Delegation from Europe set to touch down in Dhaka for a three-day visit starting tomorrow.
European Delegation Visits Bangladesh to Foster Closer Ties
A high-level delegation of political leaders and civil society members from Europe embarked on a South Asia study tour from August 12 to 14, with a stop in Bangladesh as part of the tour that also includes India, Bhutan, and the Maldives.
The visit aimed to strengthen dialogue between Europe and South Asia by fostering closer political, economic, and civil society ties. The delegation, largely composed of German parliamentarians and civil society members, engaged with Bangladeshi politicians, business leaders, civil society actors, and regional organization representatives during their three- to four-day visit.
The purpose of the visit was to boost dialogue and understanding between European and South Asian counterparts, particularly Germany and Bangladesh. The delegation sought to foster stronger networks between European political and economic institutions and their counterparts in South Asia. They aimed to gain insight into Bangladesh's current political and economic status, examining progress, challenges, and reform efforts under the interim government.
The agenda included meetings and bilateral talks with high-ranking officials and key institutional figures such as Md. Asaduzzaman, Attorney General of Bangladesh, Lutfey Siddiqi, chief adviser’s envoy for international affairs of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Dr. Rudiger Lotz, German ambassador to Bangladesh, Frank Werner, director of Goethe-Institute Bangladesh, Ambassador Indra Maney Pande, Secretary General of BIMSTEC, and Shahidul Islam, director at NETZ Bangladesh, a German-based NGO focused on justice and development.
The delegation was part of a broader four-nation South Asia tour organized by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), a Germany-based organization promoting individual freedom and classical liberalism. The tour is focused on strengthening dialogue with South Asia and is organized by the South Asian Regional Office of the FNF.
During their stay, the delegation will visit NETZ Bangladesh, Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, BIMSTEC Secretariat, and the Bangladesh-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI). They will also engage in dialogue with renowned economic and media analysts on issues related to regional security, media freedom, and policy reform. A visit to a garment factory in Savar will provide insights into labour rights, industrial supply chain, and the role of skilled-labour migration.
South Asia, with a population of nearly two billion people, is gaining increasing importance for Europe, both politically and economically. The visit highlights the potential for mutual learning and the commitment to dialogue, greater understanding, and collaboration in governance and development between Europe and South Asia, leveraging the ongoing reform process in Bangladesh as a case study for deepened relations.
[1] South Asia Study Tour
[2] European Delegation Visits Bangladesh
- The European Delegation, while on their South Asia Study Tour, engaged with Bangladeshi business leaders to explore potential for economic collaboration between Europe and South Asia.
- The European Delegation, during their visit to Bangladesh, held dialogue with politics and civil society actors to discuss the intersection of business, politics, and general-news, aiming to foster stronger networks and deeper understanding between Europe and South Asia.
