Desk Report:
German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Rüdiger Lotz paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday (March 11, 2026) afternoon.
During the meeting, the Ambassador congratulated the State Minister on assuming the new responsibility and expressed hope that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Germany will further strengthen under the current government.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs appreciated Germany’s long-standing development cooperation with Bangladesh. The meeting discussed expanding cooperation in various sectors including increasing trade and investment, combating climate change, renewable energy, development partnerships, skill development, manpower export and migration.
At the time, the State Minister sought Germany’s support for the possibility of starting negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union and Bangladesh’s candidacy for the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (2026–2027).
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, he reiterated that the only sustainable solution is to ensure the safe, voluntary, speedy and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar.
At the end of the meeting, both sides pledged to work together to further advance the long-standing mutually beneficial relations between Bangladesh and Germany.
