State Minister for Foreign Affairs, M Shahriar Alam, optimistic about the country’s development, said Bangladesh will cut dependency on aid and engage with the world in a bigger way.
“Bangladesh, with much focus on economic diplomacy is engaged in the trade and investment fronts with many countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, and India,” said Shahriar Alam.
“Visits by high-level trade delegations to Bangladesh over the last few year prove that the country is ready for expanding business,” the Foreign Minister said.
He was speaking at a seminar titled "Bangladesh Diplomacy @50: Engaging the World," arranged by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the auditorium of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), marking its 21st anniversary on Saturday.
The state minister said every country needs to find its own equilibrium and Bangladesh is a significant player in the region.
The country will focus on all fronts of diplomatic engagements and every aspect of global affairs as it is moving towards becoming a developed country by 2041, said Shariar.
"The Foreign Ministry will further expedite its efforts," Shahriar said.
10 more missions to be opened
Bangladesh has opened around 17 missions abroad over the last 10 years while it has a plan to open 10 more in the next five years.
BIISS Chairman, Munshi Faiz Ahmad, and former Foreign Secretary, Md Touhid Hossain, spoke at the seminar attended by Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, with DCAB President Raheed Ejaz in the chair.
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Senior Research Fellow, Towfiqul Islam Khan, focused
on investment issues and laid emphasis on engaging the private sector and promoting joint ventures, in presenting a paper on 'Bangladesh's Priorities in Economic Diplomacy.'
He also talked about comprehensive economic partnership agreements and having bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTA).
DCAB founding members honoured
Earlier, the state minister launched its official website and handed over crests to DCAB founding members.
The honoured members were -- Barta24.com Editor-in-Chief Alamgir Hossain, Kaler Kantho Executive Editor Mostofa Kamal, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, senior journalists - Anis Alamgir and Aman Ud Dowla -- at the function, where they shared their memories of DCAB since its inception.
The guests, senior journalists and DCAB members, observed a one-minute silence paying homage to the victims of Friday's terror attacks on two mosques in New Zealand during Juma prayers that left 49 people, including two Bangladesh nationals, dead.
