Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud expressed gratitude to Ireland for inaugurating the Honorary Consulate in Dhaka and urged for increased employment opportunities for Bangladeshis in Ireland. He specifically requested for a streamlined student visa process, allowing applicants to submit their visa applications directly to the Honorary Consulate in Dhaka. Dr. Mahmud also sought Ireland’s support in maintaining the Everything But Arms (EBA) benefits of the European Union for Bangladesh even after graduation.
These discussions took place during a meeting between Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, at the Foreign Minister’s office. Minister Coveney emphasized the significance of his visit as Ireland’s first full ministerial visit to Bangladesh and expressed agreement on facilitating more manpower and student exchanges between the two countries. He also responded positively to Dr. Mahmud’s call for increased investment and diversification.
Earlier, Minister Coveney officially inaugurated Ireland’s first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, marking an important milestone in Bangladesh-Ireland relations. As part of efforts to enhance bilateral ties, Ireland appointed Cosmos Group Deputy Managing Director, Masud Jamil Khan, as its Honorary Consul in Bangladesh. The opening ceremony was attended by Ambassador of Ireland to India, Kevin Kelly, and Masud Jamil Khan, among others.
Minister Coveney’s two-day official visit to Dhaka aims to bolster bilateral trade and investment. During his visit, he held separate meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Adviser Salman F Rahman. Additionally, State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam (Titu), MP, hosted an iftar-dinner in honor of Minister Coveney at the State guesthouse Padma.
