Karachi, 17 March 2023:

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam addresses a group of students of different departments and faculties at the UIT University in Karachi at its main campus on 17 March 2023. Around 150 students and faculty members of the university were present. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Johar Ali and other senior faculty members and senior administrators of the IT University received the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh at the University Campus.

As the Chief Guest and the only Speaker the Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam briefed the students and the faculty members and academics of UIT University on “Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy and Bangladesh’s Success Stories”. He also shed lights on the bilateral relationships between Bangladesh Pakistan. He focused on the Bangladesh’s success stories in different socio-economic vis-à-vis the diplomatic fronts. He mentioned that Bangladesh has been pursuing the foreign policy of “Friendship to all and malice towards none” since her Independence in 1971 as was postulated by the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which continues to provide the philosophical underpinning of Bangladesh’s pro-peace foreign policy. He further mentioned that Father of the Nation propounded the peace and development-centric foreign policy, which remains the guiding principle of Bangladesh’s diplomatic engagements today. He mentioned that Father of the Nation was a pioneer in promoting regional and international peace and he was awarded the ‘Juliot-Curie Peace Price” in 1973.

Deputy High Commission briefed on Bangladesh’s humanitarian supports as a responsible independent country to over 1.1 million Rohingyas, who are the forcibly displaced nationals of Myanmar. He further mentioned that Bangladesh was the leading proponent and had significant role in mooting the notion and steering the UN General Assembly resolution on ‘Culture of Peace’ in 1999. Bangladesh ranks as the top troops and police contributing country in the UN Peacekeeping operations he added. He further added that Bangladesh has peacefully settled the land borders and maritime boundaries with the neighboring countries. He also highlighted on the socio-economic developments of Bangladesh in different areas and index and mentioned that Bangladesh has full-filled all the criteria for graduation to developing country from LDC status. The international community has already cited Bangladesh as the ‘Role Model’ for socio-economic development. Bangladesh is the 35^th largest economy in terms of GDP in the world. Bangladesh is one of the five fastest growing economies in the world. Bangladesh has attained 100% primary enrollment and 100% coverage of electricity across the country. Bangladesh has been striving hard to establish 100 Specialized Economic Zones (SEZ) with foreign investment friendly policies. Bangladesh has attained the per capita income of US$2,824 and already has achieved ‘Vision 2021’.  Bangladesh has been working hard with “Vision-2031” and “Vision-2041” to become a higher middle-income country by 2031 and developed and smart country by 2041.

UIT University students and distinguished faculty members and the Vice-Chancellor were deeply impressed to know the success stories and dynamic foreign policy of Bangladesh. The young students, who have limited understanding about Bangladesh were quite enthusiastic to listen the real-life stories on Bangladesh. They have shown huge interest to know more about Bangladesh, the People of Bangladesh and the Development policies of Bangladesh.