Civil society enjoying freedom to express opinion: President

President Md Abdul Hamid said Monday country's civil society has been enjoying full freedom to express their opinion.
"The civil society of the country has been given full freedom to express their views," the President said this when the outgoing non-resident Ambassador of Belgium in Bangladesh Pierre Vaesen made a farewell call on the President at Bangabhaban in the city Monday, reports agencies.
The President made the remarks while Vaesen commented that Bangladesh has a vibrant civil society, President's Press secretary Ihsanul Karim told the news agency after the meeting.
President Abdul Hamid recalled with gratitude that Belgium is one of the first countries which recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent country on February 04, 1972.
He said there is tremendous potential and wide scope to develop meaningful relationship between the two friendly countries.
The President underscored the need for exchange of visits by business delegations and MPs to promote bilateral relations.
The envoy said they have given limited scholarships for Bangladeshi students to study in Belgium.
Now there is no need to go to Delhi for obtaining student visa for Belgium, he said, adding that the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka will process the short-term visa for Belgium.