Bangladesh has urged Portugal to consider establishing a resident Portuguese Mission in Dhaka as the two countries want to elevate the bilateral relations to a new height in the coming days.
Bangladesh government wants its Portuguese counterpart to put in place some mechanism for receiving all kinds of visa applications in Dhaka. Bangladesh also offered every assistance to be required for ensuring periodic consular services provided in Dhaka.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had a bilateral meeting with Portuguese Foreign Minister Dr Joao Gomes Cravinho on July 1 in Lisbon on the side-lines of the 2ndUN Ocean Conference 2022 jointly hosted by Portugal and Kenya. This was the two countries’ Foreign Minister-level first bilateral meeting.
Dr Momen said this is important for facilitating students to join their universities in Portugal and reunion of family members of Bangladeshi migrants with their dear ones in Portugal. On the other hand, the Portuguese Foreign Minister expressed his government’s desire to upgrade the relationship with Bangladesh and took note of the suggestions. He assured to work on them, while commending the Bangladeshi migrant community for integration in Portuguese society and contribution to economy.
The two sides also agreed on working together to face the challenges relating to climate changes like rehabilitation of “climate refugees” at bilateral and multilateral levels.
Bangladesh has maintained a resident Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon for 10 years and purchased properties in Lisbon recently for permanent location of the Embassy, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Recalling the historic linkage between Bangladesh and Portugal in the early 16thcentury, Momen viewed that the two friendly countries should build on this positive legacy of history to forge stronger cooperation in the present times for their mutual benefit.
He also laid emphasis on cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, human resources, blue economy, renewable energy and people-to-people contact.
Finally, the two sides discussed future cooperation agenda, including state-level visits to mark the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh-Portugal Diplomatic Relations in 2024.
