Bangladesh hopes to make new beginning with Bulgaria

Bangladesh has scripted a fresh chapter in its bilateral relations with Bulgaria four decades after the initiative for cultural cooperation with this Eastern European country failed to take off.

Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said apart from cooperation in the cultural sector, the two countries were all set to open their doors for exchange of technology and trade and investment.

Signing of three MoUs and one framework agreement between the two countries during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ongoing three-day visit to Bulgaria heralded the new beginning, the foreign secretary said.

The prime minister held a bilateral meeting with her Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov at the latter’s office in Sofia on Friday morning.

After the meeting the four instruments were inked.

After the meeting Shahidul Haque told reporters, “We hope our economic, cultural and political relations will now get a fresh impetus.”

The bilateral meeting was preceded by a one-to-one meeting between the two prime ministers.

According to the foreign secretary, during the one-to-one meeting the two prime ministers discussed how to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Historically Bangladesh shared very good relations with Bulgaria. But we have observed that the relations weakened after the assassination of Bangabandhu.”

This visit of the prime minister to Bulgaria aimed at reviving that tie, he said.

Hasina arrived in Bulgaria on Wednesday in a first ever visit by any head of Bangladesh government to this Eastern European country.

After paying a courtesy visit to Bulgaria's President Rosen Plevneliev, she delivered the key note address at the inaugural session of the Global Women Leaders' Forum.

On Thursday a delegation of Bulgarian businessmen called on her.

Prime Minster’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said Bangladesh’s relations with Eastern European countries did not progress after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975.

Prime Minister Hasina was hopeful that the two countries would be benefited from the fresh beginning in bilateral cooperation, Karim said. 

By bolstering relations with Bulgaria, Bangladesh is hoping to get an access for its products in the European market.

“You know Bulgaria is a member of the European Union. So it has a tremendous access in European markets. We are exploring it.”

The foreign secretary said, “The two prime ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral as well as global issues, including world peace and Bangladesh’s role in UN peacekeeping missions.” 

Trade and investment were top on their discussion agenda.

“They have made tremendous progress in the agriculture sector, particularly in areas related to seeds. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed on cooperation in this sector. At the same time she also sought investment in the IT sector in our Special Economic Zones.

When asked whether there was any concurrence on any subject, he said, “Yes, they agreed for investment in sectors like IT and agriculture.”

Prime Minister Hasina also referred to the signing of an agreement for cultural cooperation with Bulgaria in 1974, which remained unimplemented.

“She has proposed to revive that agreement. The Bulgarian prime minister agreed to her proposal. We are hoping to make a big progress in this regard,” he said.

The three MoUs were signed to enhance economic cooperation between the governments of Bangladesh and Bulgaria; increase cooperation between the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh and to strengthen cooperation between Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and SME Foundation of Bangladesh. 

The MoU on economic cooperation was signed by Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque from the Bangladesh side while Deputy Minister of the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy Daniela Vezieva signed it on behalf of her government.

During their meeting, Hasina highlighted the progress made by Bangladesh in various fields, Ihsanul Karim said.

She also pointed out that like in Bulgaria, women in Bangladesh too were moving ahead, he added.

She invited Bulgaria’s prime minister to visit Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and State Minister for Women and Children Affairs was also present at the bilateral meeting.

Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Saturday.