC graduation smooth and sustainable.
He hoped that Bangladesh's onward march to becoming a reliable partner in the global supply chain can be supported by Sweden.
State Minister Alam reaffirmed the pledge to work together with Sweden for the collective well-being of shared humanity and hoped that the relations between Bangladesh and Sweden would continue to grow in depth and dimensions in the coming days.
Read more: Bangladesh-Sweden further cooperation can yield more mutual benefits: BGMEA
He attended as the guest of honour at a reception on the occasion of Lucia, as well as the celebration of 50 years of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Sweden.
Sweden's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexandra Berg von Linde, hosted the reception.
The Lucia reception, one of the foremost cultural Swedish traditions, was held at Edge Gallery at Bay's Edgewater in Gulshan 2 of the capital.
The State Minister said that Lucia reception marks the end of the year, and looking back on 2022, Sweden and Bangladesh relations have strengthened, with new avenues of cooperation emerging as well.
He recalled Sweden was among the first European countries to have recognised an independent Bangladesh in early 1972.
The government and people of Sweden stood by Bangladesh as the country embarked on a difficult reconstruction and rehabilitation journey under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Sweden has been a steadfast partner in Bangladesh's development trajectory in the last five decades, with active footprints in good governance, labour rights, trade, investment, disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, education, cultural cooperation, and humanitarian assistance.
Lucia is an old tradition celebrated all over Sweden in the making of Christmas.
Read more: Sustainability an important part of our future bilateral ties with Bangladesh: Swedish Minister
As a part of this, Sweden Embassy in Dhaka organised the celebration. Diplomats, editors and political leaders, among others, were present.