BD, Sweden to work for broader ties

Bangladesh and Sweden agreed to work together to upgrade their cooperation to a 'broader relationship' in the coming days.

Ways and means to that effect was extensively discussed as the foreign offices of the two countries met for the first round of political consultations at state house Padma in Dhaka on Monday.

Ambassador Kamrul Ahsan, secretary (Bilateral and Consular), led the Bangladesh side in the consultations while Swedish side was headed by Ambassador Cecilia Ruthstrom-Ruin, head of the Department for Asia and the Pacific in Swedish Foreign Office, says a foreign ministry statement.

The foreign ministers of the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Stockholm in September 2016 for holding of regular consultations between the two foreign offices.

The first round of consultations covered a wide range of bilateral issues and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Bilateral trade and investment figured prominently in the discussion in view of Bangladesh's scheduled graduation from least developed countries (LDCs) in 2024 and Sweden's interest in having robust economic relations with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh side recalled Sweden's-particularly the then Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme'a strong voice of support-for its Independence in 1971 under the leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and subsequently Sweden's development assistance for the reconstruction of the war-ravaged economy.

[email protected]