French President Macron meets with Bangladeshi premier in Dhaka

French President Emmanuel Macron held a significant meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka, marking a pivotal moment in strengthening the ties between the two nations. 

This visit, the first by a French president in 33 years, underscores France's commitment to enhancing both trade and strategic relations with Bangladesh, a nation they consider an increasingly important partner on the global stage. The last French president to visit Bangladesh was Francois Mitterrand in 1990.
During their meeting, President Macron and Prime Minister Hasina were expected to ink several bilateral agreements aimed at bolstering cooperation in various sectors. Prior to their official talks, President Macron paid his respects to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding leader of Bangladesh, at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka, a gesture symbolizing the deepening of diplomatic ties.
Among the significant agreements slated for signing were two memorandums of understanding (MoUs). The first involved a partnership with the European multinational aerospace corporation Airbus, pertaining to the financing of a satellite and aircraft. The second MoU pertained to funding for a local government project. 
Notably, a defense MoU was signed during Prime Minister Hasina's visit to France in 2021, reflecting the growing security cooperation between the two nations.
The French embassy in Dhaka emphasized the historic nature of President Macron's visit and its importance in strengthening the dialogue with Bangladesh, which is viewed as an increasingly strategic partner. Bangladesh's remarkable economic growth has propelled it toward realizing its Smart Bangladesh vision, and France is keen to support this development and assist Bangladesh in overcoming its significant challenges. Furthermore, the cooperation between the two nations extends to the pursuit of sustainable development goals (SDGs), reflecting their shared commitment to addressing global challenges.
During the meeting, various other crucial topics were on the agenda, including the Rohingya crisis, trade, investment, climate change mitigation, and technology transfer. Over the years, trade between Bangladesh and France has witnessed substantial growth, surging from €210 million ($225 million) in the early 1990s to €4.9 billion at present, with France ranking as Bangladesh's fifth-largest export destination.
President Macron arrived in Dhaka for his two-day official visit on Sunday night, underscoring the significance of the diplomatic engagement and the strengthening of ties between France and Bangladesh.