30 November 2011 Berlin, Dhaka Friends: Wulff
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PRESSE REVIEW Official visit of German Federal President in Bangladesh 28 – 30 November 2011 Bangladesh News 24, Bangladesch Thursday, 29 November 2011 Berlin, Dhaka friends: Wulff Dhaka, Nov 29 (bdnews24.com) – Germany is a trusted friend of Bangladesh and there is ample scope of cooperation between the two countries, German president Christian Wulff has said. Speaking at a dinner party hosted by president Zillur Rahman in his honour at Bangabhaban on Tuesday, the German president underlined Bangladesh's valuable contribution to the peacekeeping force. "Bangladesh has been one of the biggest contributors to the peacekeeping force to make the world a better place." Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, speaker Abdul Hamid, deputy speaker Shawkat Ali Khan, ministers and high officials attended the dinner. Wulff said bilateral trade between the two countries is on the rise. On climate change, he said Bangladesh should bring its case before the world more forcefully. http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=212479&cid=2 [02.12.2011] Bangladesh News 24, Bangladesch Thursday, 29 November 2011 'Bangladesh democracy a role model' Bangladesh can be a role model for democracy in the Arab world, feels German president. "You should not mix religion with power. Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and other countries are now facing the problem," Christian Wulff said at a programme at the Dhaka University. The voter turnout during polls in Bangladesh is also very 'impressive', according to him. The president came to Dhaka on a three-day trip on Monday. SECULAR BANGLADESH He said Bangladesh is a secular state, as minority communities are not pushed to the brink or out of the society here. "Majority of Bangladesh population is Muslim but believers of other religions are also comfortable here," the German president said. The culture of Bangladesh is open to others and it has influence from Arab world to Europe, he added. 1 CLIMATE CHANGE Thirty million people would be displaced if sea level rises and it would have devastating impact on the country, Wulff said. "Developing and developed world should work together to fight against climate change," he said. DEVELOPMENT The president felt that if Bangladesh can resolve energy problem, there are greater chances of development. He also emphasised on enhanced regional trade to improve the condition of the economy. WOMEN EMPOWERMENT Wulff said most of girls are enrolled in schools, but they do not continue with their education to join the workforce. "The resources should be properly used," he said. He, however, said 97 percent borrowers of BRAC are women and majority of workers in the textiles sector are female. http://bdnews24.com/details.php?id=212477&cid=2 [02.12.2011] Bangladesh News 24, Bangladesch Thursday, 29 November 2011 Khaleda-Hasina 'conflict baffles German president' Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Dhaka, Nov 29 (bdnews24.com)—The German president is baffled by conflicting attitudes of the top two leaders of the two major political parties, the Transparency International's Bangladesh chapter head says. "Christian Wulff said Bangladesh is a land of great potential and it can be a role model for many countries and that he can understand. But he doesn't understand the conflict between the top leadership of the two major parties," executive director Iftekhar Zaman told the bdnews24.com after a meeting with the German president on Tuesday. Wulff came to Dhaka on a three-day visit on Monday and he met a select group of civil society leaders at the Goethe-Institut Tuesday morning. "He also inquired about the impact of this conflict on the young generation as they are the torch bearers of society," Iftekhar said. "We replied that there is some impact but young generation has a forward-looking attitude and that's why they brought Awami League to power," he said adding, "If this conflict continues, they will make the hero to zero." Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister and head of Awami League, and Khaleda Zia, former prime minister and head of BNP, are the top two political figures in the country but they seldom interact on any issue and have negative attitude towards each other. 2 POSITIVE ATTITUDE The German president has a 'very positive attitude' about Bangladesh and after his visit it would be more strengthened, according to Iftekhar. "The president has very positive attitude and found Bangladesh an exceptional country." "Progress in Bangladesh can be a role model for many countries in the world," he further quoted Wulff as saying . Former caretaker government adviser Sultana Kamal, who was also present in the meeting, said the president lauded the country as 'progressive." "He said he would go back to Germany with very positive attitude," Kamal said. CORRUPTION AND GOOD GOVERNANCE In the meeting, corruption and good governance issues were also discussed. The German president inquired about corruption in Bangladesh, Ifthekar said. "We told them corruption can be seen everywhere in the world and many steps have been taken to uproot it," he said. In the meeting, women empowerment, human rights and poverty alleviation issues were also discussed. Chairman of BRAC Fazle Hasan Abed, Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam, professor Meghna Guha Thakurata and professor Mohammad Ibrahim were the others who attended the meeting. http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?id=212432&cid=2 [02.12.2012] The Daily Star, Bangladesch Wednesday, 30 November 2011 Germany wants stronger relations with Bangladesh President Wulff says during meetings with Zillur, Hasina, Khaleda Visiting German President Christian Wulff said yesterday his country would explore new areas of cooperation with Bangladesh in trade, investment and power. “We want to proceed bilaterally to explore new avenues of cooperation in areas of trade, investment, power and development along with existing multilateral linkages,” Wulff said during a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to the PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad. The German president arrived on Monday on a three-day state visit to Bangladesh. His meeting with Hasina took place at Ruposhi Bangla hotel. Wulff also met President Zillur Rahman, Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia and representatives of civil society besides delivering a lecture at Dhaka University on the day. He also attended a banquet hosted in his honour by his Bangladesh counterpart. Wulff told Hasina that Germany was keen to strengthen its bilateral relations with Bangladesh. He also acclaimed Bangladesh as a 'stabilizing force' in South Asia and praised the development activities that have been taken up by the government, the press secretary said. 3 President Wulff is leading an 84-member delegation, including a strong business team. He said the large business delegation accompanying him was a strong sign of Germany's intention to boost economic relations with Bangladesh. In response, Sheikh Hasina said: “Bangladesh always gives high importance to its relations with Germany, which is its second largest destination of export and one of the main development partners.” She told the President about her government's firm commitment to strengthening democratic values, practices and institutions. Besides, the government was determined to wipe out terrorism, a task in which it had been working jointly with the international community. Hasina sought German support in the energy sector and global climate change negotiations. She also requested German collaboration with Bangladeshi universities and research institutions, especially in medicine, bio-technology, generic engineering, applied disciplines and ICT areas. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia while meeting the German president urged more German investment in Bangladesh in order for the country's industrial sector to flourish. In his speech at Dhaka University, the German President said it was not possible to have a sustainable democracy without a strong opposition. He said there were a number of symbols of growing democratization in Bangladesh, which could turn the country into a role model of democratization for other countries. The German President also met some civil society members at Goethe Institute. During the meeting, Wulff inquired about the political situation in Bangladesh, the conflicts between the two main parties and its impact on the young generation, according to Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman, who attended it. Iftekhar said the move to amend the Anti-Corruption Commission law, corruption, human rights, press freedom, government-NGO relations were discussed at the meeting. BRAC founder and Chairperson Fazle Hasan Abed apprised the German President of the role of NGOs in the development endeavours in the country and relations between the government and NGOs. A former adviser of a caretaker government, Sultana Kamal, told the meeting the level of awareness regarding human rights has increased among the people in general but due to the culture of impunity here many were afraid to raise their voices against transgressions of the law. The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam said the press in Bangladesh was enjoying freedom, but nevertheless there was also concern. Meanwhile, German entrepreneurs, who met with Bangladesh business leaders and Commerce Minister separately, look for more long-term business in joint ventures in Bangladesh through ensuring a win-win situation for both sides. “We've been here for a long-term trade relationship. We want to deepen our relationship,” said German business delegation leader Dr Karl Ernst Brauner at