Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has stated that all countries around the world have expressed interest in working with Bangladesh because the daughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has placed the country in a dignified position.

He said the development and progress which Bangladesh achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has surprised the entire world.

The minister was speaking at a public reception and views exchange meeting organised by Bangladesh Community Belgium and Belgium Awami League on Saturday evening (Local time) at the European Institute of Culture in Brussels, said a press release received here on Sunday.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium Mahbub Hasan Saleh and former ambassador Ismat Jahan addressed the meeting as special guests while Belgium Awami League General Secretary Jahangir Chowdhury Ratan conducted the programme. 

France Awami League President Abdul Kasem, Dr Farooq Mirza, Motahar Chowdhury and Monir Hossain, among others, spoke at the event with Belgium Awami League President Shahidul Haque in the chair.

Hasan Mahmud, who is also the Joint general secretary of Bangladesh Awami League, said that Bangladesh has come a long way in all indicators of development and the country could have progressed much faster if there was no BNP-Jamaat's 'Politics of Denial' and 'Politics of Confrontation'.

He praised the expatriates for playing a significant role in the development and progress of the country by sending remittances.

Hasan also reminded the expatriates that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged expatriates to always maintain legal channels while sending remittances.

In their speech, expat speakers thanked the Prime Minister for appointing Dr. Hasan as the Foreign Minister who studied in Belgium for a long time.
Earlier, The Foreign Minister attended the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Brussels. 

The Foreign Minister held separate meetings with European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen and European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic on Friday evening on the sidelines of the Forum.

Hasan also held a number of bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Hanke Bruins Slot, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Minister of Hungary Peter Szijjarto, Foreign Minister of Portugal Dr. Joao Gomes Cravinho and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.