As Bangladesh navigates a new political era following the historic “Monsoon Revolution” of August 2024 — which saw the resignation of long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the rise of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as head of the interim government — international partners are taking renewed interest in the country’s democratic transition, development trajectory, and regional role.
Among them is Norway, a long-time friend of Bangladesh and an active partner in development, humanitarian aid, and private-sector investment.
Against this backdrop, Stine Renate Haheim, State Secretary for International Development at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made her first official visit to Dhaka.
Her agenda reflected the multidimensional nature of the Bangladesh–Norway relationship: political consultations, climate cooperation, private-sector investment, women’s empowerment, and continued support for Rohingya refugees.
It also included visits to Cox’s Bazar and meetings with both government officials and civil society.
In an interview with the Dhaka Tribune, Haheim shared her insights on how Norway sees Bangladesh’s unfolding political changes, where the two countries can deepen collaboration, and why inclusive development, democratic governance, and sustainability remain at the heart of her country’s foreign policy.
Dhaka Tribune: What brings you to Dhaka? Any special focus for your visit?
Haheim: As the new state secretary of international development in the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I have a special interest in visiting Bangladesh, considering last year’s “Monsoon Revolution”. I wish to learn more about democratic development and election plans. I will also meet with civil society and visit projects we support in Dhaka and in host communities and the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar. My focus will be on Norwegian interests, business opportunities and the investment climate, and, at the same time, understand more of the political and social development in the country.
Bangladesh is an important country in the region, and we are always interested in listening to what our partners say. I feel privileged to meet with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus. Bangladesh and Norway enjoy a deep bilateral relationship, in trade and investment.
Norway is proud of our long-standing relationship with Bangladesh, being among the first countries recognizing Bangladesh as a sovereign country back in early 1972. Since then, our relationship has developed in width and depth. Norway has significant investments in telecom through our partly state-owned company Telenor, which together with Bangladeshi stakeholders, established Grameenphone back in 1997. The partnership has been hugely successful and has brought benefits to other industries and people in general by providing efficient and robust interconnectivity. Norwegian businesses are also active in the ready-made garment sector through Varner, the paint industry by Jotun and its factory in Narayanganj, in power generation through Bergen Engines, in shipping with DNV, poly concrete production through PCCN, and IT services by Cefalo, to mention some.
How do you see Bangladesh-Norway trade relations evolving?
I hope to see a steady increase in bilateral trade and investments. Bangladesh has potential with a big market and a hard-working population. By promoting an investment-friendly climate and a level playing field among national and international competitors, I am sure you will thrive in the years to come. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund has invested in the Bangladeshi stock market and likewise with Norfund, the Norwegian development finance institution for investments in developing countries. For 10 years, Norway has supported the ship-breaking and ship-recycling industry in Chittagong through Safe and Environmentally Sound Ship Recycling in Bangladesh (SENSREC), which gathers the Bangladeshi authorities, International Maritime Organization (IMO), and Bangladeshi Ship Breakers and Recycles Association (BSBRA). We support the greening of shipyards so they will be able to attract contracts from all over the world when the Hong Kong Convention gets into force later this month.
With aid for Rohingya refugees declining, can Norway help keep global attention on the crisis?
Norway will continue to play an active role in ensuring that international attention remains focused on the Rohingya crisis. Norway commends Bangladesh’s hospitality and generosity in hosting one million Rohingya refugees. We are grateful for Bangladesh’s efforts to ensure the basic needs of the refugees and welcome further efforts to facilitate their access to work and livelihood opportunities. Norway supports the response through the UN and NGOs.
Norway’s sustained support highlights its commitment to long-term humanitarian engagement and to keeping the Rohingya crisis on the global agenda and supporting host communities.
As a climate-vulnerable country, what support can Bangladesh expect from Norway?
Bangladesh is vulnerable to climate change do to its geographical position. This is a cause for worry, and Norway wishes to do its part in finding viable solutions. Norway supports Bangladesh’s adaptation to climate change through the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Furthermore, Bangladesh has a great potential for investment in green energy and is one of the prioritized countries by the Norwegian climate investment fund, which currently stands at $1 billion. Unfortunately, the fund has struggled to find bankable projects in Bangladesh. Norway is eager to help facilitate the move to a more climate-viable and green Bangladesh, but this must also be motivated from within. An important way to do this is to allow businesses in Bangladesh to reduce their emissions effectively. This can be done through a multitude of ways, but an effective way is to create a framework for a corporate power purchasing agreement, which would aid in creating resilience and coping mechanisms for Bangladesh, climate-wise. It would make Bangladesh a more investment-friendly environment and allow for more foreign direct investment to make the green transition more sustainable long term.
How can Norway and Bangladesh strengthen UN cooperation on Gaza, Ukraine, and the Rohingya crisis, now and in the future?
Bangladesh and Norway have demonstrated a shared commitment to upholding international law and addressing humanitarian crises. This has been evident in our collaborative efforts in the UN concerning the dramatic situation in Gaza. There is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Norway remains committed to the two-state solution. This is a prerequisite for peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis, as well as stability in the region.
Our two nations have emphasized the importance of applying principles of international humanitarian law. We have expressed our grave concern regarding the situation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. The current humanitarian blockade on Gaza is unacceptable, and we call for an immediate humanitarian truce to ensure access to food, water, and medicine. In December, Norway put forward a resolution to the UN requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on Israel’s obligations to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinians living under occupation. With the support of Bangladesh and 136 other countries, the resolution was adopted with strong support, sending a powerful message to Israel. This process is now underway at the ICJ in the Hague, where both Bangladesh and Norway have made appeals for Israel to adhere to international law.
In Russia’s war on Ukraine, Russia is the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for their atrocities and adhere to international law and the principles of the UN Charter. A just and lasting peace must be backed by credible security guarantees for Ukraine.
On the Rohingya refugee crisis, Norway continues to collaborate with Bangladesh, a matter of significant concern for Bangladesh. As I mentioned before, Norway will continue to play an active role in ensuring that international attention remains focused on the Rohingya crisis. This is also one of the reasons why I am visiting Cox’s Bazar during my visit to Bangladesh.
Beyond these critical peace and humanitarian issues, Norway and Bangladesh also see eye to eye and collaborate on important global environmental challenges on global platforms. A key area for ongoing and future collaboration is combating maritime plastic pollution. Norway is a strong proponent of an international convention to address this transboundary problem, and we are pleased to partner with Bangladesh, including through projects like our “Integrated approach to sustainable plastics use & marine litter prevention in Bangladesh” in collaboration with UNIDO, to tackle this issue.
Given this history of constructive engagement and alignment on fundamental principles and key global challenges, Norway anticipates that this cooperation with Bangladesh within the UN framework will not only continue but also potentially strengthen in the coming future. We believe that by working together, we can more effectively contribute to a rules-based international order and address pressing global concerns.
What are Norway’s expectations for gender equality in Bangladesh?
Norway has long been a strong advocate for gender equality and gender justice. With the recent student uprising and political transition in Bangladesh, we hope this new chapter will offer women and girls a strengthened platform to raise their voices and participate fully in both political and social spheres, and ensure they are actively included in the reform process.
Promoting gender equality, safeguarding girls’ rights, and advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights are core priorities in Norwegian foreign policy. In Bangladesh, Norway supports initiatives such as Plan’s Child, Not Bride project, which works to prevent child marriage. We have also collaborated with Grameenphone through Telenor on initiatives aimed at promoting safer digital platforms for women and girls. Additionally, Norway supports efforts through UNDP and UNFPA to combat digital violence, gender-biased sex selection, and to promote inclusive participation.
As the RMG sector remains one of the largest employers of women in Bangladesh, ensuring their rights and safety at work is essential. Norway expects continued efforts to uphold fair wages, safe working conditions, protection from harassment, and opportunities for career advancement. Through Norfund, Norway supports women’s economic empowerment, most recently with a $25 million loan to Mutual Trust Bank to improve access to finance for women-led businesses. Reducing women’s economic dependency is equally essential to achieving long-term gender justice.
We hope this period will mark a turning point for women in Bangladesh, where their safety is prioritized both in the workplace and at home, and where they enjoy equal access to opportunities and decision-making processes. Despite progress, women continue to face systemic barriers to political participation in a landscape that remains predominantly male-led.
