Dhaka, 10 September 2020

Mr. Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Hungary paid one-day official visit to Bangladesh on 10 September 2020 accompanied by 14 member delegation. The Hungarian Minister spent a busy day in Dhaka. He began his program with the visit to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum in the morning and paid tribute to the memories of the Father of the Nation and his family members who were brutally killed in 1975. He met Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi at the latter’s office. Two Ministers discussed bilateral trade & commerce and investment. Later in the day, Mr. Szijjártó gave an interview to BTV (Bangladesh Television) followed by a lunch hosted by Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen.

Bilateral meeting between Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and Foreign Minister of Hungary was held at State Guest House Padma. The Hungarian delegation was led by Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade Mr. Péter Szijjártó and Bangladesh side was led by Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Mome.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister thanked the government of Hungary for their support during the War of Liberation in 1971. He also emphasized on the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries. He urged the Hungarian Foreign Minister to encourage Hungarian investors and entrepreneurs to invest in various sectors like energy, renewable energy, pulp and paper, shipbuilding, telecommunication, ICT, Tourism, environmental technology etc through Hi-Tech Parks (HTPs) and Specialized Economic Zones (SEZs).  

Hungarian Foreign Minister conveyed the decision that Hungary would open a Consulate in Bangladesh very soon to facilitate visa and immigration process for the Bangladeshis. Bangladesh Foreign Minister also thanked his counterpart for the voluntary service provided by Hungarian Doctors every year in Bangladesh with surgery and consultation for our patients with burn injuries and patients with need for cosmetic/plastic surgery. Bangladesh Foreign Minister particularly mentioned the operation of the Siamese twins Rabeya and Rokeya jointly by Bangladesh and Hungarian Doctors.

Mentioning the availability of a large pool of skilled and semi-skilled professionals and workers in Bangladesh, he proposed the Hungarian side to recruit skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh to fulfill the labour shortage in Hungary.

During the meeting, Foreign Minister thanked the Hungarian government for their continued support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue and requested to further extend their support as a responsible member of the international community to ensure safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland. Hungarian Foreign Minister assured their support for the cause.

Two instruments- Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the Field of Diplomatic Training and the Exchange of Information and Documentation between the two Foreign Ministries and Joint Communiqué on the outcome of the bilateral meeting between the two Foreign Ministers were signed. Later, two Ministers met local the press. Mr. Szijjártó departed Dhaka in the evening.