Press Release on Presentation of Letter of Credence by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the President of Fiji.
Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra | 02 April 2009 | Press Release
Bangladesh offered to help Fiji in its developmental efforts with expertise in agricultural field as well as skilled and semi-skilled manpower. This was said by Bangladesh High Commissioner to the Republic of the Fiji Islands H.E. Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury while presenting his credentials to His Excellency Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, KSt.J, MBE, MSD, JP, Hon’ble President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands on 02 April 2009 in Suva, Fiji.
Bangladesh High Commissioner during the ceremony has conveyed greetings of the Hon’ble President, the Government and the people of Bangladesh to the Hon’ble President of Fiji and the friendly people of Fiji. He also expressed his satisfaction at the friendly relations that exist between Bangladesh and Fiji. The President of Fiji also reciprocated the goodwill and commented that Fiji is proud to have Bangladesh as their friend. In the meeting the wife of the High Commissioner Mrs. Jasmin Masud, Mr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Counsellor of Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra and Mr. Mohammed Afzal Khan, Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in Fiji were also present.
Bangladesh High Commissioner also expressed the willingness to work in collaboration with Fiji on issues of mutual interest with special emphasis on UN Peacekeeping, addressing climate change, developmental issues including micro-credit and women empowerment. The President of Fiji showed keen interest to the ideas espoused by the High Commissioner and said Fiji will be ready to work with Bangladesh.
Bangladesh High Commissioner also called on Commodore Voreque Bainimarama, Hon’ble Prime Minister of Fiji on the same day. During the meeting with the Fijian Prime Minister, the High Commissioner highlighted the achievement of Bangladesh in recent years, particularly in the areas of economic development, micro-finance and women empowerment. He also briefed him on the recent elections held in Bangladesh and informed him that daughter of the Father of the Nation Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed the government after winning the elections with a huge mandate. The High Commissioner proposed to have collaboration between Bangladesh and Fiji in the area of agriculture as Bangladesh has got success in this field through attaining self sufficiency in food. The Prime Minister of Fiji also briefed the High Commissioner about the recent developments in his country and informed that Fiji would go back to democracy soon after the electoral and administrative reforms under the auspices of the UN and the Commonwealth.
Later the High Commissioner met Ratu Epeli Ganilau, Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration and discussed the issues of mutual interests. The High Commissioner informed the Minister of the standard of military institutions in Bangladesh and offered to train Fiji Armed Forces officers in those institutions especially in Staff College and National Defence College of Bangladesh. The Minister agreed in principle to the proposal and assured that he would contact the High Commission in this regard. Later the High Commissioner also met Mr. Ross I. V. Ligairi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation on the same day and discussed issues of mutual interest.
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(Mahbub Hassan Saleh)
Counsellor
