Diplomatic Desk:
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir and the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, have emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest to further strengthen the long-standing friendly relations and partnership between Bangladesh and France.
French Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet paid a courtesy call on the State Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday morning (September 17, 2026). During the meeting, he congratulated Humayun Kabir on assuming the role of State Minister for Foreign Affairs. They exchanged views on various ways to advance the relationship between the two countries.
During the meeting, the State Minister praised France’s continued cooperation in Bangladesh’s socio-economic development, democratic transition, and the enhancement of institutional capacity. He expressed Bangladesh’s interest in further expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, defense, civil aviation, education, culture, and human resource development.
The two sides also discussed priorities and expectations regarding the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. Additionally, they exchanged views on various regional and global issues, including climate change and multilateral cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to working together in various international forums.
The State Minister called for increased French investment in Bangladesh. He noted the potential for enhanced Bangladesh-France cooperation in promising sectors such as infrastructure, renewable energy, space, technology, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of increasing opportunities for the legal and regular movement of workers between Bangladesh and France. In this context, the State Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s “zero-tolerance” policy against irregular migration and human trafficking and expressed readiness to work closely with France to address these challenges.
Ambassador Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet reiterated France’s interest in further enhancing cooperation across all areas of mutual interest. He commended the initiatives for democratic reform in Bangladesh and conveyed France’s interest in working closely with the country.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs also appreciated France’s continued humanitarian assistance for the approximately 1.3 million Rohingya sheltered in Bangladesh. Both sides reiterated their readiness to work together towards the safe, voluntary, and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya.
At the conclusion of the meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere, both sides expressed confidence that continued communication and cooperation between Bangladesh and France would further invigorate the relationship between the two nations.
