Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday underscored the potential of a trilateral partnership among Bangladesh, India and Japan -- leveraging Bangladesh's strategic location. He said this partnership would focus on investment, market development, and enhanced connectivity, with India's growing economy and Japan's capital surplus playing crucial roles. Speaking at a policy colloquium, the Foreign Secretary also urged Japan to expand its BIG-B initiative for regional prosperity and sustainable development. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori emphasized the rising geopolitical significance of Bangladesh in the global context. The policy colloquium titled ‘From the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal: New Possibilities in the Bangladesh, Japan, India Trilateral Partnership’ was held at the Syndicate Hall of North South University (NSU). The event was organized by the university's Center for Peace Studies (CPS) of the South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG). The session was chaired by Professor Atiqul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of NSU. Former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque; Dr. Selim Raihan, Executive Director of the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM); Sabyasachi Dutta, Executive Director of Asian Confluence, India; and Dr. M Jashim Uddin, Associate Professor of Political Science and Sociology at NSU, also spoke at the event. Dr. Selim Raihan observed that the Bangladesh, Japan, and India partnership could spur economic growth in Bangladesh through improved connectivity, trade efficiency, and infrastructure development. Highlighting the importance of greater transparency, digitization of customs, and removing non-tariff barriers, Dr. Raihan suggested unrestricted foreign direct investment from Bangladesh to India to stimulate economic integration and industry growth. Observing that India's northeast region (NER) is a crucial connector for Bangladesh with India and South and Southeast Asia, Dutta said that extensive connectivity in the region can foster a competitive business climate and stimulate regional trade and economic growth. The colloquium also focused on the challenges that need to be overcome to ensure the success of the trilateral partnership, with a particular focus on border stabilization. The historical links between Bangladesh and the North East Region (NER) of India and the role of Japan in rejuvenating these connections were also discussed. During the open dialogue, panelists answered questions from students, faculty, and journalists, moderated by Professor Dr. Tawfique M. Haque, Director, CPS, and SIPG. Professor Atiqul Islam hoped that the trilateral investment partnership would produce a positive impact for the entire region, encompassing India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan.  

Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has expressed optimism that the “pilot project” of Rohingya repatriation would be executed at an early date. He thanked China for its “active role” in a trilateral initiative among Bangladesh, Myanmar and China to provide a platform for dialogue to promote the early return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar. Newly appointed Ambassador of China to Bangladesh Yao Wen met the State Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday (January 22, 2023) afternoon and discussed the issues of mutual interest. Responding to a question on Rohingya repatriation, Ambassador Wen said they have a common objective with Bangladesh regarding repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland. Also Read: Will continue to work toward resolution of Rohingya issue: Japan He recognised Bangladesh's "sacrifice" in hosting the huge number of Rohingyas and assured of playing its role for their repatriation. “We discussed the issue. You pay a lot. You suffered a lot. You sacrificed a lot. We have the common objective (repatriation),”said Ambassador Wen. Bangladesh is hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char and not a single Rohingya has been repatriated over the last six years. The State Minister also highlighted the importance of establishing direct air connectivity and requested the Chinese Ambassador to consider Bangladesh as a suitable place for industry relocation from China, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also Read: Over 3,500 desperate Rohingya attempted deadly sea crossings in 2022 The Chinese Ambassador showed interest to conclude a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on PPP for the growth of bilateral trade and commerce. State Minister Alam hoped that the bilateral relations between the two countries would reach new heights during the tenure of the new Ambassador. Both sides cordially exchanged views on bilateral and multilateral cooperation of mutual interests, including trade and investment, infrastructure development, connectivity and Covid situation. Congratulating the new Ambassador on the Chinese New Year’s Day, the State Minister thanked China for being the largest bilateral trade partner of Bangladesh. Read More: China will remain engaged in Bangladesh’s next stage of development journey: Momen  During the meeting, he also thanked the Chinese government for its support in dealing with Covid-19 pandemic and the repatriation of Bangladeshi students from China and their subsequent return to China to continue their higher studies. He wished Ambassador Yao successful tenure in Bangladesh and assured him of full cooperation in discharge of his duties.

Highlighting Japan's cooperation in the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Monday hoped that bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan would reach new heights. During the meeting with newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Minister thanked the government of Japan for providing technical and financial support for the implementation of the Metrorail project. Ambassador Iwama sought the cooperation of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs in fulfilling his duties. Welcoming the new Ambassador of Japan, the State Minister said that Japan is Bangladesh's single largest bilateral development partner and an important country for trade and investment. Also Read: New Japanese envoy exchanges views on bilateral interests with foreign secretary During the meeting, both sides cordially exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest, including Japanese development assistance, human resources development, Rohingya repatriation, cooperation in different multilateral fora etc.  The State Minister appreciated Japan’s continued support for repatriation of Rohingyas and expressed hope that Japan would continue to extend its support towards the early repatriation of the Rohingyas for the sake of peace and stability in the region. State Minister Alam wished Ambassador Iwama successful tenure in Bangladesh and assured him of full cooperation in discharging his duties.  

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Sunday said the government remains better prepared in 2023 to achieve its goals overcoming the challenges both from domestic and international fronts. "If it seems to be more challenging, I would say we remain better prepared for that," he said while talking to a small group of journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The state minister described the year 2022 a very successful year in terms of its engagement with the international partners with opening of new markets. He, however, said it is a failure that the Rohingya repatriation is yet to begin. Also Read: Border killings not expected: Shahriar Alam Shahriar Alam said they saw a kind of “overenthusiasm” (from diplomats) at the end of 2022 but they are handling it diplomatically. He hoped that everyone will remain respectful to their “rules of engagements” as Bangladesh does not oppose those recommendations and advice which are beneficial for Bangladesh. “Everyone appreciates that Bangladesh remains engaged and listens to….,” said the State Minister. Regarding democracy, he said there is no “fit for all” formula for democracy and everyone knows it and Bangladesh is doing much better compared to other countries. Responding to a question, Shahriar said the government remains engaged with the USA to withdraw sanctions on the Rab as an institution at least keeping in mind that Rab played a very strong role in combating terrorism and militancy in the country sacrificing their lives. Also Read: Appropriate steps to be taken if diplomats cross boundary: Shahriar Alam "Painfully, it's a slow process. We will strengthen our efforts," he said. He said there is a need for a law to deal with misinformation and other issues but surely the Digital Security Act is not for harassing journalists. Responding to a question on human rights issues, the State Minister said the UN member states know Bangladesh’s true intention. Asked why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to share a non-paper note with foreign missions in Dhaka centering BNP’s December 10 programme, he said there was nothing wrong in it. “It’s a proactive engagement as they (diplomats) might have asked the questions on the issue the following day.” The government says they shared the information with the foreign missions stationed in Dhaka to leave no room for "misinformation" and "confusion."

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has said Bangladesh looks forward to Sweden’s continued support to make the LDC graduation smooth and sustainable. He hoped that Bangladesh’s onward march to becoming a reliable partner in the global supply chain can be supported by Sweden. State Minister Alam reaffirmed the pledge to work together with Sweden for the collective well-being of shared humanity and hoped that the relations between Bangladesh and Sweden would continue to grow in depth and dimensions in the coming days. Read more: Sweden to partner UNFPA in projects worth over $10 million

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said the government is committed to ensure people’s right to know and respect freedom of speech. However, the State Minister said that the increasing trend of misinformation and fake news has become a grave concern day by day. “We all have to work in a responsible way. If we all work together, we shall be able to fight the mounting trend of misinformation and fake news,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion at Jatiya Press Club. The Women Journalists Network Bangladesh (WJNB), in partnership with the High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh, organised the discussion on the “Importance of Digital Literacy to combat Hate Speech and Misinformation” under the project “Digital Literacy and Digital Safety”. Read more: BNP ployed to press for right to peaceful assembly through violent means: Foreign Ministry tells diplomatic missions

UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali ALHmoudi has said the ties between his country and Bangladesh are based on the principles of cooperation and mutual respect. "The partnership between the countries and peoples reached a new height in recent years. The mutual visits of the leaders and officials of the two countries, and the ever-increasing trade, economic and cultural exchanges, are powerful indicators of the strength of bilateral relations in various fields," he added. "The UAE and Bangladesh have enjoyed deep-rooted historical relations since 1971, and both of our governments strengthened the bilateral relations in various sectors," he said while celebrating the UAE's 51st National Day on Thursday in Dhaka. Read: UAE keen to expand air connectivity with Bangladesh The embassy held a grand reception at a hotel, bringing a taste of home to the members of the UAE community in Bangladesh. Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad attended the programme as the chief guest. Ministers, ambassadors, heads of diplomatic missions, members of parliament, high government officials, business persons, media personalities, and personalities from academic and social institutions also attended the event. "The UAE is one of the most resilient countries globally in handling and responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. The country ranked 11th on the nation brand index due to its successful handling of Covid-19 and pioneering achievements in science and education, such as the successful Emirates Mars Mission," Abdulla Ali said. Read: Bangladesh seeks wider cooperation with UAE "The UAE supports diplomacy over conflict, partnership over unilateralism, and dialogue over confrontation. The UAE believes that the world cannot tolerate more polarisation and confrontation and that the coming decades need more communication, integration and cooperation in the political, economic, technological, health and food fields." Imran said Bangladesh and UAE enjoy an age-old fraternity and time-tested friendship. "These historical ties had further been strengthened and deepened over time with religious and cultural commonalities and economic cooperation." Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal also spoke at the programme.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has proposed to ease the Guatemalan visa application process for Bangladeshi nationals, and explore the possibility to sign a visa waiver agreement for the diplomatic and official passport holders between the two countries. During a telephone conversation with the Foreign Minister of Guatemala, Mario Adolfo Bucaro Flores, Momen also encouraged investment from Guatemala in Bangladesh. The Guatemalan foreign minister called Momen today and discussed various matters of mutual cooperation in the bilateral and multilateral fronts. The foreign minister of Guatemala sought Bangladesh’s support for his country’s nomination of “Holy Week in Guatemala” to be included in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Read: Protesters burn part of Guatemala’s Congress building Momen assured him of Bangladesh’s full support, considering the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries. During the conversation, Foreign Minister Momen expressed satisfaction over the ever-growing bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, based on similar values and principles. Flores hoped to develop a much stronger relationship with Bangladesh in the coming days. Foreign Minister Momen hoped for continuous support from Guatemala in bringing a sustainable and permanent solution to the Rohingya crisis by ensuring the urgent return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar. He also extended an invitation to his Guatemalan counterpart to visit Bangladesh. Read: Guatemala official: 44 deportees tested positive for virus The Guatemalan foreign minister also invited Momen to Guatemala. The two foreign ministers also reiterated their commitment to work together in the multilateral front to address global issues like tackling climate change, displacement of people, ensuring sustainable development, among others.

President of India Droupadi Murmu on Monday said Bangladesh occupies a special place in India’s ‘neighbourhood first’ policy and she looks forward to “stronger and deeper” cooperation between the two countries in all aspects in the coming days. Murmu recalled the joint celebrations of “Mujib Year” marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s War of Liberation and 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties. She made the remarks when newly appointed Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Mustafizur Rahman presented his credentials to the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Mentioning the immense political will to take forward the relations, Murmu recalled her recent meeting with the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this September in New Delhi and later in London. She has also mentioned that Bangladesh is India’s largest trade partner in South Asia and highlighted the largest visa operations of India in Dhaka.  Read: Dictionary.com chooses `existential' as word of the year By welcoming and congratulating the new envoy, President Murmu has said that India-Bangladesh relations are bounded by language, culture, and history and the unique tie is forged in shared sacrifices. High Commissioner Rahman appreciated for the opportunity to present the credentials and conveyed greetings from Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The high commissioner has said Bangladesh remains grateful to the Government and people of India for extending their moral and material support during the War of Liberation fought under the leadership of Bangabandhu in 1971. The Indo-Bangladesh cooperation had, in fact, begun on the battlefield of 1971, he recalled. He said that the India-Bangladesh relation has reached a new height and it is described as a model of “neighbourhood relations”. The envoy assured the Indian President that he would try to further expand and consolidate bilateral cooperation. Read: Work together to keep 1971 legacy alive: Indian envoy at 'Maitri Alumni Reunion' He underscored Hasina’s persistent efforts to further promote regional and sub-regional cooperation on a win-win basis. He thanked the government of India for inviting Bangladesh to the G-20 Summit.  Rahman takes up his India assignment after serving as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Offices, WTO and other International Organizations in Geneva from 2020-22. He was also Bangladesh's ambassador to Switzerland.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran Mehdi Safari has met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam and discussed issues of mutual interest. The deputy minister said Foreign Office Consultation and meeting of the Joint Economic Commission should be held at a mutually convenient time to further strengthen relations in trade, investment, economy, energy, chemical fertiliser and food security. Shahriar briefed him about the trade potential between Bangladesh and Iran and urged for more visits of trade delegations. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) ministerial meeting on Thursday to discuss areas of cooperation under the inter-governmental organisation and between the two countries. Read: Iran’s deputy foreign minister and Shahriar Alam discuss bilateral cooperation Shahriar and Mehdi discussed details about cooperation under IORA. Shahriar thanked the deputy minister for his participation and his delegation at IORA.