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A nation’s study environment and employment landscape deeply influence the quality of life and future prospects for international students. When education is integrated with accessible job markets, learners experience both academic and personal growth. European countries are globally recognised for maintaining rigorous academic standards. Their specialities are cutting-edge research, practical curriculum, and international collaborations. Among them, Finland stands out as a Schengen country, offering freedom of movement and cultural immersion. Let’s explore what makes this Nordic nation an ideal destination for Bangladeshi students. Eligibility Criteria for Higher Studies in Finland Before embarking on an academic journey to Finland, applicants must carefully review the eligibility requirements, which vary by program level. For bachelor's degrees, students must have completed their Higher Secondary Certificate, high school diploma, or an equivalent qualification. Master's programs require a completed undergraduate degree in a relevant field, with academic credits aligning with the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). In the case of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), a distinctive requirement for master’s applicants is a minimum of two years of relevant work experience post-graduation. Doctoral programs, on the other hand, call for a postgraduate degree along with a well-structured research proposal or prior academic publications. Read more: Finland ranked again the world’s happiest country in 2025: What’s the secret Some universities may additionally request standardised test scores such as GMAT or GRE, particularly for competitive or business-related programs. Certain institutions might also include entrance examinations, SAT assessments, or online interviews as part of their admissions procedures. Despite Finnish and Swedish being the official languages, English is widely spoken—especially among younger generations. It eliminates the need for foreign students to learn the local languages. However, applicants are expected to demonstrate proficiency in English, typically through IELTS or TOEFL scores, which are highly regarded by Finnish universities. Top Universities in Finland and Popular Fields of Study The top-ranked educational institutions in Finland in recent years are: - Aalto University- University of Helsinki- University of Oulu- University of Turku- Lappeenranta University of Technology- Tampere University- University of Jyvaskyla- University of Eastern Finland- Abo Akademi University- University of Vaasa. Read more: Study in South Korea: Admission, Visa, Costs, Scholarships, and Opportunities for International Students The Best Fields of Study at Finnish universities Here are some of the most popular subjects to study in Finland - Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction- Health and Welfare- Business Administration- Law- Arts and Humanities- Information and Communication Technologies- Natural sciences, Mathematics, and Statistics Application Procedures for Admission of Universities in Finland Finnish universities, including both traditional institutions and Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), operate two major intakes for international students: Autumn semester: Beginning in August or September Spring semester: Starting in January or February Each admission cycle generally remains open for 5 to 6 months, allowing applicants ample time to prepare and submit documents. Read more: Study in Russia: Application Process, Visa, Scholarships, Costs, and Benefits Admission systems vary across universities and UAS institutions, each maintaining its own set of guidelines and document requirements. However, there are two main application pathways: Joint Application: Allows candidates to apply to a maximum of six different programs across various institutions using a single application form.Separate Application: A conventional method in which applicants apply to individual programs at specific institutions. To explore programs and complete online applications, the following platforms are commonly used: Official websites of UAS institutionsOfficial university websitesStudyinfo portal: https://opintopolku.fi/konfo/en/ Read more: How To Prepare For Higher Studies Abroad After HSC Essential Documents for University Admission Finnish higher education institutions typically require the following: - A fully completed application form- Certified copies of academic transcripts and diplomas- Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL)- Copy of passport. Additional Requirements for UAS and Advanced Programs - Proof of employment (for UAS master’s programs)- Special arrangements form (if needed for entrance exams)- Curriculum Vitae- Motivation letter or personal statement- Reference letters (if applicable)- Academic publications (for doctoral studies)- Except for English proficiency certificates and passport copies, all documents originally in Bengali must be submitted along with official translations. Read more: Higher Studies in England: Application, Study Cost, Scholarship, and Other Scopes Student Visa (Residence Permit) Application for Finland For stays longer than 90 days, international students are required to obtain a residence permit rather than a standard student visa. This permit not only covers the full duration of study but also grants permission to engage in part-time employment. Postgraduate students entering Finland for academic research must apply for a residence permit for scientific research, typically allowing up to two years of stay. Upon receiving approval for the residence permit, students must apply for a D-type visa, which facilitates immediate entry into Finland. The D-visa should be applied for as soon as the residence permit is granted, enabling entry within two weeks and collection of the residence card from within Finland. However, this visa comes with a validity limit of 100 days for entry. Read more: Studying for Bachelor’s in Romania: Application Process, Costs, Scholarships, and Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students To begin the process, applicants must create an account on the Enter Finland portal: https://enterfinland.fi/eServices/account/emailregistration After completing the online submission, the application form must be printed, signed, and submitted along with all supporting documents to the Finnish Embassy. Required Documentation for Student Visa After receiving the official offer letter from a Finnish educational institution, the visa application begins with gathering a complete set of documents. These include: - Official admission letter issued by a Finnish university or UAS- Valid passport with at least two blank pages and a validity of at least six months beyond the intended arrival in Finland- Proof of income, such as employment certificates (if applicable)- Financial sufficiency documentation, demonstrating access to a minimum of EUR 800 or BDT 1,07,216 (EUR 1 = BDT 134.02) per month. It amounts to an annual bank statement of at least EUR 9,600 (BDT 12,86,592) for the first academic year- Scholarship or sponsorship documents, if financial aid is awarded- Health insurance certificate:For study periods longer than two years, the policy must cover at least EUR 1,20,000 (BDT 1,60,82,400)- For durations shorter than two years, coverage of EUR 40,000 (BDT 53,60,800) is requiredAdditional documents may be requested by the embassy based on individual circumstances. Read more: Studying for Bachelor’s Degree in Hungary: Cost, Scholarships, Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students Booking an Appointment with the Embassy Once the Enter Finland online application is complete, the next step involves scheduling an in-person appointment for a visa interview. This is done via the VFS Global registration portal: https://services.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/frp/register After successful booking, a queue list is generated with the appointment date and time. On the scheduled date, applicants must visit the embassy with all original documents and printed application forms. Read more: Graduate Programs in the US: Guide for Bangladeshi Students Diplomatic Mission Address: Nyaya Marg (E-3), Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021, India During the embassy visit, biometric enrollment—including fingerprints and photographs—is conducted. Once the interview is complete, the application is forwarded to the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) for assessment. Read more: Study in France: Costs, Scholarships, and Opportunities for Bangladeshi Students Residence Permit Approval and D Visa Issuance Upon evaluation, the Finnish Immigration Service issues the final decision in the form of a Decision Envelope, sent to the embassy. Applicants are notified both via email and through their Enter Finland account. Collection of the envelope requires a physical visit to the embassy. A positive decision makes the applicant eligible to immediately apply for a D-type visa, which allows rapid entry into Finland. The D visa is generally processed within two weeks, though some cases may require up to one month. Following arrival in Finland, students can collect their residence permit card, the official document authorizing their stay and part-time work. While the permit decision itself may take 6 to 9 months in some cases, the physical card is typically issued within two weeks of the decision. A valid passport must be presented during card collection. Read more: Free Websites for Online IELTS Mock Tests Fees and Processing Charges The application fee for the residence permit (study purpose) when submitted online is EUR 450 (BDT 60,309). In addition, once the permit decision is positive, applicants must apply for a D-type visa, which incurs an additional fee of EUR 95 (BDT 12,732). Moreover, there is a VFS service charge of EUR 20 (BDT 2,681) applicable during the embassy appointment stage for handling the logistics and documentation. All payments can be made digitally through Visa or MasterCard during the online application process. Alternatively, these fees may also be paid at the time of the embassy interview.  However, it is important to note that opting for offline or paper-based applications typically results in higher fees and longer processing durations. Read more: Higher Education Abroad: How Bangladeshis Can Open Student Files Study and Living Costs in Finland Overall tuition fees range between EUR 8,000 to 20,000 annually (BDT 10,72,160 to 26,80,400). Beyond these costs, depending on the university and academic programme, students must prepare to meet daily living expenses independently. The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) mandates a minimum monthly budget of EUR 800. However, a more realistic estimate is EUR 900 to 1,000 (BDT 1,20,618 to 1,34,020) per month to comfortably cover essentials such as food, accommodation, and transportation. For housing, international students can choose between student housing foundations and the private rental market. Within student housing, a single room in a shared apartment typically costs between EUR 200 (BDT 26,804) and EUR 380 (BDT 50,928) per month. Private or family flats offer more autonomy but tend to involve higher costs and longer waiting lists. Read more: 10 Cheapest UK Universities for Non-EU, International Students Additional student-related costs include an annual student union fee of around EUR 50 to EUR 70 (BDT 6,701 to 9,382). It grants access to subsidised meals and public transport discounts. This fee is compulsory for university students, while UAS students may choose to opt in. The Finnish Student Health Service fee is approximately EUR 35 (BDT 4,691) per term, adding up to around EUR 70 (BDT 9,382) annually. Scholarship Opportunities in Finland Several prestigious scholarship schemes are available for international students pursuing higher education in Finland. These scholarships significantly reduce the financial burden, covering tuition fees and, in some cases, additional living costs. The University of Helsinki offers a competitive scholarship programme that includes tuition waivers of 50 percent or 100 percent, valid for two years. Recipients must maintain full-time academic status, completing at least 55 ECTS credits per year to retain the award. Read more: Top 10 Best Affordable Universities in Canada for International Students The Finland Government Scholarships are more comprehensive, covering not only full tuition fees but also living expenses, travel costs, health insurance, and accommodation. This scholarship is awarded for one academic year initially, with the possibility of renewal based on academic performance. Tampere University offers admission-based tuition fee scholarships covering 50 percent of the programme fees for both Bachelor's and Master's students. At the University of Oulu, the International Scholarship Plan includes multiple awards with specific provisions for different programmes. Particularly, Nokia extends a selective scholarship of EUR 3,000 (BDT 4,02,060) to outstanding candidates in disciplines like Computer Science, Electronics, Wireless Communications, and Sustainable Systems. The Centre for Wireless Communications provides a dedicated EUR 6,000 (BDT 8,04,120) scholarship in the Wireless Communications Engineering Master’s Programme. At the doctoral level, most scholarships are fully funded, encompassing the entire study cost along with a monthly stipend. Read more: Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies Post-Study Work Opportunities International graduates in Finland are eligible to apply for a post-study work permit valid for up to two years. This extension allows time to seek employment or start a business within the country. Students intending to settle permanently in Finland must reside continuously in the country for a minimum of four years, which includes their study period. During this residency, they may not stay outside Finland for more than three consecutive months at any given time. Summing Up Higher studies in Finland are both prestigious and accessible, thanks to its top-ranked universities and generous scholarships for international students. The application process remains smooth and transparent, provided all eligibility criteria are met diligently. However, two critical requirements must be prioritized: proving financial solvency to cover living expenses and securing valid medical insurance throughout the stay. Equally important is maintaining punctuality in aligning the residence permit approval with the issuance of the D-visa. Read more: Distance Learning: Top Universities Offering Online Courses for International Students In essence, Finland combines academic integrity with structural efficiency, offering Bangladeshi students a well-rounded platform for higher education.

Finland has been ranked as the world's happiest country according to the World Happiness Report 2025. For the eighth consecutive year, this Nordic country is at the top of the happiness rankings in the annual report published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford.  People's responses regarding assessing their personal lives were used to determine the rankings of each country. The study was conducted in collaboration with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and the analytics company Gallup. Read more: How to Recognise Your Emotional Red Flags According to researchers, several characteristics that affect happiness aside from income and health seem surprisingly straightforward: having a social support system, eating meals with people, and having a large household. According to the survey, for instance, the happiest households are those with four to five members in Mexico and Europe.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tuesday the "time is now" for Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden joining NATO but said the Biden administration also believed that Turkey should be provided with upgraded F-16 fighters "as soon as possible." Blinken maintained that the administration had not linked the two issues but acknowledged that some U.S. lawmakers had. President Joe Biden implicitly linked the two issues in a phone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday. "I spoke to Erdogan and he still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden. So let's get that done," Biden said. Also Read: Finland could join NATO ahead of Sweden: Defense minister Still, Blinken insisted the two issues were distinct. However, he stressed that the completion of both would dramatically strengthen European security. "Both of these are vital, in our judgement, to European security," Blinken told reporters at a joint news conference in the northern Swedish city of Lulea with Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "We believe that both should go forward as quickly as possible; that is to say Sweden's accession and moving forward on the F-16 package more broadly." "We believe the time is now," Blinken said. He declined to predict when Turkey and Hungary, the only other NATO member not yet to have ratified Sweden's membership, would grant their approval. But, he said, "we have no doubt that it can be, it should be, and we expect it to be" completed by the time alliance leaders meet in Vilnius, Lithuania in July at an annual summit. Also Read: Erdogan might approve Finland’s NATO bid, ‘shock’ Sweden Fresh from a strong re-election victory over the weekend, Erdogan may be willing to ease his objections to Sweden's membership. Erdogan accuses Sweden of being too soft on groups Ankara considers to be terrorists, and a series of Quran-burning protests in Stockholm angered his religious support base — making his tough stance even more popular. Kristersson said the two sides had been in contact since Sunday's vote and voiced no hesitancy in speaking about the benefits Sweden would bring to NATO "when we join the alliance." Blinken is in Sweden attending a meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council and will travel to Oslo, Norway on Wednesday for a gathering of NATO foreign ministers, before going on to newly admitted alliance member Finland on Friday. Also Read: Erdogan says no support for Sweden's NATO bid Speaking in Oslo ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the goal was to have Sweden inside the grouping before the leaders' summit in July. "There are no guarantees, but it's absolutely possible to reach a solution and enable the decision on full membership for Sweden by the Vilnius summit," Stoltenberg said.  

Finland's main conservative party claimed victory in parliamentary elections Sunday in a tight three-way race that saw right-wing populists take second place, leaving Prime Minister Sanna Marin's Social Democratic Party in third, dashing her hopes for reelection. The center-right National Coalition Party (NCP) claimed victory with all of the votes counted, coming out on top at 20.8%. They were followed by right-wing populist party The Finns with 20.1%, while the Social Democrats garnered 19.9%. With the top three parties each getting around 20% of the vote, no party is in position to form a government alone. Over 2,400 candidates from 22 parties were vying for the 200 seats in the Nordic country’s parliament. “Based on this result, talks over forming a new government to Finland will be initiated under the leadership of the National Coalition Party,” said the party's elated leader Petteri Orpo, as he claimed victory surrounded by supporters gathered in a restaurant in the capital, Helsinki. Marin, who at age 37 is one of Europe’s youngest leaders, has received international praise for her vocal support of Ukraine and her prominent role, along with President Sauli Niinistö, in advocating for Finland’s successful application to join NATO. Also Read: Hungarian parliament approves Finland’s bid to join NATO The 53-year-old Orpo, Finland's former finance minister and likely new prime minister, assured that the Nordic country's solidarity with Kyiv would remain strong during his tenure. “First to Ukraine: we stand by you, with you," Orpo told the Associated Press at NCP's victory event. “We cannot accept this terrible war. And we will do all that is needed to help Ukraine, Ukrainian people because they fight for us. This is clear.” "And the message to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is: go away from Ukraine because you will lose,” Orpo said. Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, cleared the last hurdles of becoming a NATO member earlier in the week as alliance members Turkey and Hungary signed off the country's membership bid. Also Read: Erdogan hints Turkey may ratify Finland's NATO membership NCP's share of votes translates into 48 seats in the Eduskunta, Finland's Parliament, while The Finns, a nationalist party running largely on an anti-immigration and anti-European Union agenda, is to get 46 seats and Marin's Social Democrats 43 seats respectively. Observers say the result means a power shift in Finland's political scene as the nation is now likely to get a new center-right government with nationalist tones. The government will replace the center-left Cabinet by Marin, a highly popular prime minister at home and abroad since 2019. Government formation talks led by the NCP are expected to start in the coming days with goal of putting together a Cabinet enjoying a majority at the Parliament. “I trust the Finnish tradition of negotiating with all parties, and trying to find the best possible majority government for Finland," Orpo told the AP. “And you know what is important for us? It’s that we are an active member of the European Union. We build up NATO-Finland, and we fix our economy. We boost our economic growth and create new jobs. These are the crucial, main, important issues we have to write into the government program,” he said. The positions of Marin's party on the Finnish economy emerged as a main campaign theme and were challenged by conservatives, who remain critical of the Social Democrats' economic policies and are unlikely to partner with them. Orpo had hammered on Finland's growing government debt and the need to make budget cuts throughout the election. NCP is open to cooperation with The Finns as the two parties largely share view on developing Finland's economy though have differences in climate policies and EU issues. While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Finland to seek NATO membership in May 2022, neither the historic decision to abandon the nation’s non-alignment policy nor the war emerged as major campaign issues as there was a large consensus among the parties on membership. Finland, which is expected to join NATO in the coming weeks, is a European Union member. The initial voter turnout in the election was 71.9%, slightly down from the 2019 election.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership, Ambassador of Finland to Bangladesh with residence in New Delhi Ritva Koukku-Ronde termed Bangladesh a global role model in many aspects, including women’s empowerment and gender equality. She also lauded the socio-economic advancements taking place in Bangladesh. The ambassador had a farewell meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the latter’s office on Tuesday and discussed issues of mutual interest. The state minister thanked the Finnish ambassador for her efforts and contributions in further strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Finland. Also Read: Erdogan hints Turkey may ratify Finland's NATO membership He briefed the Finnish ambassador on the steady socio-economic development of Bangladesh over the last 14 years under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The state minister also touched upon Bangladesh’s achievements in green RMG factories, solar home systems and women’s increased participation in the workforce, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also Read: Finland’s Parliament gives final approval for NATO bid The two sides also discussed various other bilateral and international issues of mutual interest and concern, including renewable energy and waste to energy, digital technology and cybersecurity, shipbuilding and ship-recycling, bio-based material development, climate change, food and energy security, Rohingya crisis, war in Ukraine and cooperation in international fora.    

Finland’s defense minister said Saturday that his country will join NATO without waiting for Sweden if its Nordic neighbor’s accession is held up by the Turkish government. Mikko Savola told The Associated Press on Saturday that Finland would prefer that that the two countries join the alliance together, but it wouldn’t hold up the process if Turkey decides to approve Finland, but not Sweden, as it has warned. “No, no. Then we will join,” Savola said in an interview on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich. Since they broke with decades of non-alignment in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, Finland and Sweden have insisted they want to join NATO together. But Turkey’s reluctance to accept Sweden unless it steps up pressure on Kurdish exile groups has made it more likely the two will have to join the alliance at different speeds. “Sweden is our closest partner,” Savola said. “Almost every week our defense forces are practicing together and so on. It’s a very deep cooperation and we also trust fully each other. But it’s in Türkiye’s hands now.” Speaking later Saturday at a panel in Munich, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin struck a similar note. “Of course, we cannot influence how some country would ratify, but our message is that we are willing to join and would prefer to join together,” she said. All NATO countries except Turkey and Hungary have already given both countries the green light to join the alliance. Hungary has said it will do so soon, but Turkey says Sweden hasn’t done enough to meet Turkish national security concerns, causing a rift in NATO at a time when the U.S. and other allies are seeking to project a united front against Russia. In recent weeks, NATO officials have played down the significance of the two nations joining simultaneously. “The main is issue is not whether Finland and Sweden are joining at the same time. The main issue is that Finland and Sweden join as soon as possible, and it is of course a Turkish decision whether to ratify both protocols or only one protocol,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Munich on Friday. Savola said he hopes Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, will become a member of the alliance before a NATO summit in July. Until then, Savola said, Finland isn’t worried about the security situation, noting Finland has a conscription army with a wartime strength of 280,000 soldiers, 95% of them reservists, and plans to buy F-35 fighter jets from the U.S., while also investing in its naval and land forces. “We are strong and our willingness to defend the country is also strong,” Savola said. Finland has supported Ukraine with weapons from the start of the war. Savola said the military support amounts to 600 million euros so far. The country has said it will participate in a joint effort by European countries to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but hasn’t specified whether it will hand over any of its own tanks. “There are many ways to join. There are those tanks, of course, training, spare parts and logistics,” he said. “We are making those decisions quite soon in Finland.”    

Finland’s prime minister says she did not take any drugs during a “wild” party in a private home, adding she did nothing wrong when letting her hair down and partying with friends. A video posted on a social media shows six people dancing and mimicking a song in front of a camera, including Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Later in the video, Marin, 36, is on her knees on what seems to be the dance floor with her arms behind her head dancing while mimicking a song. “I’m disappointed that it has become public. I spent the evening with friends. Partied, pretty wild, yes. Danced and sang,” she was quoted Thursday as saying by Finnish broadcaster YLE. “I have not used drugs myself, or anything other than alcohol. I’ve danced, sung and partied and done perfectly legal things. I have also not been in a situation where I would know that others are doing it that way,” Marin said, according to the Hufvudstadsbladet newspaper. It was unclear when the party, which reportedly was attended by Ilmari Nurminen, a member of Eduskunta, or parliament, for Marin's Social Democratic Party, and the Finnish singer Alma, was held. Read:Turkey again asks Sweden, Finland to extradite suspects Marin — who in December 2019 became Finland’s youngest prime minister ever — said she spends her free time with friends just like others her age and that she intends to continue being the same person as before. “I hope that’s accepted. We live in a democracy and in elections everyone can decide these issues,” she said, according to YLE. Critics have pointed out that Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) land border with Russia, faces high electricity prices, among other issues from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The country recently dropped its long-neutral stance and asked to join NATO. In July, Marin attended a popular Finnish rock festival. In December she made a public apology after going out clubbing until 4 a.m. without her work phone, hence failing to be informed that she had been in close contact with a COVID-19 positive person. She didn't test positive.

Turkey has sent letters to Sweden and Finland renewing its request for the extradition of people it considers terror suspects, the Turkish justice minister said Wednesday. Turkey last week lifted its deal-breaking objections to Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession. But Ankara has warned that it could still block the process if the two Nordic countries fail to meet its demand to extradite people suspected of links to outlawed Kurdish groups, or to the network of an exiled cleric accused over a failed coup in 2016. Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag told Haber Global television in an interview that letters were sent renewing Turkey’s requests for the extradition of suspects for whom earlier requests had been rejected. The letters also “reminded” the two countries about suspects whose cases are still pending, he said. Turkey, Sweden and Finland signed a joint memorandum last week that allowed NATO to move ahead with inviting the Nordic countries to the military alliance that seeks to enlarge and strengthen in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With the memorandum, Finland and Sweden agreed to address Turkey's “pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly ... in accordance with the European Convention on Extradition.” Turkey had objected to Finland and Sweden's membership, accusing them of supporting the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and other groups that it says pose a threat to its security. It demanded that Finland and Sweden extradite wanted individuals and lift arms restrictions imposed after Turkey’s 2019 military incursion into northeast Syria. The Nordic countries’ accession still needs to be approved by the parliaments of all 30 NATO members — a process that could take months — and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened that Turkey's Parliament could refuse to do so.

Finland’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Ritva Koukku Ronde has offered the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources to work with the Nordic Research Council to conduct research for the development of modern technology. She made this offer during a meeting with State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at his office at the ministry on Wednesday. Expressing her country’s interest to expand its activities in Bangladesh, the Finnish envoy said that she believes that Finland has a good scope to work in different sectors of modern technology. Finland can work together with Bangladesh to supply modern technology, she opined.   Welcoming the offer, Nasrul Hamid said that there are huge opportunities for investment in different segments of the power and energy sector including, renewable energy, smart grid, mini-grid, wind power, and setting up charging stations in the country. READ: Finland eager to support Bangladesh’s sustainable development: Envoy Both the ambassador and the state minister discussed different issues of mutual interests during their meeting. Trade and Investment cosular of New Delhi Embassy of Finland Kimmo Siira, Economy and Commercial Matters Rai Chakrabarti were present on the occasion. 

Finland is keen to cooperate with Bangladesh in the field of sustainable and renewable energy, said Finnish non-resident ambassador to Bangladesh Ritva Koukku-Ronde on Wednesday.  The envoy, who resides in New Delhi, said this while paying a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s official residence Ganobhaban. Also read: Exercise austerity amid global price hike of goods: PM to all PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting. The envoy handed over a letter of greetings from Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin to Sheikh Hasina, marking the 50th anniversary of Finland-Bangladesh diplomatic relations. The Bangladesh Prime Minister also conveyed her greetings to her Finnish counterpart on the occasion. The Finnish diplomat said the cooperation between Bangladesh and Finnish multinational telecommunications company Nokia can be strengthened. Ritva said her country will work on the Rohingya issue in the United Nations agencies.