In a recent diplomatic meeting, President Dr. José Maria Pereira Neves of Cape Verde pledged his country’s support to Bangladesh in the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas currently residing there. Rezina Ahmed, the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Portugal, made this commitment last Friday when she presented her credentials to President Neves in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Ambassador Ahmed is Bangladesh’s fourth non-resident ambassador to Cape Verde, with her residence in Lisbon.
President Neves commended the Bangladeshi government for providing shelter to over one million displaced Rohingyas and assured continuous support for their safe return to their homeland. He expressed his admiration for the socio-economic initiatives led by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, highlighting the significant progress made in Bangladesh’s institutionalization of democracy.
The meeting also underscored the strong bilateral relations between Cape Verde and Bangladesh, with a focus on exploring potential trade and investment opportunities. Both President Neves and Ambassador Ahmed emphasized the need to strengthen ties in various sectors, including tourism, the blue economy, climate change, and IT. They also discussed the possibility of importing pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh to Cape Verde.
Ambassador Ahmed extended an invitation to President Neves to visit Bangladesh, which he graciously accepted. The President conveyed his greetings to Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and he assured full support for further enhancing bilateral relations.
Earlier, Ambassador Ahmed handed over copies of her credential papers to Cape Verde’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Regional Integration, Dr. Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares. During their meeting, they agreed on the importance of increasing trade between the two countries and identified key areas for future collaboration. The Ambassador also proposed holding foreign office consultations to address ongoing issues and explore ways forward.
This development marks a significant step in Cape Verde and Bangladesh’s diplomatic relations, promising enhanced cooperation and mutual support in various domains.
