Foreign-Affairs
Bangladesh considering Economic Partnership Agreement with S Korea to boost trade, investment: FM
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said Bangladesh is actively considering the bilateral instrument like the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with South Korea to boost bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
He highlighted on importance of new arrangements for the development of cooperation after Bangladesh’s graduation from LDC status in 2026.
The issues were discussed when Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to Bangladesh Park Young-sik met the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister thanked the Korean government for the congratulatory messages received from the President and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of ROK addressed to the PM and FM respectively upon assuming the respective offices following the general elections of January 7, 2024.
The Foreign Minister expressed his satisfaction on the 50 years of friendly bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the ROK.
He thanked the ROK Government for recently providing seven luxurious vehicles to Bangladesh to commemorate the 50 years of diplomatic relationship.
Hasan appreciated the ROK for allowing preferential market access for a good number of Bangladeshi products into the ROK.
The Foreign Minister thanked ROK government for continuously being one of the major foreign investors in Bangladesh.
He highlighted on the Bangladesh’s rapidly growing economy and welcomed more ROK investments in the fields of light engineering, electronics, home appliances, infrastructure development, ICT sector etc.
Hasan thanked KOICA for initiating the feasibility study for Metro Rail Project in Chattogram which is in good progress.
He requested the ROK Ambassador for arranging necessary funds by the Korean Government to implement the project.
Hasan also thanked Korea for increasing the quota for Bangladeshi skilled workers under its Employment Permit System (EPS) scheme.
However, Bangladesh could not fulfill the quota of 10200 persons last year due to language learning problem.
The Ambassador informed that the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh is addressing this issue.
They have already designated 2 Technical Training Centres (TTC) in Bangladesh where the Koreans can provide necessary training of language and technology.
Both sides also discussed on strengthening cooperation on Avoidance of Double Taxation, Revision of Air Services Agreement, exchange of high-level visits as well as to have further collaboration for the modernization and upgradation of Bangladesh’s existing industries, particularly RMG through direct or joint venture investments in Man-Made Fiber (MMF) and through the exchange of knowledge, expertise and technology.
Swedish princess at Ukhiya Rohingya camp
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, arrived at Cox's Bazar Ukhiya Rohingya camp on Wednesday noon.
She arrived Ukhiya Rohingya camp by an army helicopter from Noakhali's Bhasan Char at around 1:30 pm.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden witnesses climate change resilience efforts in Bangladesh
Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shahin Imran, Police Superintendent Mahfuzur Rahman and officials of the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka welcomed the princess.
She will visit various projects in the Rohingya camp. After visiting the camp, she will visit the world's largest shelter project for climate refugees at Khuruskool in Cox's Bazar in the afternoon.
Swedish Crown Princess in Khulna’s Koyra to witness impact of climate change
According to the Swedish Embassy, this is Princess Victoria's first visit to Bangladesh after being appointed as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in 2023.
However, she had earlier visited Bangladesh in 2005.
Indian envoy reaffirms commitment to further enrich special, multifaceted ties with Bangladesh
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma has underlined the deep bonds of friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and India, and reaffirmed commitment to further enrich the special and multifaceted ties — rooted in the shared sacrifices of 1971.
Speaking at an Iftar-event, he highlighted the significance of Iftar in promoting the spirit of brotherhood and humanity.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka hosted the Iftar on March 19.
Despite several odds Bangladesh will generate 40 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2041: Nasrul Hamid
The event was attended by over 400 distinguished guests from all walks of life including the government, legislature, judiciary, political parties, armed forces, civil society, academia, business, media and culture.
The High Commissioner noted that the Iftar gathering also symbolised the deep people-to-people ties that form the very foundation of India-Bangladesh relations.
Annual profits from forced labour amount to US$ 236 billion: ILO report
Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament, Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, graced the occasion as the chief guest. Religious Affairs Minister Md. Faridul Haque Khan was the guest of honour.
BNP wants help of foreigners, not country's people: Foreign Minister
Foreign Minister and Awami League joint general secretary Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said it is sad that BNP does not want any support and cooperation from the people, rather it seeks foreigners' support.
He made the comment while responding to a question from a journalist regarding BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan's remarks.
Talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday afternoon, the Minister said BNP itself fell down while pushing the Awami League government.
"And now it has started walking, distributing leaflets. Moyeen Khan is saying all these things to sustain the party, to make its existence known," he said.
Hasan said Sheikh Hasina's government is standing on a very strong foundation and Awami League's foundation is deeply rooted in the people.
He said, "BNP is very weak. Workers have no confidence in their leaders. Leaders do not trust the core leaders.
Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given instructions that no unnecessary expenses should be spent during Ramadan, no iftar parties should be held unnecessarily, but the money should be given to the common people.
"I am distributing Iftar items among the common people in my area and all parliamentarians and leaders are doing the same in their respective areas," he said.
He said, on the other hand, BNP has organized an iftar party on the first day of Ramadan and protested against the government. "I saw through social media that BNP is also extorting money in the name of Iftar party."
In response to another question, the Foreign Minister said that the government is determined to bring back the sailors of the Bangladeshi ship held hostage by pirates in Somalia.
Earlier, Ambassador of United Arab Emirates Abdulla Ali Abdulla Khaseif AlHmoudi met Minister Hasan and they discussed issues of mutual interest.
Annual profits from forced labour amount to US$ 236 billion: ILO report
Forced labour in the private economy generates US$236 billion in illegal profits per year, a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) has found.
The total amount of illegal profits from forced labour has risen by US$64 billion (37 per cent) since 2014, a dramatic increase that has been fuelled by both a growth in the number of people forced into labour, as well as higher profits generated from the exploitation of victims.
The ILO report, Profits and Poverty: the economics of forced labour, estimates that traffickers and criminals are generating close to US$10,000 per victim, up from US$8,269 (adjusted for inflation) a decade ago.
ILO Governing Body to hold 349th session in Geneva from Oct 30 to Nov 11
Total annual illegal profits from forced labour are highest in Europe and Central Asia (US$84 billion), followed by Asia and the Pacific (US$62 billion), the Americas (US$52 billion), Africa (US$20 billion), and the Arab States (US$18 billion).
When illegal profits are expressed per victim, annual illegal profits are highest in Europe and Central Asia, followed by the Arab States, the Americas, Africa and Asia and the Pacific.
Forced commercial sexual exploitation accounts for more than two-thirds (73 per cent) of the total illegal profits, despite accounting for only 27 per cent of the total number of victims in privately imposed labour.
These numbers are explained by the huge difference in per victim profits between forced commercial sexual exploitation and other forms of non-state forced labour exploitation – US$27,252 profits per victim for the former against US$3,687 profits per victim for the latter.
After forced commercial sexual exploitation, the sector with the highest annual illegal profits from forced labour is industry, at US$35 billion, followed by services (US$20.8 billion), agriculture (US$5.0 billion), and domestic work (US$2.6 billion).
BEF-ILO hold workshop on strengthening apprenticeship system
These illegal profits are the wages that rightfully belong in the pockets of workers but instead remain in the hands of their exploiters, as a result of their coercive practices.
There were 27.6 million people engaged in forced labour on any given day in 2021.
This figure translates to 3.5 people for every thousand people in the world. Between 2016 and 2021 the number of people in forced labour increased by 2.7 million.
“People in forced labour are subject to multiple forms of coercion, the deliberate and systematic withholding of wages being amongst the most common. Forced labour perpetuates cycles of poverty and exploitation and strikes at the heart of human dignity. We now know that the situation has only got worse. The international community must urgently come together to take action to end this injustice, safeguard workers' rights, and uphold the principles of fairness and equality for all,” stated ILO Director-General, Gilbert F. Houngbo.
The report stresses the urgent need for investment in enforcement measures to stem illegal profit flows and hold perpetrators accountable.
It recommends strengthening legal frameworks, providing training for enforcement officials extending labour inspection into high-risk sectors, and better coordination between labour and criminal law enforcement.
Yet forced labour cannot be ended through law enforcement measures alone, enforcement actions must be part of a comprehensive approach that prioritizes addressing root causes and safeguarding victims, underlines the report released from Geneva.
The Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, and the Forced Labour (Supplementary Measures) Recommendation, 2014 (No. 203) provide a strategic framework for comprehensive action.
UNDP Goodwill Ambassador inaugurates smart post center in Khulna
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, inaugurated a Smart Service Point of Post Office in Koyra, Khulna on Tuesday to strengthen digital inclusion and facilitate access to public services leaving no one behind.
The Smart Service Point (SSP) initiative, a collaborative effort integrating digital solutions with traditional postal services, represents a significant stride towards realizing the vision of a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
Swedish Crown Princess in Khulna’s Koyra to witness impact of climate change
Offering a spectrum of amenities such as parcel tracking, bill payment, and e-commerce facilitation, SSPs are revolutionizing accessibility and efficiency in rural areas of Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister requests visiting Irish Minister to ease the visa process
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud has invited Irish investment in Bangladesh, particularly in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals and IT sectors.
He also thanked Ireland for hosting a few thousand Bangladeshis and requested the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney to ease the visa process to enable more Bangladeshi students and IT professionals to pursue higher studies and work in Ireland.
The Foreign Minister thanked the Irish Minister for visiting Bangladesh to further strengthen Bangladesh-Ireland bilateral relations.
He suggested further enhancement of bilateral trade in goods and services through new initiatives and sought Ireland’s support for EU’s EBA trade preferences to Bangladesh until 2032 and GSP+ benefits beyond 2032.
Minister Simon Coveney met with the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 18.
Foreign Minister requests visiting Irish Minister to ease the visa process
The Irish Minister congratulated the Foreign Minister on his new appointment.
Highly praising Bangladesh’s sustained high economic growth, he suggested exchange of visits of delegations with special focus on bilateral trade and collaboration in the areas of technology, pharmaceuticals and energy.
He also assured Irish support in favour of Bangladesh’s appeal for extension of EBA facilities until 2032 and GSP+ facilities beyond 2032.
Referring to the migrant-friendly policy of the Irish government, the Irish Minister welcomed more Bangladeshi students and professionals to Ireland.
The Irish Minister hoped for an early solution of the Rohingya crisis and added that an additional Euro 1.5 million humanitarian assistance would be provided to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh.
The two ministers shared their views on the war in Gaza and expressed deep concern over the killing of people, particularly women and children.
They agreed that the two-state solution can bring lasting peace in the region.
Earlier, the Irish Minister officially opened Ireland’s first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, which is seen as an “important milestone” in the relations between Bangladesh and Ireland.
In its desire to further expand the bilateral relations with Dhaka, Ireland has recently appointed Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan as its Honorary Consul in Bangladesh.
Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly, and Masud Jamil Khan, among others, were present during the opening ceremony.
The Irish Minister arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
FM thanks Ireland for opening its Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
On the occasion of St Patrick’s Day, the National Day of Ireland and official opening of the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Bangladesh, Masud Jamil Khan and Kate Khan hosted an Iftar-dinner at a Dhaka hotel on Monday.
The Irish Minister, Irish Ambassador to India, former Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, diplomats stationed in Dhaka, senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, business leaders and journalists were present at the event.
Swedish Crown Princess in Khulna’s Koyra to witness impact of climate change
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, as part of her visit to Bangladesh as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNDP, is now staying in Koyra upazila of Khulna to see firsthand the impacts of climate change and lifestyle of people living in vulnerable coastal areas.
A helicopter of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) carrying her landed at a helipad built in Gilabari area under Maheshripur union of the upazila around 8 am today.
Foreign Minister requests visiting Irish Minister to ease the visa process
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Khandaker Yasir Arefin said the Swedish Crown Princess is scheduled to visit six areas including Maheshripur, Maharajpur union parishads and Madinabad digital office.
During her brief visit, Princess Victoria will visit two vulnerable spots impacted by climate change and hear from people living in the areas, he said, adding that she will inaugurate Madinabad SmartPost Centre.
FM thanks Ireland for opening its Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
Koyra police station Officer-in-Charge Md Mizanur Rahman said around 16,000 police personnel are on duty along with members from Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, Navy, BAF, Coast Guard and intelligence to ensure security of the state guest.
FM thanks Ireland for opening its Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has thanked Ireland for opening the Honorary Consulate in Dhaka and requested to increase the employment of Bangladeshis in Ireland.
He especially requested to ease the student visa process by allowing students to submit their visa applications to the Honorary Consulate in Dhaka.
Irish Minister Simon Coveney officially opens its first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka
The Foreign Minister also sought Ireland's support to continue the Everything But Arms (EBA) benefits of the European Union even after Bangladesh's graduation.
The issues were discussed when the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney met the Foreign Minister at his office.
Irish Minister Simon Coveney pays homage to Father of the Nation at Dhanmondi-32
Ireland's Minister said he views the visit as his country's first full ministerial visit to Bangladesh with great importance and expressed consensus that more manpower and students from this country would go to Ireland.
He also responded positively to the Foreign Minister's call for increased investment and diversification.
Irish Minister Simon Coveney to meet PM Hasina Monday
Earlier, the Irish Minister officially opened Ireland’s first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, which is seen as an “important milestone” in the relations between Bangladesh and Ireland.
In its desire to further expand the bilateral relations with Dhaka, Ireland has recently appointed Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director Masud Jamil Khan its Honourary Consul in Bangladesh.
Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly, and Masud Jamil Khan, among others, were present during the opening ceremony.
The Irish Minister arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a two-day official visit aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investment.
He met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Adviser Salman F Rahman separately on Monday.
State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam (Titu), MP hosted an iftar-dinner in honor of the visiting Irish Minister Sunday evening at the State guesthouse Padma.
Bangladesh Embassy in Cairo celebrates 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation, National Children's Day
Bangladesh Embassy in Cairo on Sunday celebrated the 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children's Day 2024 with due dignity and solemnity.
The program of the day begins with the official hoisting of the national flag.
Ambassador Samina Naz formally hoisted the national flag along with the national anthem at the embassy premises. The officials and employees of the embassy were present on the occasion.
Recitation from the Holy Qur'an and special prayers were offered seeking the prosperity and development of the country and also the peace for departed soul of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
In the special discussion meeting at the embassy Ambassador Samina Naz remembered the great architect of independence, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The ambassador mentioned that Bangabandhu gave the Bengali nation a country, flag and map.
Due to his extraordinary leadership, he was not only considered as the undisputed leader of Bengal, but he also established himself as a great leader of the world at that time, she said.
On the day, an age-based painting and writing competition was organized with the participation of Bangladeshi children living in Egypt.
In the competition, several young children and teenagers submitted their paintings and compositions to the embassy. The ambassador distributed the prizes to the winners of the competition.
Bangladeshi teachers and professionals working in various universities, international organisations, Bangladeshi businessmen in Egypt, and Bangladeshi students studying in various universities were present at the event.
An Iftar with dinner was hosted by the embassy on the occasion.