Interim govt broadens collaboration with Germany, EU: German envoy

German ambassador to Bangladesh Achim Tröster has emphasized that the establishment of Bangladesh's Interim Government with a renewed commitment to democratic values has strengthened its cooperation framework with Germany, both bilaterally and within the European Union.

“The German government assumes that with the establishment of the Interim government, the common basis for cooperation – bilaterally as well as in the framework of its cooperation with the European Union – has broadened,” the envoy said.

The German ambassador made the remarks while addressing a reception organised in celebrating the ‘Day of German Unity’ held on Monday evening at the German Embassy in Dhaka.

Finance and Commerce Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed attended the event as the chief guest.

 Politicians, journalists, and diplomats based in Dhaka attended the ceremony.

The German envoy said that now Germany can share more democratic values and principles with Dhaka than before and hoped to jointly seize the opportunity for the benefit of the people of Bangladesh, advancing freedom, participatory democracy, and broader prosperity.

“Being a democracy, we believe in these values, and we have seen that large parts of the society in Bangladesh were willing to assume enormous personal sacrifices, up to the ultimate, for these aspirations,” he said.  

Addressing the importance of reconciliation, the ambassador referred to the words of a Bangladeshi politician, underscoring the need for reconciliation between political parties.

He cited the successful experiences of countries like South Africa and Rwanda, as well as Germany’s own reconciliation with France, as examples for Bangladesh to consider.

The envoy said there is no reason why reconciliation cannot benefit Bangladesh, contributing to a more harmonious society.

“In order to achieve reconciliation, we need to hear the word sorry and an apology for the crimes and mistakes that have been committed. I may be wrong, but so far I unfortunately have not heard it here,” said the envoy.  
 
Furthermore, he said, reconciliation is not possible without investigating and acknowledging the truth.

The German envoy commended Bangladesh’s Interim Government for prioritizing investigations into events from July and August 2024, with the support of the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, meeting the expectations of both the Bangladeshi public and the international community.

Expressing optimism about bilateral ties, the ambassador said, “Even in challenging times, Bangladesh-Germany relations remain strong and will continue to flourish.”
 
He acknowledged Germany’s 52-year partnership in Bangladesh’s development journey, with Germany remaining the second-largest importer of Bangladeshi garments and expressing interest in expanding trade across various sectors.

The German government welcomed the Interim Government’s efforts to quickly restore security and stability in Bangladesh and praised ongoing reforms, particularly in the banking sector.

German businesses, he noted, continue to show interest in Bangladesh, with enthusiasm for the success of economic reforms that could enhance their investments.