German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster has endorsed initiatives taken by the interim government and said this has broadened the framework of their cooperation.
Speaking at a German Unity Day reception on Monday night, Tröster also emphasized reconciliation but said it is not possible without investigating and acknowledging the truth.
"The German government assumes that with the establishment of the interim government, the common basis for cooperation – bilaterally as well as in the framework of its cooperation with the European Union – has broadened," the Ambassador.
"We now share more democratic values and convictions than has been the case before, and we are hopeful to jointly make the best of it, to grasp this chance that has suddenly come about, for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh, for freedom, participatory democracy, and more prosperity for all and not only a few," he said.
"Being a democracy, we believe in these values, and we have seen that large parts of the society in Bangladesh were willing to assume enormous personal sacrifices, up to the ultimate, for these aspirations. We are mourning these tragic losses and will keep them and their outstanding courage in our memories."
"For their aspirations and dreams to come true, many citizens of my dear host country Bangladesh feel that it needs a different approach in some areas.
"I found very touching and convincing what a well-known experienced and thoughtful politician from Bangladesh, whom I appreciate very much, said recently regarding a peaceful future of this country that we wholeheartedly wish for. He mentioned the necessity of reconciliation - reconciliation between the parties, reconciliation in the political parties.
"This is an idea that has worked well in the recent past in countries like South Africa or Rwanda, but equally in Europe. I don’t see any reason why this should not be the case in Bangladesh and contribute to a much better communal life," the ambassador said.
He continued: “We are all standing here in a building that is co-owned by two countries that were enemies for centuries. France and Germany have decided that reconciliation is the way forward towards a peaceful existence of our peoples and a necessary precondition for their aspirations for a free, peaceful and prosperous Europe.
"I think France and Germany, the whole European Union are a testimony of the success of that way. What it needs is to change one’s mind and to cast away the shadows of a bloody and revengeful past. In order to achieve reconciliation, we need to hear the word sorry and an apology for the crimes and mistakes that have been committed. I may be wrong, but so far I unfortunately have not heard it here. Furthermore, reconciliation is not possible without investigating and acknowledging the truth.”
"The interim government is matching the expectations of many people in Bangladesh and outside of Bangladesh by making the proper investigation of the events in July and August 2024, with the support of the Office of the High Representative for Human Rights in Geneva, a priority," he said.
"The German government has contributed with €50,000 to this operation of the OHCHR," the ambassador mentioned.
October 3 is the Day of German Unity.
But the embassy celebrated the day on Monday.
On October 3, 1990, Germany recovered its national unity, which had been lost for 45 years as a consequence of an extremely bloody war that Germany had unlawfully started and lost, the ambassador said.
He drew parallels to the recent movement in Bangladesh.
"Young people, students, who were later joined by people of all straits of the society, started to protest against discrimination, against being denied equal and fair chances, against being deprived of having their due share as citizens of a country to have their votes counted and to have a right to contributing to shaping the future of their country," he said.
"Germany supports the work and the mission of the interim government of Bangladesh and stands ready to help, as it has done in the past," Tröster added.
"Germany has been a proven partner in the last 52 years for Bangladesh’s impressive development, and we are proud to have been contributing to its successes. During the last governmental negotiations, Germany has committed [an] additional €176 million for the cooperation between our countries, mainly in the field of renewable energies, energy efficiency and climate resilience.
"As for the Rohingya that Bangladesh is generously hosting since long, Germany can very well understand the heavy burden that is put on Bangladesh. Germany itself has given shelter and protection to a lot of people in the recent years: Germany is currently taking care of more than 3.1 million refugees and asylum seekers within its borders. Nevertheless, Germany has continued to support Bangladesh with the Rohingya and has contributed since 2027 with €305 million to the humanitarian operations in and around the camps.
"In the field of economy, the relations between Bangladesh and Germany continue to strive as before. Germany remains the second largest importer of garments from Bangladesh, and there is a lot of scope for further expanding our businesses also to other promising sectors.”
He said the German government appreciates the efforts by the interim government to swiftly restore security and stability in the country and acknowledges the swingeing reforms that have been started for example in the banking sector.
"The embassy talks to various German businesspeople and they all generally display a continued interest in Bangladesh. They would very much applaud the success of Bangladesh’s economic reform agenda that would allow them to intensify and broaden their business with Bangladesh," Tröster added.
"I am confident that also in challenging times, the friendly and good relations between Bangladesh and Germany will continue to flourish and blossom," he said, adding: "There is reason for confidence since many people of goodwill are working on it."