Ireland backs Bangladesh’s LDC graduation, eyes stronger ties

Irish Ambassador to Bangladesh and India Kevin Kelly has reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to supporting Bangladesh's LDC graduation process and strengthening bilateral cooperation under Ireland's Asia-Pacific Strategy.

Ambassador Kelly emphasised the deepening relationship between the two nations and praised Ireland's Honorary Consul in Bangladesh Masud Jamil Khan's energy and ambition.

"Though we are slightly late in celebrating St Patrick's Day due to Ramadan, this makes us the last people on Earth to mark the occasion in 2025—and that's historic," he said.

The ambassador noted the parallels between Ireland and Bangladesh in their respective struggles for peace and justice, sharing insights from Ireland's peace journey through the Good Friday Agreement. "I hope our story can offer a glimpse of hope to our friends in Bangladesh as they work through their own transitions."

The Irish spirit was in full swing on Thursday evening as Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel hosted a vibrant celebration of St Patrick's Day 2025, organised by Honorary Consul Masud Jamil Khan and his wife Kate Khan.

Members of the diplomatic corps, business community, cultural figures and luminaries representing different sectors attended the reception.

Reflecting on the maiden year of the Irish Consulate's opening in Dhaka, Honorary Consul Masud Jamil Khan said bilateral engagements between Ireland and Bangladesh have grown significantly in a short span of time.

"Since opening the Consul, our activities have increased manifold. The then Bangladesh foreign secretary travelled to Dublin and signed two memorandum of understanding for the first time ever between our two countries. This will expand our collaboration across the spectrum of trade, development cooperation, education and culture," Masud Khan said.

Adding that Bangladesh hopes to be able to find a method to have visas issued from Dhaka, Masud Khan further emphasised the growth of cultural relations between the two nations.

"The Irish women's cricket team recently visited us and captivated audiences with their sporting prowess. We now plan to host an Irish painter as part of an art exchange programme and will soon organise an exhibition of Irish art in Bangladesh," he said.

"Recently, Ambassador Kevin Kelly, Raymond Mullin, our chargé d'affaires, and I had the opportunity to meet our Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. The meeting was very positive, and we had deep discussions about the bilateral ties between the two countries and what we can do more," Masud added.

He also shared updates on humanitarian and economic cooperation. "We visited the Rohingya camps and I'm happy to share that Ireland is providing free medical care—a tremendous show of support and concern which has been there from the beginning. Over the last 26 years, Bangladeshi exports to Ireland have increased at an annualised rate of 68.3% —from $6.89 million in 1995 to $347 million in 2021, and touched about $500 million in 2024."

"RMG is already being exported from Ireland and the volume is increasing each year. Primark has invested in Bangladesh and continues to contribute to local employment. We aim to have more collaboration and a bright future in fields such as education and IT. All these and more are being planned and will be executed," he said.

The event also featured remarks from Cosmos Foundation President Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, who commended the evolving Bangladesh-Ireland relationship and Ireland's global leadership in humanitarian causes.

"The footprint of Ireland in Bangladesh has expanded manifold under Masud's leadership, to the benefit of both nations," said Dr Chowdhury. "As Bangladesh moves into a new era, cooperation with countries like Ireland is essential."

The celebration was marked by warmth and a spirit of friendship, as guests raised a toast to the enduring ties between Ireland and Bangladesh. With growing cooperation in areas like trade, education, and humanitarian efforts, the event symbolised a promising chapter in the evolving relationship between the two nations.

Former Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke, former government secretaries, Cosmos Foundation Chairman and UNB Editor-in-Chief Enayetullah Khan, UNB Executive Editor Nahar Khan, city elite, former diplomats, artists, academics and other distinguished personalities were present.