Thirteen foreign personalities have completed visiting different places to observe the history, tradition, art, culture and socio-economic development in Bangladesh under the “Visit Bangladesh 2022” programme.

They were from 11 countries – Algeria, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Vietnam, according to a media statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

Following the visit, they also pledged to project a positive image of Bangladesh through their writings for the expansion of trade and investment with Bangladesh.

Read more: Visiting foreign personalities to become Bangladesh’s goodwill envoys, ministry hopes

They also expressed their gratitude regarding the hospitality of Bangladesh.

The six-day programme, under the supervision of the public diplomacy wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, began on December 15 with separate meetings with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam.

They briefed the participants on the evolution of independent Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, foreign policy priorities, economic progress and development, role of free media, and the Rohingya issue.

The participants visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Central Shaheed Minar, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh National Museum and Dhaka University (DU) on the first day.

DU Vice Chancellor Professor Md. Akhtaruzzaman informed them about the history and heritage of the Dhaka University, the great language movement and the role of the university in the War of Liberation.

They also attended a dinner hosted by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen at the state guest house Padma.

They also witnessed the Victory Day parade at the National Parade Ground on December 16. After the parade, they went to the Liberation War Museum where various documents and photographs of the Liberation War were showcased.

On that day, they visited a popular private television channel of the country and got a good idea about media activities and the working environment in Bangladesh.

The foreign personalities also visited Bangabandhu’s Mausoleum in Tungipara and paid tribute to the founding father of the country. They also visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar.

On December 19, they paid a courtesy call on Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud.

The foreign guests also visited an industrial park in Gazipur on December 20 and completed their visit with a dinner at Padma.

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“Visit Bangladesh” is a regular flagship event by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aimed at showcasing the history, culture, landscape, progress and development of Bangladesh to foreign media personalities, writers, columnists, intellectuals, bureaucrats, civil society members and opinion-makers and shapers.

This is the first such post-Covid event organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2019.