Bangladeshi ambassador stresses ties with Jordan
shahennews
Bangladeshi Ambassador to Jordan Nahida Subhan on Sunday underlined His Majesty King Abdullah II’s role in highlighting the true Image of Islam and said the King “has been able to make people understand that there is nothing fundamentally Islamic in terrorism and extremism”.
In a wide ranging interview with the Jordan News Agency (Petra) on the occasion of her country’s national day, the Bangladeshi ambassador stressed that Jordan and Bangladesh maintain strong ties “but there is more scope in expanding and strengthening our bilateral relations considering the commonalities we share.”
She noted that the Hashemite leadership managed to promote a culture of understanding and moderation in the Jordanian society, and has been also successful and influential in its peacemaking efforts in the region.
Subhan indicated that there are about 70,000 Bangladeshi workers in the Kingdom, saying: “We have always received very good support and corporation from Jordanian ministries, agencies and organizations while addressing any issue pertaining to the Bangladeshi workers in the Kingdom.”
“After coming to Jordan, I was very happy to see that most of the labor laws, provisions and policies concerning labor rights and well-being in Jordan are very pro-labor and most importantly these laws, provisions and rules include foreign workers living in Jordan,” the ambassador noted.
She stressed that when it comes to the treatment of foreign workers, Jordan can be cited as a model country in the region.
Highlighting bilateral relations, Subhan said they have been very “cordial”, noting that the Kingdom was among the first countries to recognize Bangladesh in 1971.
She emphasized that Bangladesh has always been very vocal in terms of supporting Jordan globally politically, adding: “We support the Hashemite custodianship of the holy sites of Jerusalem.”
The ambassador pointed out that the two countries will soon sign a number of memoranda of understanding and agreements in key sectors to boost cooperation.
Addressing trade cooperation, Subhan said trade balance between the two countries is titled in favor of Jordan, noting that during the period between July 2019 to June 2020, exports from Bangladesh to Jordan stood at $10.61 million, while imports from the Kingdom to her country amounted to $20.49 million.
She indicated that Jordan hosts about 50,000 Bangladeshi workers in its industrial zones and said they are contributing directly in the economy of the country.
She added: “I believe that in the coming days the two countries will increase their economic cooperation in a stronger way. Both Bangladesh and Jordan have created remarkable investment facilities. Investors from both the countries can create or can explore the opportunities created for investment in these two countries.”
Turning to development in her country, the ambassador said Bangladesh is witnessing a fast-paced economy and development trajectory.
According to a projection made by the UK based Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), Bangladesh’s economy will be 28th largest in 2030, she added.
Subhan also pointed out that Bangladesh economic ranking is projected to be 41st in the world at the end of 2021, noting that financial Institutions like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan classified Bangladesh as one of the Next Eleven emerging market and one of the Frontier Five emerging economies in the world.
Furthermore, Bangladesh is projected to become the 24th largest economy by 2033, according to the ambassador who stressed that the success of the IT industry is central to the ongoing economic growth of Bangladesh.
Subhan indicated that her country exports nearly $1 billion of technology products every year. The country also has 600,000 IT freelancers. The services sector – including microfinance and computing – makes up 53% of the country’s GDP.
To reap benefit out of the various investment friendly and business friendly policies and activities ongoing in Jordan and Bangladesh, Subhan stressed that it is important to have high level visits between the two countries which may include business community members and potential investors.
She emphasized that there are very good possibilities of tourism cooperation and exchange of tourism between Jordan and Bangladesh, saying: “Jordan hosts a number of key archaeological sites which are among the oldest civilizations in the world. It is a cradle of civilization.”
The envoy underlined that key sites in Jordan can easily attract tourists from Bangladesh if facilitated. On the other hand, she noted, Bangladesh offers lush green touristic spots and also the longest undivided sandy sea beach, which can be an attractive tourist spot for Jordanians.
With regard to the two countries’ cooperation on the international arena, Subhan said both Jordan and Bangladesh “enjoy good relations and cooperation on issues of common interest globally and also on regional issues. In particular, with regard to the situation of occupation in Palestine, both the countries share same views.”
Globally, she indicated, in multilateral forum and particular in the UN, both in New York and in Geneva – the two countries coordinate and work together on several issues of common interest.
“We work together both under the umbrella of OIC and also as individual member state of the UN. We cooperate and support each other also in the UN on refuge issues as both the countries host a huge number of refugees. We were extremely grateful for the visit of Her Majesty the Queen Rania to Bangladesh in 2017 when she met with the undocumented Myanmar nationals, the Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh,” the ambassador said.
Responding to a question on the Palestinian issue, Subhan stressed that Bangladesh’s support to the Palestinians is “clear and unequivocal”, adding: “Our support to Palestine emanates from the very specific policy guideline that was laid down by our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In his speech at the UNGA in 1974, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman strongly called for the complete vacation of all illegally occupied territories and for restoring the legitimate national rights of the people of Palestine.”
She emphasized that her country supports the legitimate and inalienable rights of the Palestinian people for a sovereign and independent homeland of their own.
Subhan indicated that Dhaka firmly believes that lasting and viable peace in the region cannot be achieved until the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are recognized.
The ambassador said: “We therefore, join the international community in demanding the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine with the 1967 borders.”
//Petra// WH, AA
