The German ambassador to Bangladesh, Achim Tröster, has stated that Germany is creating a special kind of climate development partnership with Bangladesh to assist in mitigating the looming threat of climate change. He made this statement while giving a speech at a seminar titled “Celebrating 50 Years of German – Bangladesh Diplomatic Relations”. The seminar was hosted by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and took place on 28 March at the Six Season Hotel, Dhaka. On this day, 50 years ago, East Germany recognised the independence of Bangladesh, becoming the first European nation to recognise Bangladesh as an independent nation. To commemorate the occasion, CGS, in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh, organised the event where the ambassador was a guest of honour. The other guest of honour was Lt. Col. Muhammad Faruk Khan (Retd.) MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Minister. He made a brief statement emphasising the need for further collaboration between Bangladesh and Germany. Felix Kolbitz, Resident Representative, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Bangladesh, and Dr Manjur A Chowdhury, Chairman, Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), gave their opening remarks in the program. The keynote speech for the event was presented by Md Touhid Hossain, former Foreign Secretary of the Government of Bangladesh. The Keynote paper was titled “Prospects and Challenges in Bangladesh’s Relationship with Germany and the European Union on its 50th Anniversary of Independence.”

Bangladesh and Japan will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries this year with elaborate programmes. The two countries established diplomatic relations on February 10, 1972.  To mark this historic occasion, Bangladesh and Japan have decided to organise various events in Dhaka and Tokyo to further strengthen bilateral partnership.  Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki met Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the State guesthouse Padma on Wednesday to discuss the events and other issues of common interest.  The Foreign Minister recognised Japan as a long-trusted friend of Bangladesh and a proven development partner.  READ: Dhaka, Tokyo to bring more opportunities of partnership in 2021, beyond: Naoki He recalled the unwavering Japanese support for the cause of independence of Bangladesh as well as Japanese development cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries.  Both sides recalled the historic official visit of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in October 1973, which laid the rock-solid foundation of the bilateral relations between the two countries.  The Japanese Ambassador shared that the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka would publish a commemorative photo book on the historic visit of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan on the auspicious occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between the two countries.  Commemorative coins will be issued by the Bangladesh Bank on February 10 and made available at Motijheel central office and Taka Museum, Mirpur. He reiterated the government of Japan’s support for an early repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their ancestral homes in Myanmar and their relocation to Bhasan Char from Cox’s Bazar camps.  The Foreign Minister urged Japan to use her influence to persuade Myanmar to create a conducive environment in Myanmar and facilitate safe return of the Rohingyas to the Rakhine State.  READ: Dhaka, Tokyo sign MoC for recruiting specified skilled workers to Japan He appreciated Japan’s contributions to the infrastructure development in Bangladesh and sought more Japanese investments.  The Japanese Ambassador assured that Japanese as well as international investors would be setting up their factories in the Araihazar Economic Zone from early next year.  He requested the Foreign Minister to ease customs and related issues to facilitate more Japanese investments in Bangladesh.  Foreign Minister Momen assured to look into the issues.