The Rohingya crisis and creating new job opportunities for Bangladeshi workers will be top agendas during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Germany and the UAE; Foreign Minister AK Adbul Momen briefed the media on Wednesday (Feb 13).

The prime minister is scheduled to fly for Germany on Thursday (Feb 14) to attend the 55th Munich security conference, to be held from Feb 15 to 17.

At the end of the Germany trip, the premier is scheduled toreach Abu Dhabi on Feb 17 morning and attend the opening session of the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX-2019) at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold bilateral meetings with a number of world leaders including, German Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel, on the sideline of the Munich conference, BSS quoted Momen as saying.

“Rohingya crisis and other major bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Germany, including trade and diversified investment, are likely to be discussed during the meeting between our Prime Minister and German Chancellor,” the foreign minister said.

The foreign minister expressed his hope that the meeting between the two leaders will expedite the bilateral relations as Germany is the largest export market for Bangladesh in Europe and Berlin is providing important political and humanitarian support to Dhaka since Rohingya crisis is
prevailing.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend as panellist at “Climate Change as a Security Threat” and ‘Health Security Roundtable’ sessions of the conference that has been termed as the ‘Best Think Tank Conference’ on global security discussion across the world.

Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the conference as an invitee in 2017 as the first ever any head of state or government of Bangladesh. 

“It’s a matter of pride for Bangladesh diplomacy,” Dr Momen said.

The Bangladesh Premier will also hold meetings with Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG and Hans Wolfgang Kunz, CEO of Veridos.

“German based Siemens has proposed to make a large investment in Bangladesh power sector and there is a possibility to sign a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) in this regards during the visit,” Momen said.

The foreign minister said the conference is an opportunity for Dhaka to get an overview about the stand of the world’s super powers regarding global security as well as to portrait Bangladesh’s different achievements and successes in various sectors including climate.

“I can say confidently that Bangladesh participation under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the conference will make our position and image stronger and brighter in the global arena,” Momen said.

On PM’s UAE visit, Momen said, “The issues of exporting more manpower to the UAE as well as Rohingya crisis will get priority during the Prime Minister’s visit to the UAE.”

Referring to a MOU signed between Bangladesh and UAE regarding exporting Bangladesh manpower to the oil-rich nation, the second largest market for Bangladeshi workers, the foreign minister hoped that the Prime Minister’s visit will open new avenues towards exporting manpower to the UAE.

The foreign minister said two investment related Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) between the Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) are likely to be inked during the visit.

“I hope the planned discussion over investment opportunities in Bangladesh and various development projects during Prime Minister’s UAE visit will expedite the new efforts of economic diplomacy of Bangladesh,” Momen said.

During the UAE visit, the Bangladesh Prime Minister is likely to hold meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and bilateral talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of the Emirate of
Dubai and other leaders.

Sheikh Hasina will have an audience with Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, Wife of Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founder and the Inaugural President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi at Al Bahar Palace.

The prime minister will join a community event to be held at St Regis Abu Dhabi Hotel where she will stay during the visit.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will return home in the morning on Feb 20, the report added.