Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her confidence that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and France would evolve into a strategic partnership, fostering shared prosperity within the Indo-Pacific and beyond. She made this announcement during a banquet held in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka. Prime Minister Hasina welcomed President Macron with a bouquet of flowers and was joined by her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana, at the event.
The Prime Minister highlighted the expansion of cooperation in strategic assets and advanced technologies as a significant development in their partnership. She emphasized the potential for their collaboration to address global challenges, including conflicts, climate change, and rising living costs.
Prime Minister Hasina noted that France had been a trusted development partner of Bangladesh since its independence, fostering a robust trade partnership with a focus on responsible business conduct. President Macron’s visit to Dhaka followed his participation in the G-20 Summit in New Delhi, India.
Sheikh Hasina expressed her pleasure and honor in hosting President Macron, recalling his warm hospitality during her visit to the Elysee Palace in November 2021. She extended a warm welcome on behalf of the people of Bangladesh, emphasizing the special place France holds in their hearts and imagination.
In a lighter moment, Prime Minister Hasina mentioned that they had arranged for President Macron to experience Bangladesh’s unique kacchi biriyani, celebrating the rich culinary, cultural, and linguistic heritage shared by both nations. She proposed a toast to his health with a local fruit juice made from Amra.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Hasina reflected on her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s admiration for the French Revolution’s ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. She noted how these values were echoed in Bangabandhu’s historic speech of March 7, 1971, in which he called for independence and self-determination. She praised President Macron for his bold reforms in France and his pursuit of strategic autonomy, which aligns with Bangladesh’s foreign policy principle of “Friendship to all, malice towards none.”
The banquet featured a delightful menu, including smoked Hilsha with piazo, somosa, mulligatawny soup with artisanal bread and butter, mutton kacchi biryani, beef seekh kebab, chicken korma, sour aubergine, traditional luchi bread, and roasted lobster. Desserts included pathishapta pitha, sweet yogurt, rosogolla, and fresh fruit cuts, accompanied by a variety of beverages.
