Home FEATURED Dr. Mohammed Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, speaks exclusively to EU Today

Dr. Mohammed Hasan Mahmud, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, speaks exclusively to EU Today

by gary cartwright
Dr. Muhammad Hasan Mahmud

Today, February 2nd, Brussels has played host to the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, chaired by High Representative Josep Borrell, and bringing together EU Foreign Ministers and their Indo-Pacific counterparts to discuss challenges & opportunities for shared prosperity, green transition & security.

Ahead of the meeting, on behalf of EU Today I was able to meet with Bangladesh Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed Hasan Mahmud.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Mohammed Hasan Mahmud, MP with EU HR/VP Josep Borrell during the 3rd EU Info-Pacific Ministerial Forum.

I asked the Minister about his country’s current relationships with the EU, its member states, and beyond. Dr. Mahmud explained, “We are enjoying strong relationships with the European countries, and also with our neighbouring countries in the Indo-Pacific region, and definitely we ar focusing on strengthening of ties among these countries. 

“We are all currently going through a difficult time now in the world because of the Russia-Ukraine war, and also of course the Gaza war. 

“We all want peace in our world. We are all sufferers. ​

“Our world is a global village now, so as much as we do to foster cooperation and understanding among us, this will benefit the world as a whole.” 

Foreign Minister Mahmud met with EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič

As the Minister is a noted environmentalist, and former Minister for environment and forests, I asked if he felt that his expertise would give him an edge in his current role?

“Definitely,” he replied without hesitation, “environmental degradation is a global issue, and not only the issue of respective environment ministers, but also the concern of foreign ministers as well. 

“So when the issues related to environment are raised in the international forum, definitely my background will give me benefit and it will be possible for me to give insight into the problems. 

“I’m more hopeful now than I was in the past because at the time I was environment and forests minister in Bangladesh – from 2009 to 2014 – the understanding of the global community was not as great as it is today. 

“Our global political leadership now has a better understanding of environmental issues than in the past. 

“In this vast universe, our world is the only lifeboat. So if we allow this world to become degraded, environmentally, climatically, then we and all who come after us all will be adversely affected. 

“This is understood now, but 10 years ago it certainly was not understood. 

“It was difficult to make the then global political leadership see the truth, but now they are more and fully aware.” 

One of the benefits of trading with the EU is that it offers Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) status to those partners who meet the highest standards in human rights, labour rights, and environmental governance.

Bangladesh already enjoys Everything But Arms (EBA), a preferential status, and is expected to be given GSP+ in the near future.

Foreign Minister Mahmud met with EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen.

Dr. Hasan Mahmud told me “This will be very important for Bangladesh because our status will be raised in 2026 from a Least Developed Country to a Developing Country in 2026. The EU extended the EBA till 2029, and after that we should attain GSP+ status. 

“That’s a win-win for both Bangladesh and the EU!” 

Bangladesh is already a significant trading partner for the EU. Not only does 45% of Bangladesh’s exports – totaling over €23 billion per annum- come to Bangladesh, but the trade is going both ways with EU exports to Bangladesh steadily growing. A “win-win” situation, as Dr. Hasan Mahmud pointed out.

We discussed Bangladesh’s recent elections. Whilst the Council of the European Union was very complimentary about the recent elections, very positive with no criticisms whatsoever, there appears to be some elements in the press – maybe under some foreign influence – that are critical. I asked for the Minister’s thoughts on this.

“It was indeed a very good election, slightly under 42% of electors cast their vote on a cold and foggy day.

“But for the bad weather the voter turnout would have been 10% higher and the fact that the opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party boycotted the election having carried out violent activities, including arson attacks on the people, on public transport etc. 

“These things definitely had some negative impact on the turnout of course. 

“But still the participation was very good I would say. It certainly compared well with, as examples,  Portugal in 2021, with a turnout of 39.24%,  Romania 2021, 20%, Ireland, 2018, 43.87% and Bulgaria 37.98% in 2021, and these are EU member states. 

“Also out of 44 registered political parties, 29  participated in our recent election.

He pointed out “Unlike in Belgium, for example, where voting is compulsory, and if you don’t cast your vote then you need to pay fine, in Bangladesh this is not the case. 

“Many countries and leaders congratulated our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the election.” 

Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina had recently addressed the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, where she made a big impact.

I myself, like many others present, was touched by the way she shared recollections about her father, the founder  of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and her family being brutally murdered in a 1975 military coup.

“Definitely she’s a great figure,” Dr. Mahmud said, “despite losing her whole family. 

“If I think of myself, if I lost all of my family in one single night, whether I would remain sane or not, that is the question. 

“But she was determined that she would carry out the struggle of her father, and she would complete the unfinished work of her father. 

“She had to struggle, and she faced many attempts to kill her, i think 19 or 20 attempts. 

“So she led the struggle for democracy in Bangladesh and under her leadership democracy was established in 1990 by toppling the then army dictator General Ershad. 

“Then later when she found herself in opposition repression was carried out on her and on members of her party.” 

Dr. Hasan Mahmud recounted an assassination attempt on Sheikh Hasina in 2004, in which he himself was a victim.

“I was also injured at the time. It was carried out in broad daylight in the heart of Dhaka city to kill her. 24 people were killed, more than 500 were injured, she was injured. 

“But still she carried out her struggle and came to power with a massive election victory in December 2008. 

And four consecutive terms: if she would not be a different personality than many other personalities of the world, it would never be possible for her to be in power, to remain in power for four consecutive terms. 

“See the transformation of Bangladesh!

“Bangladesh was the least developed country in the region when we formed the government in 2009. Now Bangladesh is a middle-income country. 

“Bangladesh was a food-deficit country. Now Bangladesh is self-sufficient in food grain production.   

“This is possible not because of magic, but because of the magical leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”

 

Click here for more articles on Bangladesh at EU Today

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