Lisbon, 27 April 2021:
BangladeshAmbassador to Portugal, Tarik Ahsan presented his credentials to the President of Guinea Bissau,Umaro Mokhtar SissocoEmbalóin the Capital, Bissau today (27April 2021) as the non-resident Bangladesh Ambassador to that country with residence in Lisbon.
The Ambassador was escorted in a motorcade from his hotel accommodation in Bissau to thePalace of the Republic. On his arrival atthe Palace, the Ambassador received a gun salute from the Presidential Guards, while national flags of both the countries were flying.
The Ambassador then ceremonially presented his letter of credence to the President of Guinea Bissau. In an audience withPresidentEmbaló,Ambassador Tarik Ahsan conveyed the greetings of Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to him.The Ambassador stated that he was privileged to be the first Bangladesh Ambassador to present credentials to the Head of State of Guinea Bissau. The Ambassador mentioned with pride that Bangladesh and Guinea Bissau have similar historical backgrounds of achieving independence through glorious wars of liberation and that flags of both countries were raised at the United Nations Secretariat in New York on the same day on 18 September 1974. While there had not been much bilateral contact between the two countries in the past,the Ambassadorexpressed the hope that, with this formal acceptance of an Envoy, relation would now be progressively enhanced to a higher level.The Ambassador suggested that Guinea Bissau consider accrediting, at least, a non-resident Ambassador to Bangladesh for maintaining a regular contact in both ways. Terming the trade between two countries as not up to its potentials, the Ambassador suggested that Guinea Bissau can import quality goods at affordable price from Bangladesh, such as, RMG, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, electronics, ICT products,bicycles/motor cyclesand even ships. Citing Bangladesh’s success in grass roots level development, the Ambassador viewed that, in a spirit of South-South cooperation,Bangladesh and Guinea Bissau can cooperate and exchange best practices, particularly in rural development andagriculture. He attached importance to working together at multilateral fora on the common issue of climate change. The Ambassador requested for continued support of Guinea Bissau, at UN and OIC platforms, in the efforts for ensuring repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyasfrom Bangladesh to Myanmar.
President warmly welcomed the AmbassadorTarik Ahsan to Guinea Bissau and congratulated him on being the first Bangladesh Ambassador to present credentials in his country. The President extended warm greetings to Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh.The President expressed his belief that bonds of friendship between Bangladesh and Guinea Bissau would be further strengthened in the days to come.He expressed keen interest in the expanding cooperation with Bangladesh, particularly in the proposed areas of trade and capacity building, and suggested that the two Foreign Ministries remain in contact for promoting the cooperation.He also expressed his willingness to concurrently accredit a non-resident Ambassador of Guinea Bissau to Bangladesh. The President assured the Ambassador of all cooperation and support during his tenure as Ambassador to Guinea Bissau.