foreign-affairs
Bangladeshi workers must be protected from criminalisation in Malaysia: UN experts
UN experts on Friday expressed dismay about the situation of Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia, who had travelled there in the hope of employment after engaging in the official labour migration process.
“The situation of Bangladeshi migrants who have lived in Malaysia for several months or longer is unsustainable and undignified,” the experts said in a statement issued from Geneva.
The experts are Tomoya Obokata, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences; Siobhán Mullally, Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children; Gehad Madi, Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants and Robert McCorquodale (Chair-Rapporteur), Fernanda Hopenhaym (Vice-Chair), Pichamon Yeophantong, Damilola Olawuyi, Elzbieta Karska, Working Group on business and human rights.
“Malaysia needs to take urgent measures to address the dire humanitarian situation of migrants and protect them from exploitation, criminalisation and other human rights abuses," said the UN experts.
They noted that many migrants find on arrival in Malaysia that they do not have employment as promised and are often forced into overstaying their visas.
Consequently, these migrants risk arrest, detention, ill-treatment and deportation, the experts said.
They expressed concern that large sums of money were being generated through the fraudulent recruitment of migrant workers by criminal networks operating between Malaysia and Bangladesh.
Migrants were being deceived, recruited by companies that are frequently fake, and obliged to pay exorbitant recruitment fees which pushes them into debt bondage, the experts said.
“We received reports that certain high-level officials in both Governments are involved in this business or condoning it. This is unacceptable and needs to end,” the experts said.
“Perpetrators of these exploitative recruitments must be held accountable,” they said, adding that so far action taken against these private businesses and fraudulent recruitment companies have been wholly insufficient, both in Bangladesh and Malaysia.
“Meanwhile, vulnerable migrants have been criminalised and some have faced severe reprisals for reporting the exploitation suffered,” they said.
They urged Malaysia and Bangladesh to investigate and address the situation.
'Malaysia must govern labour migration more effectively by adopting adequate safeguards,” the experts said, urging the country to fulfil its obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to protect migrant workers against human rights abuses by businesses operating in Malaysia and ensure that these businesses respect human rights.
Malaysia must also step up efforts to identify, protect and assist victims of exploitation, enforce existing legal protections against trafficking in persons and uphold the country’s international human rights obligations, they said.
The experts have previously engaged with the Governments of Malaysia and Bangladesh on these issues.
PM Hasina building future Bangladesh: Finance Minister
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has started work on building future Bangladesh to fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the finance minister has said.
Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali made the comments while exchanging views with the officials and employees of Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Thursday.
The finance minister is now in Washington to lead a Bangladesh delegation to the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Muhammad Imran also spoke on the occasion, according to a message received here.
The finance minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to establish a developed and prosperous Bangladesh and the country is marching forward under her dynamic leadership.
Mahmood Ali said that the prime minister has taken the responsibility of completing the unfinished work of Bangabandhu and she is taking the nation to its desired goal.
But, he said, the anti-liberation forces, who still exist in the country, are carrying out destructive acts to hinder ongoing development.
Mahmood Ali, the first Pakistani diplomat in the USA to defect for Bangladesh during the Liberation War, reminisced his diplomatic life in New York in 1971.
Earlier, the finance minister placed a floral wreath at the bust of the father of the nation at the Bangabandhu Corner of the embassy.
India's FS Vinay Kwatra's visit "postponed"
The planned official visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra to Bangladesh has been postponed, says a diplomatic source on Thursday.
The visit, which will take place in a mutually convenient new date, is part of high-level exchanges between Bangladesh and India and to review progress in two countries' bilateral cooperation agenda, said the source.
The guests who were invited to attend the dinner with the Indian FS on April 20 also received a message on Thursday that says the visit "has been postponed."
Though there was no official announcement from Dhaka and New Delhi regarding the visit, he was supposed to be in Dhaka on a brief visit on Saturday.
Apart from his meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Masud Bin Momen, the Indian foreign secretary was due to meet Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is planned early July after the conclusion of the neighbouring country’s national election, which is the world's largest democratic exercise, spanning seven phases from April 19 to June 1, with the vote count set for June 4.
Pre-election surveys suggest a strong showing for the coalition led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is widely anticipated to secure re-election.
"Prime Minister's (Sheikh Hasina) India visit will definitely take place. However, it will take place after the election in India," FM Hasan said recently.
He said it is not yet discussed at the official level when the visit will exactly take place.
In January, Modi extended warm congratulations to PM Hasina on her electoral victory, expressing hopes for the continued strengthening of the historically close ties between India and Bangladesh.
The last bilateral engagement between the two prime ministers occurred during the G-20 Leaders Summit in September 2023, where Bangladesh was the guest country.
PM Modi is expected to extend invitations to South Asian and BIMSTEC country leaders for his swearing-in ceremony, fostering regional cooperation.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in New Delhi on 24 November 2023.
FOC is an institutional dialogue mechanism between the two foreign secretaries to review the entire gamut of bilateral relationship.
Both sides in bilateral forums usually discuss comprehensively a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people to people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh.
The government of India in March extended Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's tenure by six months.
Kwatra assumed charge as India’s foreign secretary on 1 May, 2022 and joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1988.
Launching of CVC in Dhaka will significantly enhance efficiency of visa issuance: Ambassador Yao Wen
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Thursday said the launching of the Chinese Visa Center (CVC) in Dhaka is another new measure by the Embassy in the short term to facilitate Bangladeshi citizens' travel to China.
Inaugurating the Chinese Visa Center (CVC) in Dhaka officially, Ambassador Yao said in recent years, the strategic cooperation between Bangladesh and China has sustained a sound momentum of growth, and the two countries enjoy an increasingly close and frequent exchanges at all levels and in all sectors.
The CVC boasts a prime location, competitive reception capacity, advanced equipment, and a professional management team.
"It is believed that, following its launching, the CVC will significantly enhance the efficiency of visa issuance and the service provided to visa applicants," said Ambassador Yao, wishing the Chinese Visa Center in Dhaka a smooth operation and a great success.
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Recently, he said, the Embassy has also simplified the visa application documents for participants in the Canton Fair who are exempt from TE Invitation Letters, which has been well received by participants.
“On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, I would like to extend the warmest congratulations on the launching of the CVC, and express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the friends from all walks of life who have long cared about and supported the work of the Embassy!,” he said.
The envoy said more and more Bangladeshi people are willing to travel to China and their demand for Chinese visas have been growing.
"Last year, the number of visa applicants hit a peak at 1500 per day. Despite that we were short-handed and the visa hall of the Embassy was under a strain, we continuously improved our service as well as the capacity to accept more visa applications," he said.
Nevertheless, the envoy said, it was still difficult to fully satisfy the increasing demands of visa applications.
With the purpose of breaking through the development bottleneck of visa services and further promoting the people-to-people exchanges, he said, they have decided to launch the CVC in Dhaka after meticulously and prudently study and discussion.
We envision Center for China Studies as a bridge connecting Bangladesh, China, S Asia and world: Ambassador Yao Wen
It is a common international practice to set up visa application centers in countries where overseas visa application demand is concentrated, and many countries have already established such centers in Bangladesh.
"With this one today, China currently has 103 visa application centers in 55 countries around the world, with a sound management system and extensive experience in operation," said Ambassador Yao.
As a commercial institution registered and operated under the laws of Bangladesh, the CVC is authorized by the Embassy to accept visa applications in strict accordance with the Embassy's requirements and provide applicants with services such as on-site reception, application materials acceptance, passport and legalization documents issuance, and Q&A services.
"The CVC attaches great importance to data security and has taken various measures to protect applicants’ privacy. In accordance with regulations, the embassy will rigorously oversee the operations of the CVC to ensure that applicants receive services that are both comfortable and reliable," said Ambassador Yao.
Throughout this process, he said, they encourage ongoing support to and oversight on their visa operations.
"We also extend a warm invitation for everyone to share valuable and constructive feedback to help enhance the operations of the CVC at any time," said the envoy.
Since the full resumption of visa issuance on March 15 last year, in order to meet the rising demand for personnel exchanges between China and Bangladesh, the Embassy has rolled out a series of measures to facilitate Bangladeshi citizens’ travel to China, the Ambassador said.
These are shortening visa application forms, lowering visa fees for the entire year, exempting certain applicants from fingerprinting, providing walk-in without appointment visa application service, recruiting more staff, adding service counters, extending office hours, optimizing waiting areas, and providing green channels for urgent humanitarian affairs.
China firmly supports Bangladesh in opposing external interference: Ambassador Yao Wen
Most notably, with effect from June 15th last year, the Embassy officially launched the China Online Visa Application System, said Ambassador Yao.
All steps including filling out application forms, submitting application documents, and having interviews are conducted online, reducing the frequency of applicants’ visits to the Embassy.
"These measures have yielded significant results, with nearly 44,000 visas of various types issued by the Embassy in less than 10 months," said the envoy.
Toufique Hasan, Director General of the East Asia & Pacific Wing of the MoFA, Bangladesh, S.N. Manzur Murshed, former President of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), Wang Jicheng, Deputy General Manager of Qiandaifu Company, and Tian Wen and Wang Xiaojing from CIIC Group, were present.
It is our duty to defend the motherland: Army Chief tells seminar
Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed on Thursday said Bangladesh Army is doing everything in contributing to achieving Bangladesh’s foreign policy and helping the country become a Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“It is our duty to defend our motherland, to maintain sovereignty of the country and we remain prepared for that. We are doing everything,” he said.
The army chief made the remarks while speaking at a seminar titled “Defence Diplomacy: Strategy for Bangladesh” hosted by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its auditorium.
Mentioning Bangabandhu’s foreign policy dictum “Friendship to all, malice towards none” he said they are doing everything to implement this foreign policy
“Diplomacy is nothing but an effort to achieve national interest in any form,” said the army chief, putting emphasis on sustained economic growth with maintaining national security.
He mentioned how the army, in aid to civil power, is doing a lot of nation building activities, disaster management efforts at home and abroad and doing some internal security duties.
The army chief said wherever there is an opportunity, whether it is told and untold, they take the opportunity and do everything for the benefits of Bangladesh.
Talking about military diplomacy, he said they need to enhance the capability by putting in more resources and budget. “We know how to do it but we should have that capability to do it.”
Regarding the Myanmar issue, the army chief said some of the military leaders in Myanmar are facing international sanctions and there is a risk of putting themselves in trouble.
“To make one friend happy, we cannot antagonize another. There are dynamics that we have to look into. Practical connotation has also been taken into consideration. We are doing our best and we are on the right track,” he said.
General Shafiuddin said they have indigenously produced some remotely operated vehicles which are good innovations for Bangladesh Army. “Thus, we are saving a lot of foreign currency as earlier we needed to import these equipment.”
He said military persons not only learn how to fight a war but also know how to prevent or avoid any war to achieve the national interest. “We are on the right track and we will not be failing in discharging our duties.”
At the same time, General Shafiuddin said they never forget the main role of military forces which is to protect the sovereignty of the country and they should be ready in doing that.
He said intention can change overnight but capability does not change overnight. “You are my friend today but what happens if you are not my friend tomorrow? We should be capable of defending our national interest, our motherland but the main foreign policy dictum says every tone for us.”
BIISS Chairman Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker and its Director General Major General Md Abu Bakar Siddique Khan, among others, spoke.
Chief of General Staff, Bangladesh Army Lieutenant General Waker-Uz-Zaman was also present in the seminar.
Dr ASM Ali Ashraf, Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, spoke on “Evolving Notion of Defence Diplomacy and its Role in Achieving Foreign Policy Goals”; ASM Tarek Hassan Semul, Research Fellow, BIISS, talked about “Growing Geopolitical Competition: Challenges and Opportunities of Defence Diplomacy for Bangladesh”; Major General (Retd) Main Ullah Chowdhury, former Deputy Force Commander, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and A/FC, United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), discussed on “Defence Diplomacy in United Nations and Other Overseas Missions: Horizon to Explore” and Air Vice Marshall (Retd) Mahmud Hussain, Distinguished Expert, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University (BSMRAAU), and former Ambassador, Brunei, made a presentation on “Existing Practices of Defence Diplomacy and Future Directions: The Case of Bangladesh”.
There was an open discussion session followed the presentations.
The speakers and discussants, during the open discussion session, noted that defence diplomacy has emerged as an effective diplomatic instrument and mechanism for crisis prevention to further a country’s diplomatic ties vis-à-vis promoting its foreign and security policy objectives.
From Bangladesh’s perspective, defence diplomacy is regarded as an important mechanism for using armed forces in a non-coercive manner that helps to attain the country’s national interests and foreign policy goals, they said.
They also said that participation in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping missions - a form of defence diplomacy- is an avenue for Bangladesh to demonstrate its commitment towards global peace and stability as well as enhance its importance and influence worldwide.
The speakers mentioned that the concept and appeal of defence diplomacy are evolving in the diplomatic arena of Bangladesh.
Senior officials from different ministries, high officials from embassies and high commissions, former diplomats, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, researchers, faculties and students from various universities, and representatives from international organisations participated in the seminar and enriched it by presenting their valuable questions, opinions, comments, suggestions, and observations during the open discussion session.
PM Hasina’s upcoming visit to Thailand to open new windows of cooperation: MoFA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay an official visit to Bangkok, Thailand from April 24 to 29 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Srettha Thavisin.
The scheduled bilateral visit of the prime minister will be the first-ever visit at the level of Head of Government from Bangladesh to Thailand since establishment of diplomatic relations, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
The visit is significant for both Bangladesh and Thailand as it will open new windows of cooperation between the two friendly countries, MoFA said.
The PM would lead a high level delegation which includes a number of ministers, advisers, secretaries and senior officials of the government.
Marina Tabassum named in TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People for 2024
Finance Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman will accompany the prime minister during the visit, a senior official told UNB.
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu will also be part of the Bangladesh delegation, he said.
On April 26, PM Hasina will be formally received by her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her.
On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with PM Thavisin at the Government House.
During the visit, the prime minister will have a Royal audience of Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand at the Palace.
Hasina is also scheduled to attend a state lunch to be hosted by her Thai counterpart in her honour.
A number of MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, according to the MoFA.
PM Hasina is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of the Commission for UNESCAP.
She will deliver a speech at UNESCAP on April 25. On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the prime minister.
Guided by the theme “Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, the eightieth session will be an opportunity to strengthen region-wide cooperative action on leveraging digital innovation for the accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
FOC: Dhaka, Kathmandu for operationalisation of BBIN MVA framework to boost trade, connectivity
The session will bring together government leaders and ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss how digital innovation can more inclusively contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across multiple disciplines.
Moreover, participants will be able to identify opportunities to fully unleash the transformative potential of digital innovations and discuss pathways to strengthen their contribution to sustainable development, said the organizers.
A digital innovation fair will provide space to engage with a broad range of partners and stakeholders showcasing digital innovations that are already contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals across the region.
Asia and the Pacific is uniquely placed to leverage digital technologies to overcome sustainable development challenges.
Already, the region is recognized as a dynamic hub for digitally driven innovation fueled by pioneering technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Digital Finance, GovTech, and the Internet of Things.
Yet to encourage further ingenuity and tap digital innovation to bolster the huge collective effort required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the region needs a plan.
Marina Tabassum named in TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential People for 2024
Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum has been named in influential US weekly TIME magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world for 2024. Tabassum was named in the Innovators section of the list for her commitment to sustainable design that “prioritises local cultures and values, as well as the perils faced by our shared planet.”
The citation for Tabassum, written for TIME by Sarah Whiting, dean of the Harvard School for Design, says: “Tabassum’s altruism even extends to buildings themselves. She cares for her creations as creatures partaking in the resources of our earth: describing her Bait Ur Rouf Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which won the prestigious Aga Khan Award, she said a building “has to be able to breathe without artificial aids.” Elsewhere in the country, which faces increased flood risks due to climate change, she has developed houses that are cost-effective and easy to move—clearly, buildings shouldn’t just breathe; they should avoid getting their feet wet. While she practices very locally, she teaches, lectures, and is recognized internationally, modeling architecture not as an individual signature but as a collective Esperanto.”
Athens Conference: FM Hasan calls for responsible, sustainable ocean management
Tabassum's work was previously honoured with the 2016 Aga Khan Award for Architecture and with the Soane Medal by the American Academy of Arts and Letters Awards in 2021.
She was also named as the winner of the Millennium Lifetime Achievement Award at the Lisbon Architecture Triennale in 2022.
Tabassum is the principal architect of Marina Tabassum Architects, which she founded in 2005. Previously she was at URBANA, which she co-founded in 1995, shortly after graduating from BUET in 1994.
She broke into the limelight with her design for the Bait ur Rauf Mosque in Abdullahpur, that won her the Aga Khan Award, and pioneered a new generation of architects in embracing indigenous design principles for mosques, distinguished by the lack of domes, the use of plinths, the earthen palette, and the intelligent, at times bewitching use of light streaming in through perforations on the roof and walls.
Read more: 'Architecture is truly global, can also be deeply local'
Historic Mujibnagar Day observed at Bangladesh Embassy in Washington
The historic Mujibnagar Day was observed at Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Wednesday, recalling the ceremonial oath-taking of the first government of independent Bangladesh on 17th April in 1971.
The day's programmes commenced with placing of a floral wreath by Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran at the bust of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Bangabandhu Corner of the embassy.
‘Mujibnagar Day’ observed by Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei
Officials and employees of the Mission were present during the time.
Later, the messages issued on the occasion by President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were read out by Minister (Commerce) Md. Salim Reza and First Secretary Wahiduzzaman Noor at the Bangabandhu Auditorium.
Afterwards, a documentary -- “Mujibnagar: The First Capital of Bangladesh” -- was screened which was followed by a seminar highlighting the significance of the day.
Taking part in the seminar titled “Mujibnagar Government in the Emergence of Bangladesh”, Ambassador Imran paid tributes to Bangabandhu, and four national leaders -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamaruzzaman -- who successfully led the nation’s nine-month war of independence in absence of the great leader.
The ambassador described the Mujibnagar Day as a glorious and memorable day of the country's history, and Mujibnagar as a symbol of heroics of the Bengali nation.
He said the Mujibnagar Government and independence of Bangladesh are tied to the same thread, and Bangladesh attained incredible achievements in all sectors in continuation of the success of the Mujibnagar Government.
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Counsellor (Political) Arifa Rahman Ruma presented the keynote paper at the seminar and discussed in detail the background and importance of the historic day. The day's programmes concluded with offering a special prayer seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation, the four national leaders and three million martyrs of the War of Liberation as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation. First Secretary Ataur Rahman conducted the programs.
Athens Conference: FM Hasan calls for responsible, sustainable ocean management
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has stressed the need for responsible and sustainable ocean management at the high-level panel of Foreign Ministers in the "9th Our Ocean Conference" in Athens on Wednesday.
He also pointed the need for adopting a holistic approach to balance between sustainable management of the ocean for environmental conservation and socioeconomic development of people living in the proximity of the ocean.
Minister Hasan highlighted the initiatives taken by Bangladesh, a country with long Maritime border and Maritime history, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure sustainable ocean management and utilization of maritime resources to uplift the socioeconomic condition of the coastal population.
The Foreign Minister also called upon the world community to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty and allocate funds for the restoration of biodiversity of the Oceans as about 10 billion USD was committed by various countries for overall development of ecosystems and green shipping.
Foreign Ministers of Greece, Costa Rica, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe also made intervention and made national commitments at this conference concluding day panel discussion.
FOC: Dhaka, Kathmandu for operationalisation of BBIN MVA framework to boost trade, connectivity
Bangladesh and Nepal have emphasised the operationalisation of the (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) framework to contribute to the individual country’s economy not only by expanding trade and connectivity, but also by creating more opportunity to promote people-to-people contacts.
Bangladesh also emphasised the expeditious conclusion of tripartite power agreement among Bangladesh-India-Nepal soon, which will help Bangladesh to import power from Nepal, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The issues were discussed at the third round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Nepal held in Kathmandu on Wednesday.
During the consultations, Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, while Nepali delegation was led by Sewa Lamsal, Foreign Secretary of Nepal. Ambassadors of both countries and other senior officials attended the meeting.
During the FOC, the whole gamut of bilateral relations was reviewed.
Both the foreign secretaries expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relations that exist between Bangladesh and Nepal.
They discussed all the major issues of mutual interests and agreed to promote cooperation encompassing all sectors, especially trade and commerce, transit and connectivity, power and energy sector, tourism, culture and education.
The Bangladesh foreign secretary thanked the government of Nepal for allocating land for the construction of Monastery in Lumbini.
He added that it would be a milestone between "our relations and enhance people-to-people contacts between Bangladesh and Nepal in the days ahead."
Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal stressed the exploration of the untapped potential in economic, cultural and educational areas and proposed to establish meaningful collaborative partnership including in the private sector.
She mentioned that Nepal would like to pursue more trade and investment cooperation with Bangladesh.
She urged Bangladeshi side to explore investment opportunities in Nepal including in hydropower sector.
She also requested the Government of Bangladesh to eliminate the existing Other Duties and Charges (ODCs) levied on Nepali products being exported to Bangladesh.
The Nepali foreign secretary emphasized the exchange of visits at different levels.
Both sides discussed regional issues of mutual interest.
They also underscored the necessity of revitalising SAARC and strengthening BIMSTEC for promoting regional cooperation.
They also agreed to cooperate with each other at various multilateral forums, especially at the UN to pursue common interests especially in the areas of LDC graduation, poverty alleviation, climate change and safety and security of migrant workers.
An MoU between Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh and Foreign Service Institute of Nepal was also signed by the Foreign Secretaries of the two countries.
In the afternoon, Masud Bin Momen paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar.
During the meeting, discussions were held on issues of mutual interest between Nepal and Bangladesh.
The next FOC will take place in Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.