Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Australia will support Bangladesh candidature for UN Security Council for the year 2016-17, Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr has said.
The new Australian Foreign Minister Senator Bob Carr pledged this during his courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni MP at Bangladesh High Commission in London Sunday afternoon, a foreign ministry announcement said in the capital Dhaka on Monday.
The Australian minister also congratulated the Bangladesh government on her victory in the case of maritime boundary with Myanmar. He also praised the women empowerment in Bangladesh.
Referring to recent event of honouring “Foreign Friends” for their contribution in the Bangladesh Liberation War, Bob Carr said he was inspired by the spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
Bangladesh minister expressed gratitude to Australian national Ouderland, Bir Protik, for his contribution in the Bangladesh Liberation struggle and said the people of Bangladesh deeply remembered the contribution of their friends and paid due respect.
The Australian foreign minister indicated that he would pay a visit to Bangladesh in the second half of this year. Bangladesh High Commissioner to UK M. Sayeedur Rahman Khan, Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes and other officials were present at the meeting, it added.
Earlier, briefing a journalist group of the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA) at the Bangladesh high Commission in London on Sunday, Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni hoped that Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) would be able to contribute to the political settlement of the crisis in the Maldives.
She also said Commonwealth is always ready to extend all out cooperation.
In the meeting of the CMAG, which will be held in London on Monday, the latest situation of the Island nation will be reviewed.
She also briefed the CJA members on the progress and development in different sectors of Bangladesh including power, women empowerment, infrastructure, transparency and strengthening of democratic institutions etc. She highlighted the progress in building regional connectivity in South Asia for the betterment of the lives of the people of the region.
She said that the Bangladesh export to India is expected to be increased to US$1.0 this year from 300 million dollars when this government came to office.
Dipu Moni also said that Bangladesh had always maintained a policy of engagement with Myanmar and hopes to have continued close relationship.
The foreign minister, however, expressed her frustration over the failure of the developed nations in keeping up their commitments to funding for mitigation and adaptation programs for copping with climate change.
Beside this, she had a Luncheon Meeting with Indian Journalists’ Association in UK. Correspondents of different news papers/agencies attended the meeting. Dr. Dipu Moni told the Indian Journalists that both the Governments are engaged in promoting multifarious bilateral relations and resolving all outstanding issues, including sharing of the Teesta waters. CJA Chairperson Ms. Rita Payne led the journalist group.
BBN/SSR/AD-16Apr12-1:45 pm (BST)
