France and Germany have agreed to individually widen their bilateral relations with Bangladesh and assured of standing beside the country on its development journey. Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said this after holding separate meetings with German Ambassador Achim Tröster and French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy at his office in Segunbagicha on Thursday (January 25, 2024). Read: ‘Lobbyist-backed’ statement on Dr Yunus won’t impact FDI, Hasan Mahmud says The two most important European ambassadors discussed issues related to trade and investment, climate change, security cooperation and cooperation in the aviation and education sector. Responding to a question on Bangabandhu Satellite-2, the foreign minister said this is definitely a priority for the government of Bangladesh and hoped that the discussions with France in this regard will see further progress. On purchasing aircraft from the European aviation giants Airbus, the foreign minister said Bangladesh will buy when the country's economy permits. Asked if the decision to buy the planes was final, Hasan Mahmud said such 'final decisions' on purchase are not taken at the Foreign Ministry. The two ambassadors also handed over congratulatory letters from their respective heads of government. Read: BD, UK vow to deepen ties at FM Hasan’s meet with HC Cooke  Both these countries are major development and trade partners of Bangladesh and the ambassadors discussed widening the relations in the coming days, Hasan Mahmud said. Talking to reporters, French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy said France wants to start a new exchange programme for young teachers and students with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh has sought help from Germany to implement the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and areas related to climate change including technology transfer, capacity building and renewable energy. Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md Shahab Uddin had a meeting with the members of the German Parliament visiting Bangladesh along with Achim Troster, the German Ambassador to Bangladesh, at the Foreign Service Academy on Saturday. The minister said $230 billion will be required to implement the newly formulated NAP to deal with climate change risks.  It will be easier to implement if the developed world, including Germany, supports it. Also Read: Active civil society an ‘essential element’ in democracies: German Embassy He said that Bangladesh is implementing various projects across the country including in the Sundarbans to prevent climate change. The government is also implementing programs to implement a circular economy in waste management and set a timeline to introduce block bricks instead of burnt bricks to prevent air pollution, the minister added. The German ambassador said that Germany's cooperation in all activities related to combating the effects of climate change and ongoing development in Bangladesh will continue at an increasing pace.   Also Read: German parliamentary delegation to visit Bangladesh from February 22-26 This cooperation will be given on the basis of mutual discussion and demand, he added. Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Climate Change) Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional Secretary (Environment) Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik and Additional Secretary (Environment, Pollution Control) Md. Mizanur Rahman were present on the occasion.