President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday urged Switzerland to continue its support to Bangladesh in its efforts to send Rohingyas back to their homeland Myanmar.
He said this when newly appointed Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Siegfried Renggli presented his credentials to him at Bangabhaban, said President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin.
While welcoming the new ambassador, the president said that Switzerland is making an important contribution to Bangladesh's socio-economic development and its investment here.
He recalled the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's official visit to Switzerland in 1972, saying that Bangabandhu wanted to emulate Switzerland in forging Bangladesh.
Shahabuddin stressed Swiss support and cooperation as the country’s intent in being a development partner of Bangladesh in the last five years. He said the bilateral relations between the two countries will now turn to trade, investment and economic partnership.
He also expressed the hope that in the coming days, the relations between the two countries will reach new heights in various fields including investment.
The Swiss ambassador sought cooperation of the president in carrying out his assignments in Bangladesh.
During the ceremony, Reto Siegfried said, “The two countries have cultivated and grown a solid, robust and diversified partnership in a whole range of areas over the last five decades. It will be my privilege to contribute to the further growth of bilateral ties.”
Last year, Switzerland and Bangladesh celebrated the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations.
With more than $1 billion in annual bilateral trade and an extensive footprint of Swiss investors in critical sectors in Bangladesh, economic relations between the two countries have emerged as a solid pillar of bilateral ties.
The ongoing Swiss cooperation programme aims to assist the sustainable graduation of Bangladesh from the LDC group. Humanitarian aid remains a pivotal element of bilateral collaboration, with a substantial operation and on-the-ground presence in Cox’s Bazar to respond to the Rohingya refugee crisis.
