Dhaka, 28 February 2019:  “France-South East Asia” the Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group headed by the Senator and President Jacky DEROMEDI, met Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen at his office in the morning. The other members of the delegation are Jerome DURIAN, President of the Bangladesh sub-group, Mr. Simon SUTOUR, Senator of Gard Region and Ms Anne Laure SAINT-DIZIER, Executive and Secretary of the Senate House. The Group covers six ASEAN countries (Burma/Myanmar, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) and Bangladesh.  

Welcoming the delegation Foreign Minister Momen thanked the delegation for visiting Bangladesh. Referring to French support during our Liberation War in 1971, he fondly recalled the important contribution made by renowned French intellectual and politician Andre Malraux during and after the Liberation War of Bangladesh. He also praised France and her people for being the beacon of democracy for freedom loving people across the world.  

The French inter-parliamentary delegation highly appreciated the significant support that was extended by Bangladesh to the Rohingya people. Foreign Minister Dr Momen sought French continued French support to create conducive environment inside the Rakhine State of Myanmar for their dignified return in safety and security. The French delegation assured to continue supporting the cause of the Rohingyas.

Foreign Minister appreciated the existing excellent mutual understanding between Bangladesh and France on the important issues like climate change and peacekeeping. He also urged the French businessmen and investors to invest in Bangladesh in energy, infrastructure and other sectors also and for taking the advantages of the country’s demographic dividend and attractive packages that are on offer in our 100 Special Economic Zones (SEZ). The French inter-parliamentary delegation appreciated the impressive development in Bangladesh and expressed their interest to organize a Business Forum within French parliament, engaging the French business community, where Bangladesh could showcase the huge economic and business opportunities that currently exist in Bangladesh.

Yesterday, they met with the Honorable Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament, H.E. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. The delegation also visited a Garment Factory, nearby Dhaka.