Dr José Maria Pereira Neves - president of Cape Verde (an island country of West Africa in the central Atlantic Ocean), has committed his country's support to Bangladesh in the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas, now living in Bangladesh. This commitment was made during a formal meeting with Bangladesh's Ambassador to Portugal, Rezina Ahmed, who presented her credentials to President Neves in Praia, the capital city of Cape Verde, on Friday. Ambassador Ahmed has now become the fourth non-resident Ambassador of Bangladesh to Cape Verde, operating from Lisbon.

President Neves commended the government of Bangladesh for its humanitarian efforts in providing refuge to the Rohingyas and assured continued assistance in facilitating their safe return to their homeland. With a population of about 491,233 as per the 2021 census, Cape Verde is a ten-island archipelago located 500 km off the west coast of Africa, known for its economic and social advancements driven by the burgeoning tourism industry, which accounts for 25% of its GDP.

Cape Verde has shown remarkable progress since the 1990s, with significant reductions in poverty levels. Under its Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development 2022-2026 (PEDS II), the country aims to eradicate extreme poverty by 2026, aligning with the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

President Neves expressed his admiration for the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in advancing socio-economic development and reinforcing democratic institutions in Bangladesh. He emphasized the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and investment opportunities between Cape Verde and Bangladesh and praised the robust bilateral relations, especially in multilateral forums.

Ambassador Ahmed echoed the sentiment, underlining the potential for increased trade and collaboration between the two nations. She also acknowledged Cape Verde's support for Bangladesh’s recent election to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2025-2027 term.

During the meeting, Ambassador Ahmed extended an invitation to President Neves to visit Bangladesh, which he accepted, expressing his intention to arrange a visit at a mutually convenient time. He also sent his regards to President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh.

Following the credential presentation, Ambassador Ahmed engaged with the local media and had discussions with Cape Verde's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Regional Integration, Dr. Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares. The talks focused on enhancing trade, particularly in sectors like tourism, blue economy, climate change, and IT. They also discussed the potential for importing pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh and agreed on the need for Foreign Office Consultations to address future collaboration opportunities.

This development marks a significant step in strengthening the diplomatic ties and cooperation between Cape Verde and Bangladesh.
 

BOB Post