Dhaka: Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd.) today urged Belarus to consider establishing a full-fledged embassy in Dhaka. This request was made during a meeting with Mikhail Kasko, the non-resident ambassador of Belarus to Bangladesh, who is based in New Delhi.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the current situation where the main Belarusian embassy is located in New Delhi has resulted in delays, increased costs, and complications for Bangladeshi citizens requiring visa and consular services. The adviser emphasized the need for a dedicated embassy in Dhaka to alleviate these issues.
During the meeting, the adviser highlighted the longstanding diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Belarus, which were established in 1992. He noted the growing cooperation between the two nations across various sectors, including trade, agriculture, education, defense, and technology. Bangladesh is notably one of the largest importers of fertilizer from Belarus, further underscoring the increasing interactions between the citizens of both countries.
The discussion also touched upon the case of a Belarusian citizen currently serving a life sentence in a Bangladeshi jail for a murder conviction. The adviser explained that while the case is under review in the High Court, there is no existing agreement between Bangladesh and Belarus regarding the exchange of convicted criminals. However, he assured that Bangladesh would offer maximum cooperation on the matter.
Additional topics covered in the meeting included law and order, security issues, the prevention of illegal migration and human trafficking, and the potential for enhancing trade and commerce between the two countries. The meeting was attended by several officials, including Aniruddha K. Roy, Consul of the Consulate of Belarus in Dhaka, Additional Secretary Khandaker Md Mahabubur Rahman, and Joint Secretary M Jasim Uddin Khan.