Staff Correspondent

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin has broached the issue of problems being faced by the students in obtaining German visa for a long time with "due seriousness" with the German Ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster.

In response, the German Ambassador assured of all possible efforts, including increasing manpower at the embassy, to clear the backlog of student visa applications.

“The bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Germany is excellent and long-standing,” said Ambassador Tröster while paying a maiden call on the Foreign Secretary recently.

He also conveyed full support of the German government to the interim government of Bangladesh, and its reform initiatives which the Foreign Secretary welcomed profoundly.

Emphasising the need for enhanced climate and development partnership, the Ambassador briefed on the German development cooperation, particularly in the areas of climate action, green transition, vocational training, and improving work environment in the garments industry of Bangladesh.

The Foreign Secretary termed the relations between the two countries as ‘substantive’ and expressed happiness over the existing bilateral trade relationship that was over 7 billion USD in 2022-23.

He highlighted the measures taken by the Bangladesh government to bring improvement in the labour sector, including amendments to the Bangladesh labour Act and EPZ Labour Act.

He underlined that 11 reform commissions have been formed by the Interim Government with a view to ensuring accountability and transparency in the entire governance, and holding a free, fair election towards the path of democracy.

Referring to the recent unprecedented flood in the southern part of Bangladesh, the Foreign Secretary lauded German assistance in tackling climate change effects.

He praised German support for the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and hoped to hold an all stakeholder international conference on Rohingyas soon, as called by the Chief Adviser during the last UNGA in New York.

Both sides further discussed ways for regular holding of bilateral consultations, exchange of visits, and educational collaboration.