Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has formally inaugurated the new Chancery building of Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon.

Bangladeshi expatriates have expressed their joy at having a Bangladesh-owned Embassy in Portugal, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.

The entrance and premises of the Chancery wore a festive look with decorations befitting the occasion.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Ambassador Álvaro Mendonca e Moura graced the inaugural ceremony held on Friday as special guest.

After unveiling the inaugural plaque and cutting the ribbon, the Foreign Minister Momen paid his homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a floral wreath at his mural portrait lying on the wall of the Chancery building.

Ambassador Tarik Ahsan, Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam, officials from the Foreign Ministry, other embassy officials, distinguished Portuguese guests along with leaders and members of expatriate Bangladesh community were present on this auspicious occasion.

Participants of the event assembled at the auditorium of the Chancery to share their feelings on the special day.

Portuguese guests congratulated Bangladesh government on securing a permanent address of Bangladesh in Lisbon.

Ambassador Tarik Ahsan said that permanent Chancery building had been a long-felt need, as workload of our Embassy has increased manifold, due to its increased activities in consular affairs as well as in pursuit of economic, cultural and public diplomacy. 

He viewed that the new Chancery building would contribute in a big way to strengthening the bonds of friendship between people of Bangladesh and Portugal. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her directives to establish the permanent Chancery building and Ambassador’s Residence in Lisbon.

Ambassador Álvaro Mendonça e Moura in his remarks congratulated Bangladesh government and all the expatriates living in Portugal at this historic moment.

He opined that the friendly relation between Bangladesh and Portugal would be elevated to a higher level with this inauguration of the permanent chancery building in Lisbon.

Foreign Minister Momen viewed that the Chancery building symbolizes the presence of a transforming Bangladesh that has just celebrated 50 years of its independence last year, and stands poised to enhance its global footprints by surging ahead with its value-based diplomacy in pursuit of its national development aspirations.

He said, “This building is not just a mere construction or enclosure, but bears our message to our friends in Portugal that we value our shared history, that we cherish our present-day human connectivity, and that we look to our shared future with much anticipation and optimism.”