DHAKA, July 14, 2024 (BSS) - Foreign minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud today said four European Union (EU) countries - Italy, Germany, Greece, and Romania - have decided to recruit 3,000 workers from Bangladesh. 

He shared the news with journalists after emerging from a farewell meeting with the outgoing EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley at the foreign ministry here.

"The EU Ambassador indicated the potential for employing more Bangladeshi workers in the future depending on skills and efficiency of these 3,000 workers," said the foreign minister. 

He said during the meeting, they also discussed about ensuring Bangladesh's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) or tariff reduction benefits for its products from the EU until 2032, even after Dhaka's transition from Least Developed Country (LDC) to a middle-income one in 2026.

BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers' Retreat

About the second retreat of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers, held in New Delhi, July 11-12, Hasan said he highlighted key discussions on climate change, medical assistance, energy security, and the enhancement of green energy usage through hydropower production in Nepal and Bhutan.

The foreign minister noted that the upcoming BIMSTEC Summit is scheduled for September 4 in Thailand, where Bangladesh will assume the role of the next chair of BIMSTEC.

Meanwhile in a press release, the foreign ministry said that the primary objective of the Retreat was to engage in open and candid discussions on areas of cooperation within BIMSTEC to find solutions to the regional challenges and to brainstorm new ideas and suggestions for the future direction of the organization.
 
On the sidelines of the retreat, Bangladesh foreign minister held bilateral meetings with his Indian and Myanmar counterparts and discussed issues of mutual interests. 
 
During his meeting with Indian external affair minister Dr. S Jaishankar, Bangladesh foreign minister discussed the issue of sending a technical team for the conservation and management of the Teesta River, a decision which was taken at the summit meeting between Bangladesh and Indian Premiers in New Delhi on 22 June. 
 
Hasan also urged Jaishankar to ensure a smooth supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh. 
 
During his meeting with his Myanmar counterpart, the Foreign Minister emphasised on the early repatriation of the over 1.2 million forcefully displaced Myanmar nationals. 
 
Myanmar's foreign minister announced readiness to resume the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. 
 
On the second day, the BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers called on the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 
During the discussions, Hasan highlighted effective cooperation in trade and investment promotion, disaster management, food and energy security, climate change, public health, connectivity, and the blue economy. 
 
He urged member states to follow Bangladesh's example of banning fishing during the breeding season to address the depletion of fish population in the Bay of Bengal.