Bangladesh eyes more investment, trade with image boost: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said Bangladesh really wants to make the best use of the next two years to improve its image abroad that will help bring foreign investment and trade benefits in a huge way.
“You want to change our branding, giving a graphic boost. We’re forget about a poverty-stricken country. It’s a captivating economy. It’s a land of opportunities. We want to tell the stories to the world to improve trade and investment,” he said.
The Foreign Minister was addressing a seminar titled ‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Prudent Diplomacy: A Decade of Bangladesh's Strong Presence in World Scene’ as the principle guest.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen delivered keynote speech at the seminar organised by Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) using its President Angur Nahar Monty in the chair.
Former Ambassador Waliur Rahman, former Foreign Secretary Md Touhid Hossain, Dhaka University International Relations Department Prof Dr Delwar Hossain and former Ambassador Nasim Ferdous Ferdous, former DCAB President Masud Karim and DCAB General Secretary Touhidur Rahman also spoke.
Bangladesh will celebrate the birth centenary of father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through yearlong programmes beginning from March 17. The united states will celebrate the golden jubilee of independence on March 26, 2021, a year after celebrating the 100th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu.
Acknowledging challenges ahead, the Foreign Minister said the federal government is carrying out a balanced policy in working with big countries and laid focus on both bilateral and multilateral engagements.
Giving much importance on public diplomacy, Dr Momen said they want robust public engagement to build judgment abroad about positive Bangladesh.
Embracing Bangladesh’s relations with neighbours, the Foreign Minister said Bangladesh maintains very good relations with India and expects that you will see no such issue which can have effect on Bangladesh. “We’re your (India) friend, the closest friend.”
Highlighting achievements made up to now, Dr Momen said, “We‘re hopeful that we’ll achieve our goals ahead.”
Discussing Rohingya issue, the Foreign Minister said Bangladesh has tested that this may be the land of humanity and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is actually a ‘mother of humanity’.
In his keynote speech, Masud Momen highlighted Bangladesh’s achievements made so far and said, “Our diplomacy is capable of drawing a picture of an effective Bangladesh.”
He said an image of responsible, sincere, democratic, rule-based effective state appears when the name of Bangladesh is pronounced which is taking millions of people towards the peak of development.
Appreciating Bangladesh’s balanced diplomacy, Delwar Hossain said this must continue. “Bangladesh is quite positively engaged with all powerful countries. This is effective and meaningful.”
The foreign affairs analyst who sees world’s strong occurrence in Bangladesh, too, said public diplomacy must be strengthened which he thinks can help boost Bangladesh’s image further.
Former Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain raised the problem of border killings along Bangladesh-India border and thanked the Foreign Minister for conveying the Indian Foreign Secretary that there shouldn't be killing between friends.
He also raised the Rohingya issue saying it is one of the biggest challenges for the government as what he says China, India, Russia, even Japan are not with Bangladesh on the problem.
