Economy
Rishi Sunak Applauds Bangladesh’s Thriving Economy, Lauds PM Sheikh Hasina’s Inspirational Leadership
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his deep admiration for Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, describing her as a profound source of inspiration during their bilateral meeting held at the Marlborough House of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. Sunak, who recently assumed the position of Prime Minister of Britain, shared heartfelt sentiments by stating that his wife and two daughters are ardent admirers of Hasina’s remarkable leadership.
The encounter marked the first official meeting between the two prime ministers since Sunak’s appointment. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina traveled to London with the purpose of attending the momentous coronation ceremony of King Charles III. Following the meeting, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK, Saida Muna Tasneem, provided an insightful briefing to the press, accompanied by PM’s Speech Writer M Nazrul Islam.
At the outset of the meeting, Prime Minister Hasina extended warm congratulations to Sunak, commending his exceptional achievement of becoming the first British prime minister of Asian heritage at such a young age. She emphasized that Sunak stands as an exemplary figure, illustrating the boundless potential of the younger generation. Sunak, in turn, expressed admiration for Bangladesh’s impressive economic growth under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, and he sought to unravel the secret behind their continued success in maintaining high economic growth, even amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the British Prime Minister holds Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in high regard, considering her a role model. The discussion between the two leaders also shed light on the enduring and amicable relationship between the United Kingdom and Bangladesh, spanning over five decades. In fact, Sunak conveyed his optimism for an even stronger future partnership between the two nations.
The focus of the meeting extended to exploring business relations between Bangladesh and Britain. The High Commissioner underlined the transformation of the bilateral relationship, which has transitioned from one predominantly based on aid to a more diversified and mutually beneficial framework. Notably, Bangladesh’s GDP now stands as a testament to its reduced dependence on aid, constituting less than 1 percent.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina advocated for increased investments from British companies in Bangladesh, emphasizing the potential for further growth and cooperation. The High Commissioner emphasized the significant value attached by Britain to its relationship with Bangladesh. This sentiment was reinforced by the fact that among the numerous heads of states and governments attending the coronation, Rishi Sunak engaged in bilateral meetings with only seven countries, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina being among the select few.
During the approximately 35-minute bilateral meeting, a range of topics were discussed, including various bilateral and regional issues. The plight of the Rohingya people, who were forcibly displaced from Myanmar, also featured prominently. Sunak acknowledged the immense burden carried by Bangladesh in accommodating and supporting the Rohingya community, affirming Britain’s understanding of the magnitude of this pressing humanitarian challenge.
In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her sincere gratitude to the British Prime Minister and the people of Britain for their unwavering support in addressing the Rohingya issue. She stressed that the situation not only poses a humanitarian crisis but also represents a significant security threat.
Deeply concerned about the circumstances faced by the Rohingya, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended a heartfelt invitation to Rishi Sunak to visit Bangladesh personally and witness firsthand the conditions and challenges endured by the Rohingya community. Sunak, in turn, lauded Prime Minister Hasina’s exemplary leadership in addressing the critical issue of climate change.
Turning the conversation to the Ashrayan Project, an initiative aimed at providing housing to the homeless, Prime Minister Hasina highlighted the substantial progress made thus far, with approximately seven hundred thousand families already benefiting from the project. This commendable endeavor received high praise from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as affirmed by the Bangladesh High Commissioner.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (25 April) called for speaking out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say ‘no’ to wars.
“We must speak out against all forms of aggression and atrocities, and say ‘no’ to wars,” she said adding that Bangladesh supports the UN Secretary General’s ‘New Agenda for Peace.
The prime minister was addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) held at the ESCAP Hall (2nd floor), United Nations Conference Center (UNCC) here.
She arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday on a six-day official visit to Thailand.
The PM said the pre-condition for sustainable development is lasting peace and security.
“We must settle regional disputes and tension through dialogue. Our mutual respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain paramount,” she said.
Hasina called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to redouble their efforts to end Rohingya crisis as all efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle without it.
“The origin of their crisis has been in Myanmar, and its solution also lies in Myanmar,” she declared.
“As long as that solution remains out of reach, all our efforts at regional connectivity, integration, and prosperity will continue to be marked by a missing puzzle. Let us redouble our efforts to put that puzzle back in place,” she said.
She said that in August 2017, when thousands of Rohingya men, women, and children from Myanmar fled to Bangladesh, Bangladesh offered them temporary shelter.
“With an ever growing population, this has now become one of the largest humanitarian situations in the world,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said that In the backdrop of ongoing armed conflicts in Myanmar, the Rohingya repatriation process is also getting delayed.
“This is creating serious security risks within and beyond our territories,” she said.
She called upon the Asia-Pacific region, especially ASEAN, to play a proactive role in resolving the volatile situation in Myanmar.
“We must ensure that the Rohingya can go back home in safety and dignity at the earliest possible,” she said.
The prime minister said that the Asia-Pacific region must stand united against its common enemies of poverty and hunger.
She said Bangladesh has reduced poverty from 41.51 percent to 18.7 percent between 2006 and 2022.
It also reduced extreme poverty from 25.1 to 5.6 percent during the same period.
“We remain confident about eradicating extreme poverty by 2030,” she said.
She mentioned that Bangladesh has made notable progress on food security, with focused interventions on maternal and child nutrition.
“Our current priority is to address inequalities through income distribution, asset ownership, and social protection,” she said.
The prime minister said that Asia-Pacific region must put up a united front in tackling the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and transboundary pollution.
“We need to push for ambitious climate financing goals beyond 2025 at COP-29. We need to cooperate on cross-border water management and air quality improvement. We must all prepare for growing extreme weather events,” she said.
In this connection, she suggested looking into Bangladesh’s experience in disaster risk reduction.
“We appreciate UN-ESCAP’s support in improving our early warning capabilities,” she added.
Briefly describing various development programmes and achievements of her govebrment, the prime minister said that much of the development gains are affected by climate impacts.
“As a low-lying delta, Bangladesh has no option but to invest heavily in climate resilience,” she said.
She mentioned that Bangladesh is already recognised as a global leader in climate adaptation.
“We are happy to share our traditional and innovative solutions with other vulnerable countries,” she said.
She said that Bangladesh has urged developed and emerging economies in the region to raise their time-bound emission reduction targets.
“For economies in transition, it is important to have a just energy transition.”
In Bangladesh, she said, “we are working on long-term energy security with a sound mix of clean and renewable energy.”
“We shall continue to do our part in pursuing a circular and low-carbon economic growth pathway.”
She underscored the need for increased and easy access to financing and technology from both the public and private sectors.
“I invite UN-ESCAP to help build the capacity of climate-vulnerable countries to mobilise adequate international climate financing.”
PM Hasina said that Bangladesh now provides critical links to the Trans-Asian Highway and Railway networks.
“Our physical and digital infrastructures are being developed to foster regional trade and connectivity.”
She said Bangladesh offers access to the Bay of Bengal for land-locked territories in its neighbourhood.
“We stand ready to work together with all regional partners through mutual understanding and cooperation,” said the prime minister.
Bangladesh and Qatar signed 10 cooperation documents on Tuesday, including five agreements and five MoUs, aimed at strengthening ties and elevating relations to new heights.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani witnessed the signing of the documents.
The five agreements cover cooperation in the legal field, promotion and protection of mutual investments, avoidance of double taxation, maritime transport, and the establishment of a Joint Business Council (JBC) between FBCCI & QCCI.
The five MoUs include cooperation in sports and youth, manpower employment (Labour), diplomatic training, education, higher education, scientific research, and between Qatar Ports management Company “MAWANI QATAR” and Chittagong Ports Authority.
Earlier in the morning, PM Hasina warmly welcomed and received Emir Sheikh Tamim at her office.
They had a tête-à-tête meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, followed by a bilateral meeting.
After signing the visitors’ book, the emir headed for Bangabhaban where the president received him.
A high-level Qatari delegation led by Qatar’s emir is on a state visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the president and the prime minister.
During the ceremony, a road and a park in Dhaka were named after Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
The park, constructed in Kalshi area of Mirpur under Dhaka North City Corporation, and the road from Mirpur ECB point to Kalsi Fly Over were named after Emir of Qatar.
Now, the road and park are known as Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Avenue and Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Park.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) is urging for greater involvement of marginal, small, and medium enterprises in international trade fairs. This initiative aims to spotlight Bangladesh’s promising products on the global market.
FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam made the call during the first meeting of the organisation’s Standing Committee on National and International Trade Fairs and Foreign Delegations. He emphasised the need to provide marginal, small, and medium enterprises with the space and resources to effectively display their products at these events.
“The participation of marginal, small, and medium enterprises is crucial at both national and international levels,” Mahbubul Alam said. “This will allow us to export Bangladesh’s promising products and open new markets.”
The FBCCI president informed that his organisation is actively discussing and collaborating with the government to make this a reality. He also proposed organising roadshows in neighbouring countries and Europe to revive the country’s handicraft industry and increase export opportunities for these products.
Standing Committee Chairman Nuruzzaman echoed Mahbubul Alam’s sentiments, highlighting Bangladesh’s vast potential and young population. “We need to move beyond the garment sector and focus on product diversification and market creation,” Nuruzzaman said.
Achieving this, he acknowledged, will require close collaboration with the Export Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority.
FBCCI Senior Vice President Md Amin Helaly pledged the organisation’s support in facilitating increased exports through participation in foreign trade fairs. He stressed, however, the importance of raising awareness among Bangladeshis about the country’s diverse and promising products.
The meeting concluded with an open discussion where participants expressed keen interest in organising and participating in various sectoral fairs, both domestically and internationally, under the FBCCI’s umbrella.
