Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina’s assertion following Thailand go to

Within the morning of Could 2, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina hosted a press convention at her official residence in Ganabhaban. The aim was to debate her current official journey to Thailand, which happened from April 24 to April 29. Throughout the press convention, she delivered the next speech:

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Pricey journalists and colleagues.

Assalamu Alaikum! Good morning!

On the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, I visited Thailand on April 24-29, 2024 on a bilateral go to and to attend the eightieth session of the UN-ESCAP. A number of ministers, state ministers, advisers and senior authorities officers had been my entourage.

Upon my arrival in Bangkok on April 24, 2024, I used to be greeted on the airport with a purple carpet reception, guard of honor and gun salute.

The eightieth annual session of UN-ESCAP was held on April 22-26, 2024 in Bangkok. Government Secretary of the group invited me to ship the welcome handle on the inaugural operate. Being busy within the nation, I couldn’t attend it. Nevertheless, within the opening ceremony, a prerecorded video message of mine was screened on the principle theme of the session, ÒLeveraging digital innovation for sustainable improvement in Asia and the PacificÓ .

Within the morning on April 25, I gave a speech on attaining the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Growth Objectives by way of strengthening cooperation within the Asia-Pacific area at a session of UN-ESCAP.

I expressed our curiosity in sharing our personal innovated and carried out improvement fashions with different international locations within the area by way of the UN-ESCAP facet by facet with highlighting the outstanding improvement expertise of Bangladesh. I reiterated my name to worldwide group to grow to be vocal in opposition to all types of aggression and atrocities and to say ‘no’ to conflict.

I referred to as upon the world group, together with the Asia-Pacific area to work collectively to cease continued genocide in Palestine and ongoing battle in Myanmar and resolve the Rohingya concern.

On the identical day, United Nations Below-Secretary Normal and UN-ESCAP Government Secretary Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana referred to as on me. Throughout the assembly, I put emphasis on enhancing mutual cooperation between the international locations of South Asia and Southeast Asia area.

Honorable Minister of Finance and State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Info Know-how addressed varied periods of the eightieth annual session of the UN-ESCAP.

A facet occasion below the association of the ICT Division was held on the convention venue and a pavilion titled “Digital to Good Bangladesh by 2041” was arrange. I went spherical off the pavilion.

Within the afternoon on the identical day, I referred to as on His Majesty the King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan on the Thai royal palace.

Right now, I expressed my gratitude to the King and the Queen for the long-standing friendship of Thailand and hoped that the 2 international locations will work collectively to strengthen bilateral relations.

On the third day of the go to on April 26, after I reached the Authorities Home, the Thai Prime Minister formally welcomed me once more to Thailand with a state guard of honor.

Later, on the Authorities Home, I had a tete a tete with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Throughout the assembly, aside from different bilateral points, I sought Thailand’s cooperation in fast repatriating of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya group) to their homeland.

On the finish of the tete a tete, a bilateral assembly was held with the participation of delegations from each international locations led by me and the honorable Prime Minister of Thailand.

On this assembly, we held constructive discussions to additional develop the present long-standing bilateral relations between the 2 international locations. Right now, I sought cooperation of Thailand as a beneficial associate in reworking Bangladesh right into a knowledge-based, digitalized and local weather resilient nation and making Bangladesh a sensible nation by 2041.

Within the assembly, the evaluation of the “Free Commerce Settlement” with a view to increasing commerce and growing imports and exports between the 2 international locations in addition to different problems with widespread curiosity had been mentioned. Notable matters included funding, people-to-people contacts, cultural change, tourism cooperation, power safety, agriculture and meals safety, well being, land and sea connectivity, improvement cooperation, and regional and worldwide cooperation.

Right now, I requested the Thai Prime Minister to encourage the participation of the non-public sector, particularly funding in our Particular Financial Zones and Hello-Tech Parks, to maintain the stability of commerce between the 2 international locations.

I requested the Thai Prime Minister to contemplate the problem of granting duty-free entry to some Bangladeshi items, together with ready-made clothes, for a logical interval.

As an agricultural producing nation, we are able to make the most of Thailand’s expertise and technological experience to strengthen meals safety by way of growing cooperation within the agricultural sector. That’s the reason I mentioned about growing our cooperation with Thailand.

We mentioned growing cooperation in training and well being sectors. I additionally urged Thailand to spend money on the well being sector of Bangladesh.

We agreed to strengthen financial relations between Bangladesh and the Thailand by rapidly launching direct coastal delivery between Thailand’s Ranong Port and Chittagong Port with the goal of financial improvement by way of seamless regional connectivity.

Apart from, I reiterated our expectation of Bangladesh’s becoming a member of in “India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral freeway” for strengthening regional cooperation.

Each Bangladesh and Thailand are founding members of BIMSTEC. I and the Thai Prime Minister agreed that BIMSTEC is usually a key driving power of financial development for the almost 180 crore individuals within the area. I congratulated the Prime Minister of Thailand as the present chairman of BIMSTEC and wished that Thailand will arrange a profitable BIMSTEC summit quickly below his management.

Geographically, Bangladesh is a neighbor of ASEAN. I once more requested the Authorities of Thailand in regards to the enchantment for getting ASEAN’s “Sectoral Dialogue Associate’ standing for Bangladesh which is positioned on the junction between South Asia and South East Asia, throughout the present 12 months.

On the finish of the bilateral assembly, an settlement, three memorandum of understandings and a Letter of Intent had been signed to additional increase the world of cooperation between the 2 international locations.

The paperwork are:

Settlement on Visa Exemption for Official Passport Holders;
MoU on Power Cooperation;
MoU on Tourism Cooperation;
MoU on Customs Cooperation; and
Letter of Intent for beginning negotiation on Free commerce settlement.

After the top of the signing of the agreements and MoUs, I and the Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin spoke on the press convention. After the press convention, I attended a state luncheon hosted by the Prime Minister of Thailand in honor of me. My youthful sister Sheikh Rehana additionally attended it.

My official go to to Thailand will stay as a milestone in bilateral relations. It ushered in a brand new period of fruitful partnership between our two international locations.

The official go to of the pinnacle of presidency of Bangladesh to Thailand, an essential member state of ASEAN, may be very vital. The go to will play an essential position in strengthening bilateral financial relations, together with the growing of bilateral commerce and commerce, progress on beginning the dialogue on free commerce settlement, growing of intercommunication, and so forth.

The go to is anticipated to play a major position in Bangladesh’s attaining of the candidacy of ASEAN’s ‘Sectoral Dialogue Associate’ by 2024.

I’m hopeful that the talks held with the Honorable Prime Minister of Thailand on Rohingya repatriation will assist Thailand to take a powerful place on the speedy repatriation of Rohingyas bilaterally and within the regional alliance ASEAN.

As an entire, I feel this go to has been profitable and fruitful as a particular effort of Bangladesh to guard the financial pursuits of Bangladesh and improve its regional engagement.

Thanks all.

Could Allah bless you.

Pleasure Bangla, Pleasure Bangabandhu.

Could Bangladesh prosper without end.

Khoda Hafez.