FM Meets Three New Ambassadors to Bangladesh

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen met three new Ambassadors to Bangladesh, Ambassador of Sweden Alexandra Berg Von Linde, Ambassador of Spain Francisco de Asís BENÍTEZ SALAS and Ambassador of Norway Espen Rikter-Svendsen on Tuesday morning at the State Guest House, Padma.

After congratulating the new Ambassadors on their assumption of office in Bangladesh, Foreign Minister discussed a whole range of bilateral as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest, said the Foreign Ministry.

Momen mentioned the excellent bilateral relation of Bangladesh with all these three countries which is characterized by friendly sentiments, the commonality of views, mutually beneficial economic cooperation and increasing bilateral trade and investment.

Foreign Minister briefed them about Bangladesh's glorious developmental journey, particularly during the last decade under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Momen invited Swedish, Spanish and Norwegian investors to set up manufacturing factories in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of Bangladesh.

By investing in the SEZs, he said the foreign investors can avail the tax benefits and attract foreign direct investment-friendly packages offered by the government of Bangladesh as well as can take advantage of Bangladesh’s demographic dividend and the large domestic market.

Mentioning the current government's 'Digital Bangladesh' mandate, Momen informed the Ambassadors about Bangladesh's recent development in ICT sector. Referring to the 28 Hi-tech parks in Bangladesh, Foreign Minister urged the Ambassadors to encourage their respective country's investors to invest in those Hi-tech parks.

Although it has been more than three years since the mass exodus of Rohingya influx to Bangladesh from their homeland Myanmar happened, not a single Rohingya has been repatriated to Myanmar because the Myanmar authorities have not created a conducive environment for repatriation, said Momen.

All three Ambassadors strongly commended Bangladesh for the humanitarian stance taken by Bangladesh regarding the Rohingyas.

They expressed profound appreciation of Bangladesh for the extraordinary humanitarian gesture of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by providing shelter to the 1.1 Million Rohingyas who have fled their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar after being persecuted by their own state.

Foreign Minister stressed that the international community needs to take urgent steps to resolve the crisis.

He pointed out that strong pressure needs to be put on Myanmar to ensure that its government takes back the Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh on an urgent basis in a safe, dignified and sustainable manner.