City Reporter: The Foreign Minister commented that the outreach program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is so that foreign diplomats can know better about the progress of Bangladesh. Hasan Mahmud. He said that through this visit of the diplomats, they can get to know our country well, the capabilities of the Bengali nation, and the development activities that are going on under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. They will convey this message to their country by knowing about Bangladesh. They will spread these news stories about Bangladesh around the world.
On Tuesday (February 27) at noon, he said these things in response to the questions of journalists at the Chittagong railway station before going to Cox’s Bazar by train after visiting various development projects in Chittagong with 34 diplomatic members, including heads of missions from 24 countries and international organizations.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that foreign ambassadors should know our country; they should see with their own eyes the great development activities that are taking place in the country. That is why they have been brought to Chittagong. They will go to Cox’s Bazar by train from Chittagong. The visit was organized as part of the Ambassadors Outreach Program of the Ministry of External Affairs. It is an initiative of the Ministry of External Affairs.
He also said, you know, the train line from Chittagong to Dohazari was built in 1930. But, long before that, the train line from Chittagong to Ghumdhum was planned during the British period. That is, it was planned soon after 1900. But, after the partition of the country, the father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also planned after the partition of the country, but he also could not implement it. Because he was killed after three and a half years. He was killed before the destroyed communications system could be completely rebuilt.
The foreign minister said that the dream that the people of this town saw 125 years ago has been realized under the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter, Sheikh Hasina. It is a remarkable work. So today we are taking diplomats from Chittagong to Cox’s Bazar by train.
Mentioning that he himself is going to Cox’s Bazar by the first train from Chittagong, he said that the main purpose of bringing them is so that they can know better about the beauty and development of Bangladesh.
When asked by journalists whether there will be any talk about the repatriation of Rohingyas with foreign representatives, Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, “We always talk to them about the Rohingya issue; many of them have gone to the Rohingya camp.” If they still get a chance, they will go to the Rohingya camp.
When asked by the journalists whether the visit of the representatives abroad will strengthen the relationship with Bangladesh, the foreign minister said that, of course, they will get to know Bangladesh better. They visited Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar outside Dhaka. After spending a few hours in Chittagong today, they saw the first road tunnel in South Asia under the Karnaphuli River. There is no road tunnel under the river anywhere in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. They saw that. He went from here to there and came back again. These extraordinary developments, which people could not have imagined 15 or 20 years ago, are a reality today. Diplomats have seen that reality with their own eyes today.
The European Union, Russia, China, Korea, Italy, Denmark, Kosovo, Pakistan, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Vatican, Bhutan, Spain, Argentina, Libya, Singapore, Australia, Egypt, France, FAO, IUT, and 34 diplomatic members, including 24 heads of mission of AKDN international organizations, are participating in this outreach program.
