Economy
Brazilian Foreign Minister Arrives in Dhaka for Bilateral Talks
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira arrived in Dhaka on Sunday morning to discuss bilateral issues and enhance trade and investment ties with Bangladesh.
South America’s most influential country’s foreign minister will hold a bilateral meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasan Mahmud this afternoon, along with engaging with business leaders during his two-day official visit. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
Upon his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Mauro Vieira was received by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen. Vieira will pay tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi 32 before his meeting with Hasan Mahmud.
The bilateral meeting between the two foreign ministers is set to take place at the state guesthouse Jamuna, beginning at 4:20 pm on Sunday. An agreement on technical cooperation between the two countries is expected to be signed after the meeting.
A joint media briefing by the two foreign ministers will follow the bilateral discussions. State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu will also meet with the Brazilian Foreign Minister at his residence. In honor of his Brazilian counterpart, Hasan Mahmud will host an iftar and dinner on Sunday evening.
On Monday, Mauro Vieira will meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban, with the meeting scheduled to start at 10 am. Following his meeting with PM Hasina, Vieira will visit Square Pharmaceuticals facilities and Beximco Industrial Park in Gazipur.
The Brazilian Foreign Minister is scheduled to deliver a lecture on Brazil’s priority areas at the G20 as the current chair at the Foreign Service Academy at 3 pm on Monday afternoon. Accompanied by a business delegation, he will meet with business leaders in Dhaka. The apex trade body, FBCCI, will host an iftar and dinner in honor of the Brazilian Foreign Minister and members of the business delegation on Monday evening.
Brazil aims to export beef to Bangladesh at a cost of around Tk 500 per kg. Brazilian Foreign Minister’s visit is deemed highly significant by Foreign Minister Hasan. “Brazil is a significant country, and there is ample opportunity to enhance trade relations,” Hasan commented. Brazil had previously expressed its willingness to deepen relations with Bangladesh for mutual development, South-South cooperation, and tackling poverty, hunger, and climate crises.
Diplomatic relations between Brazil and Bangladesh, established in 1972, have strengthened over the years. In 2023, President Lula and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met during the BRICS Summit in South Africa. Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Brazil reached the US$2.3 billion mark last year. Mauro Vieira is scheduled to depart Dhaka at 11:55 pm on Monday, with Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral) Dr. Nazrul Islam seeing him off at the Dhaka airport.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
