Sweden and Bangladesh have agreed to significantly bolster bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including security, trade, technical education, and the resolution of Rohingya crisis, during a high-level meeting at Secretariat on Tuesday.
The development came as Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Linus Ragnas Weeks paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at his office in Home Affairs Ministry.
During the discussions, Ambassador Weeks highlighted that Bangladesh is the unique country in South Asia with which Sweden maintains a “Bilateral Cooperation Strategy.”
Rising investments and diaspora ties
The Ambassador noted that commercial relations between the two nations are steadily deepening, with Swedish investments growing in promising sectors such as ready-made garments and healthcare.
He added that approximately 10,000 Bangladeshis, a significant portion of whom are students, currently reside in Sweden.
Terming Sweden a vital development partner, Salahuddin emphasised that the current government is placing special focus on modernising technical education to create a skilled, world-class workforce.
He explained that plans and projects are underway to establish new technical educational institutions across the country.
Noting that the demand for skilled human resources, including caregivers, is rising daily in Sweden and broader European markets, the home minister sought close cooperation from the Swedish government to upgrade training standards and facilitate the export of skilled Bangladeshi manpower.
Joint efforts to curb irregular migration
Addressing concerns raised by Ambassador Weeks regarding irregular migration to Sweden, which often leaves innocent people victimised by dishonest human trafficking syndicates, Salahuddin assured him that the ministry is enforcing highly stringent and effective measures to prevent trafficking.
The home minister identified the expectation of a better life and the deceptive promises of traffickers as the primary drivers of this issue.
To counter this, the ministry, in coordination with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), is conducting countrywide public awareness campaigns and multi-faceted programmes.
Resolving Rohingya crisis
Turning to the Rohingya crisis, which he described as a major threat to the security of the entire region, the home minister urged Sweden, as co-chair of Rohingya Donor Group, to play an active role in keeping the issue under the international spotlight.
He also requested Sweden to increase its humanitarian assistance to improve the living conditions of the displaced refugees.
In response, Ambassador Weeks underscored Sweden’s commitment to the safe repatriation and rehabilitation of Rohingya population, expressing Stockholm’s interest in working on the education, overall safety, and security of Rohingya women and children.
Salahuddin reiterated that a dignified and permanent repatriation to Myanmar remains the only viable solution to the crisis.
Senior officials from the ministry and representatives from Swedish Embassy in Dhaka were also present at the meeting.
