Economy
Bangladesh aims new Investments from UK
Bangladesh has aimed for new and magnified investments from the UK in different sectors, including clean energy, ICT and agriculture.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen had a meeting with Lord Karan Faridoon Bilimoria, a crossbench member of the British House of Lords and former president of the Confederation of British Industry, at his office Monday, 17 October and discussed issues of mutual interest.
He recalled their meeting in September in London when Lord Bilimoria called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina visited the UK last month to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
The foreign minister thanked Lord Bilimoria for promoting the British curry industry, dominated by the British-Bangladeshi diaspora.
Momen requested the member of the House of Lords to use his good offices to address some of the persistent challenges faced by the industry, including visas in favor of skilled or semi-skilled workers.
Lord Bilimoria, one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs, is scheduled to have extensive engagements with the Bangladesh business community during his visit.
Momen also recalled with deep appreciation the effective contributions of the visiting Lord’s father, Lieutenant General Faridoon Bilimoria, an Indian Army authority who commanded the 2/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) in the Rangpur and battled valiantly during the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971.
Lord Bilimoria, also chancellor of the University of Birmingham, stated the minister about his proposal for academic and research cooperation between Dhaka University and his university.
Momen desired Lord Bilimoria to explore cooperation with the other local universities, including the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet.
They also swapped views on the developments concerning the Ukraine war and the Rohingya situation.
The foreign minister appreciated the UK for its decision to intervene in the case filed by The Gambia at the International Court of Justice in pursuit of justice and accountability for the crimes committed against the Rohingya.
During the eleventh month of the current fiscal year, the country’s foreign currency reserves have fallen below $19 billion for the first time. After paying off some import bills, the reserves have now stood at $18.26 billion on Sunday.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as of May 8, the total foreign currency reserves of the country were $19.82 billion.
Mohammad Mezbauul Haque, the spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, informed that through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU), the central bank has paid off import bills totaling $1.63 billion over the past two months.
However, Bangladesh Bank maintains that after paying off the import bills, the foreign currency reserves now stand at $23.71 billion.
According to the Central Bank’s accounts, the reserves were $25.27 billion on May 8.
The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the DSE Brokers Association (DBA) have expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her directive to list government companies in the capital market, a move hailed as timely and positive.
The directive was issued during the recent meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) last Thursday.
Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Hasan Babu, Chairman of DSE, described the directive as a significant step towards enhancing the dynamics of the capital market. He emphasized that besides invigorating the capital market, this move would also attract foreign investment and promote sustainable development.
Despite previous efforts, government institutions had not been listed in the stock exchange, according to a notification issued by the DSE. The Prime Minister’s directive is seen as a pivotal step towards revitalizing and expanding the economy.
Dr. Babu further remarked, “The listing of reputable companies in the capital market, as directed by the Prime Minister, will greatly benefit the country’s economy. It will also enhance investor confidence.”
Similarly, the DBA released a notification applauding the Prime Minister’s directive, terming it as positive and timely for the capital market.
Saiful Islam, President of DBA, expressed optimism about the directive’s potential to accelerate the country’s capital market and overall economy. He pledged support to relevant government departments and regulatory bodies in implementing the directive, ensuring its positive impact on the economy, including the capital market.
India has expressed interest in financing Bangladesh’s Teesta project, announced Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Mahmud stressed the importance of aligning the project with Bangladesh’s needs. He confirmed discussions on the Teesta issue during the meeting. Mahmud also affirmed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to New Delhi, indicating that the finalization of the date would depend on the formation of the new Indian government following ongoing elections.
Meanwhile, the IMF has approved a $1.15 billion staff-level loan for Bangladesh in its third tranche. Mahmud noted the ongoing elections in India and the subsequent formation of the new government as factors influencing the scheduling of PM Hasina’s visit.
When asked about the sequence of visits to India and China, Mahmud suggested Delhi’s geographical proximity to Bangladesh. Diplomatic sources suggest PM Hasina’s visit to India is planned for early July, following India’s elections.
Pre-election surveys indicate strong prospects for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s re-election. Modi previously congratulated PM Hasina on her electoral victory in January, expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the two nations.
The last bilateral engagement between the prime ministers occurred during the G-20 Leaders Summit in September 2023. Modi is expected to invite South Asian and BIMSTEC leaders to his swearing-in ceremony, fostering regional cooperation.
Addressing border killings, Mahmud emphasized the government’s commitment to ending such incidents and promoting the use of non-lethal weapons by border forces. Discussions also covered enhancing physical and people-to-people connectivity, including cooperation with India to import hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan through India. Mahmud highlighted the need to further ease visa restrictions to strengthen people-to-people relations.
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