Bangladeshi ambassadors posted in Europe are ready to brief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about how they can be engaged with the continent to tap opportunities there.
The prime minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka on Jul 19 for London, where the ambassadors will meet at the envoys’ conference to discuss a future plan and get directive from Hasina.
An instruction has been sent to the 15 envoys in Europe from the foreign ministry to prepare briefs on their mission’s challenges, opportunities, and priorities.
A foreign ministry official said, “Each ambassador will make a presentation for five minutes followed by a question-and-answer session.”
“We want them to talk about the evolving situation in Europe, especially Brexit and what should be Bangladesh’s stance to protect its interest,” he said.
Another official said, “Economic diplomacy in the backdrop of Bangladesh’s graduation from a least developed country, trade and migration issue will dominate the discussion in the conference.”
The prime minister will hear from them about the contemporary global issue with implication for Dhaka’s relationship with the European Union and Europe, he added.
The government plans to celebrate the centennial birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence in a big way and there will be a clear directive to the envoys from the prime minister to make it happen, he said.
It is mentionable here that Bangladesh wants to develop a partnership with Europe in terms of trade and technology and skill transfer. After assuming power for a consecutive third term, Hasina’s first foreign visit was Germany, the powerhouse of Europe.
The continent is the biggest destination of Bangladesh’s export with about $15 billion. It is also the largest source of foreign direct investment to Bangladesh.
From the very beginning of Rohingya crisis, Europe is very much vocal against Myanmar government and it is providing political support to resolve the crisis and humanitarian support for their livelihood.