President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday sought cooperation of the Philippines government to bring back the entire amount of stolen reserves of Bangladesh Bank to the country.
鈥楽ome $81.00 million was scammed from Bangladesh Bank through Rizal Commercial Bank Corporation in 2016 and around $15.00 million has been recovered so far . . . Intervention of the Philippine government to recover the rest of $66.00 million is needed,鈥� he said, expressing hope that the Philippine government would cooperate with Bangladesh to that end.
The head of the state sought the cooperation as Nina Padilla Cainglet, newly appointed ambassador of the Philippines to Bangladesh, presented her credentials to him.
Subsequently, president鈥檚 press secretary Md Sarwar Alam briefed reporters.
Welcoming the new ambassador, the president said that Bangladesh attached great importance to her relations with Philippines, which was among the one of the first South-East Asian countries who recognised the war-torn Bangladesh in February 1972.
He put emphasis on exploring the untapped bilateral trade potentials and also increasing immediate cooperation in pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, light engineering, jute and jute-made products etc.
There is lot of potentials to increase trade between the two countries and Bangladesh can export Readymade Garment, frozen foods, cables, rice and others agricultural products, handicrafts and medium size ocean-going vessels for inter-island connectivity of the Philippines and import skill and services, technology in agricultures and manufactured products.
Shahabuddin said that Bangladesh and the Philippines would work together to strengthen bilateral cooperation on the solid foundation of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Drawing the attention of the Philippines鈥� to the plights of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, he stressed the need for their expedited repatriation to homeland.
The president also invited the Philippines companies to invest in Bangladesh, particularly in the 100 economic zones. He also requested the ambassador to provide support to Bangladesh鈥檚 application for the 鈥楢SEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partnership鈥�.
During the meeting, the new ambassador sought the president鈥檚 full cooperation in fulfilling his assignment in Dhaka.
The envoy said that she would work to increase trade and investment along with development of bilateral ties between the two-state in the coming days.
Foreign secretary Md Jashim Uddin, military secretary major general Mohammad Adil Chowdhury and press secretary Md Sarwar Alam were present.
Earlier, on her arrival at Bangabhaban, a smartly turned-out contingent of the horse-mounted President Guard Regiment gave the envoy ceremonial 鈥榞uards of honour鈥�.