Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday emphasised enhancing economic cooperation and developing people-to-people contact between Bangladesh and Belarus through cultural, educational and sports exchanges, and tourism for mutual benefits.
“Such interactions will bring the two nations closer and lay the two countries’ friendship on a firm footing,” she said, addressing an official banquet hosted in her honour by Belarus Prime Minster Mikhail Myasnikovich at ‘Frunze 15’ residence here.
Hasina said economic cooperation is a prominent feature to Bangladesh in foreign relation perspectives, and hoped that both Bangladesh and Belarus will soon forge a fruitful, complementary relationship.
The Prime Minister hoped that Bangladesh and Belarus will soon be working together on critical issues like climate change, migration, population dynamics and sustainable development.
“Our two visits have indeed generated an overwhelming enthusiasm between our two countries. We need to sustain it through a meaningful cooperation covering all the sections of society,” she added.
Hasina also hoped that her visit, first by a Prime Minister of Bangladesh to Belarus, would remain as a landmark in bilateral relations of the two countries.
Highlighting her government’s goal to make the country a middle-income one by fulfilling the ‘Vision 2021’, she said Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in South Asia, and is considered as one of the next eleven growth stories in the world.
The Prime Minister said despite the recent worldwide economic recession, Bangladesh’s GDP growth rate remained steady at an annual average of around 6.5 percent in the last four years.
She said Bangladesh is a natural economic hub of the region with its own market of 160 million people and their growing income. Besides, 60 percent of its population is below the age of 40, providing young and competitive labour force.
Terming her government as a pro-investment one, Hasina said investors now consider Bangladesh as a facilitator for profitable engagement in the region.
She mentioned that straddling South and South East Asia and close to China, Bangladesh also offers a foothold for investors eying a regional market of 3 billion people.
Besides, she said Bangladesh enjoys duty- and quota-free access to the European Union under EBA (Everything but Arms); expanding the manufacturing and knowledge-based services.
“Our pro-investment regime is also attractive and luring investors to consider Bangladesh as a springboard for profitable engagement in the region,” Hasina added.
The Prime Minister expressed with satisfaction that while her government is drawing the framework of cooperation, the businessmen are exploring ways to harvest the benefits.
Referring to Bangladesh’s role in the global arena, she said the country as a major contributor has been supportive of the UN efforts in maintaining international peace and security.
In this regard, she also appreciated the pivotal role of Belarus against women trafficking and its proactive role and initiatives in the ‘Group of Friends against Human Trafficking’ at the UN.
Remembering with gratitude the relationship with Belarus, Hasina the foundation of the relations was laid at the time of Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 when Belarus ‘supported our cause and our struggles’ in various global forums.
“Special relationship, shared feelings and common values motivate both the countries to stand by the humanity in peril, ensure peace and security, and lift the human potential.”
In recent times, she said, the relationship is being translated into a meaningful stage through a flurry of activities and has given a momentum for closer relations between the two countries.
