Bangladesh
Bangladesh-France Cooperation Prime Minister wants bolstered Bangladesh-France relations
Own representative, Dhaka, December 20: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed satisfaction over the outcome of her visit to France last November, saying she is hopeful that relations between the two countries will be further strengthened in the days to come. The Prime Minister expressed these hopes during the farewell meeting of French Ambassador Jean-Marin Schuh at the Prime Minister's official residence Ganobhaban on Sunday (December 19). After the meeting, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Ihsanul Karim briefed the media on the matter.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the President of France for inviting her to visit Paris last November. During the discussion, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has historical ties with France. The French government and people supported Bangladesh in the 1971 war of liberation.
The French Ambassador told the Prime Minister that his government would provide 1.2 million Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh under Covax. France is set to take over the presidency of the European Union next February and will hold an Indo-Pacific summit with countries in the region later this month. The ambassador said they would invite Bangladesh to the summit.
The Ambassador further said that a joint declaration has been signed between France and Bangladesh, which has covered many aspects of the relations between the two countries. He also mentioned that the economic and political relations between France and Bangladesh are increasing.
Regarding the impact of COVID-19, Sheikh Hasina said that all countries have been affected due to COVID-19 epidemic. Despite our huge population and epidemics, we have continued our economic activities. She commended the French Ambassador to Bangladesh for his fruitful tenure and thanked him for his dynamic role in advancing Bangladesh-France relations.
The Prime Minister congratulated the outgoing Ambassador on his appointment as the Special Envoy of France to Afghanistan. Jean-Marin Schuh thanked the Prime Minister for her cooperation during his tenure in Dhaka. The Ambassador lauded the growth of Bangladesh last year and said that even during the time of the pandemic, the growth was very significant.
