PM likely to visit Brazil in July: Foreign minister

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to visit Brazil in July next as the visiting Brazilian foreign minister brought an invitation from the Brazilian president in this regard.   

"There is an invitation by [Brazilian] President Lula to our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and there might be a visit by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Brazil in next July," he told reporters after holding a bilateral meeting with the visiting Brazilian foreign minister Mauro Vieira at the state guest house Jamuna today (7 April).

The foreign minister said during the meeting, they discussed the possible visit of the Bangladesh premier to the most influential South American country Brazil.

During the meeting the two foreign minister agreed on the importance of increasing cooperation and exchanges in the fields of agriculture, livestock, science, technology and innovation, education, climate change and energy transition, and technical cooperation, among others.

"We have discussed many issues like tax waiver for readymade garments and tax reduction also. We import cotton from Brazil and I requested him to waive the tax on the garment products that are made with Brazilian cotton," Mahmud said.

He said they discussed on Brazil's investment in Bangladesh's economic zone and IT sector that will give Brazilian businessmen an avenue to reach about two billion people in our region.

 "We've discussed export of pharmaceuticals and ceramics to Brazil," he said.

The minister said the meeting also discussed the repatriation of the Rohingyas to Myanmar and the attacks of the Israeli forces on Palestinians in Gaza.

They also talked about western aid workers and the crisis of Israel not heeding the ceasefire resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council.

In 2023, President Lula and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in South Africa.

The Brazilian foreign minister said his country's president hoped that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would visit Brazil soon.

Referring to the meeting between Lula and Sheikh Hasina's meeting, he said both the leaders had a wonderful meeting and they built very good personal relations.

Praising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her effort in improving the quality of life of Bangladesh people, the Brazilian foreign minister said they have similar positions in many aspects such as fighting against hunger.   

"We (Brazil and Bangladesh) have similar agendas and it allows us to develop even more our bilateral relations," he said.   

Brazil is keen to continue deepening relations with Bangladesh, in favour of the development of both countries, the promotion of South-South cooperation, and the fight against poverty, hunger, and climate crisis.