Bangladesh Foreign Secy reaches out to around 90 mission heads, briefs on general elections, government priorities
Nov 25, 2023
By Ashoke Raj
New Delhi, [India], November 25 : Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, who is in Delhi for Foreign Office Consultations, on Saturday said he has reached out to around 90 heads of mission in the Indian capital about the foreign policy priorities of the Sheikh Hasina government and preparedness for the general elections to be held in January.
The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary told ANI that he briefed the envoys about the country's position on various geopolitical and contemporary issues.
"Apart from attending the FOC, I briefed the Heads of concurrently accredited Missions to Bangladesh based in New Delhi last evening at the Bangladesh High Commission. During the briefing, I also highlighted the Foreign Policy priorities and dynamics of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.
"I briefed the Ambassadors about Bangladesh's position on various geopolitical and contemporary issues. I also briefed them about the recent political scenario and the preparedness for the next general elections in Bangladesh," he added.
Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh has made economic progress, has "socio-economy and political stability" and the country has growing importance in the regional and global platforms.
The Bangladesh Foreign Secretary said he urged envoys to consider opening diplomatic missions in Dhaka.
"Given socio-economic developments, continued stability and growing importance in the regional and global platforms and engagements with the issues of global concern, I requested their respective governments to consider opening diplomatic Missions in Dhaka. I assured them of the Bangladesh Government's cooperation and assistance in facilitating the process," he said.
India- Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held in New Delhi on Friday.
The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra and the Bangladesh delegation was led by Masud Bin Momen.
FOC is an institutional dialogue mechanism between the two Foreign Secretaries to review the entire gamut of bilateral relationship.
The Indian side appreciated Bangladesh's participation in the recently held Virtual G20 summit and the Voice of Global South Summit 2.0.
Both sides held comprehensive discussions on a wide range of issues covering border and security, trade, commerce and connectivity, cooperation in water, power and energy sectors, people-to-people ties and development cooperation in Bangladesh.
Both sides also exchanged views on sub regional, regional and multilateral issues.
Bangladesh will go to the polls on January 7.
