Economy
Ireland Opens Honorary Consulate in Dhaka, Eyes Closer Ties
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.
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.
