Hon. Arnold Foote OJ, President, World Federation of Consuls, Air Vice Marshall (Retd.) A. K. Khandker, Minister of Planning, H. E. Hon.
Md. Zillur Rahman, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Hon. Dato A.K.M. Shahidul Islam, Chairman of the Forum of Consuls in
Bangladesh, Hon. Salahuddin Kasem Khan, Founder Chairman of the Forum of Consuls in Bangladesh.
Back row standing are members of the Forum of Consuls in Bangladesh.

The President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, H. E. Hon. Md. Zillur Rahman, in his keynote address at the inaugural ceremony of the Forum of Consuls in Bangladesh stated;

I feel happy being present among you in the opening ceremony of the ‘Forum of Consuls in Bangladesh (FCB)’. I do bade cordial congratulation to the members of ‘World Federation of Consuls’ with FCB. At the starting point of my delivering of speech I do hereby remember the martyrs who slaughtered their life to recover the right mother tongue of Language Agitation of 1952 AD with respect. I do hereby remember with absolute respect the name of the father of the nation Bongabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is the establisher of independence and the best Begali of the all eras. I do hereby remember the name of the martyrs who slaughtered their life in the freedom fighting and in democratic agnation with absolute respect. I hope peace of their departed souls.

The honourable Prudent,
You all know that the best achievement of the Bengali Nation is ‘independence’. Under leadership and calling of the greatest leader, the father of the nation Bongabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman this independent-sovereign Bangladesh has been gained. It is our great pride that now we are the citizen of an independent country. Our independent foreign policy in the main deed/proof for creating friendship among the various states and nations of the world. Containing in the mind the basic theme that is ‘friendship with all, not enmity with other’ of our foreign policy was initiated by Bongabondhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In 1971 AD after liberation friendship of newly established country Bangladesh was initiated with the world communities based on this foreign policy. In 1974 AD Bangladesh gained the membership of UN. As the member of the world conference now Bangladesh is playing a vital role in respect of international peace, stability and development.His Excellency, Honourable Md. Zillur Rahman, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

With the worldly changing the sector of foreign policy of Bangladesh is being extended now. Beside the prevailing bilateral relation the sector of economic, trade and commerce, culture and technology have been emphasized for extending the same. In this javelin we hope that Bangladesh might be the country of middle scale income. Keeping before this view the govt. has declared the vision 2021 AD. To achieve the aim of this vision our “economic diplomacy” should be increased, the foreign investment should be encouraged. The way shall have to be searched so that our huge manpower might get opportunity for work in foreign countries. I do hereby invite you to take effort in this sector beside the govt.

The respectable honorary consuls, Being informed I am glad that at present 41 Nos. honorary consuls have been working in Bangladesh to develop the bilateral relation with their investing countries. In favor of Bangladesh in respect of socioeconomic condition, economic feasibility, investment environment, skilled & unskilled manpower, positive attitude of the govt. etc. in these respects many countries of the world do not have the clean & clear concept. As the honorary consuls you will approach our positive attitude in those countries and play a vital role in development of bilateral & economic relation.
I hope your all success.

H. E. Honourable Md. Zillur Rahman, President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Hon. Arnold
Foote OJ, President, World Federation of Consuls, Hon. Dato A.K.M. Shahidul Islam, Chairman of the Forum of Consuls in Bangladesh, Hon. Golam Faruk Ahmed.
Excellencies,
Ladies & Gentlemen,
I welcome you all to Bangladesh. I believe that you would play a pivotal role in further enhancing bilateral relation with Bangladesh through your sincere efforts. I wish you all a very pleasant stay in Dhaka. Thank you all.

At the end I do further bade thanks to all and do hereby declare the glowing opening of the ‘Forum of Consuls in Bangladesh’.

Almighty Allah might be helpful towards us.

Khoda Hafez. Bangladesh might be ever lasting.