Dhaka: Chief Adviser's Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi has held several bilateral meetings with Singaporean ministers where he provided first-hand updates on developments in Bangladesh and pursued areas of collaboration with both the public and private sectors. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Siddiqi engaged in talks with Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and State Minister (Manpower) Dinesh Vasu Dash at their offices on October 3. These discussions aimed to enhance bilateral relations and explore cooperative opportunities in various sectors. At the invitation of Grace Foo, Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Siddiqi also attended a high-level dinner at the Singapore Grand Prix on October 5. He was joined by Minister for Manpower, Science and Technology Dr. Tan See Leng, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Gan Siow Huang, and Senior Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai. During the event, Siddiqi engaged in discussions with several key figures, including Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister and Former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong. The special envoy also reconnected with private sector leaders such as Ray Dalio, CEO of Grab Anthony Tan, and CEO of Antler Magnus Grimeland, among others. Siddiqi concluded his visit with meetings with Chairman of Enterprise Singapore Lee Chuan Teck, Regional CEO of PSA Vincent Ng, and Regional Lead of PayPal Amir Valliani. These discussions offered insights into Bangladesh's developments and explored collaborative opportunities. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan highlighted Bangladesh's potential, noting its political and economic transformation and efforts in diversifying its economy. Singapore expressed its interest in working closely with Bangladesh as it continues its growth and development. In an interview with Channel News Asia, Siddiqi addressed the issue of online disinformation and emphasized the importance of vigilance, particularly as elect ions approach. He also met with colleagues at the Bangladesh High Commission and members of the migrant workers' community to review service improvements. The message indicated that appointments for ePassport biometrics are now available within twenty-four hours, significantly reducing the waiting period from over four months. Additionally, the requirement for physical endorsement of work visas has been suspended, easing the process for Bangladeshi workers and their employers. Siddiqi collaborated with Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Expatriates' Affairs Advisor Asif Nazrul to address these issues, demonstrating a commitment to improving services for Bangladeshis abroad.
