Argentina’s embassy opens in Dhaka

Staff Reporter :
Argentina reopened its Embassy in Dhaka’s Banani area on Monday, paving the way for increased people-to-people connectivity, as well as the expansion of trade and business between the two countries.
This move comes after a 45-year hiatus, and is expected to strengthen diplomatic ties and cooperation between the two countries.
Argentina holds a special place in the hearts of Bangladeshi football fans for their legendary and iconic football players, such as Maradona and Messi, and the reopening of the embassy is likely to further enhance cultural and people-to-people ties between the two nations.
Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam jointly reopened the embassy by unfurling the Argentine flag at the premises of the Mission.
“It’s a momentous and joyous moment. It’s not just a diplomatic gesture. It’s something like an emotional moment,” Shahriar Alam told the journalists after the inauguration.
Congratulating Argentina for reopening the mission in Dhaka, he said, “It will strengthen our bilateral ties. It will enhance the relationship between our two people.”
Earlier Argentina took the decision to reopen the Embassy in Dhaka after seeing the overwhelming support of Bangladesh football fans for Argentina team in the Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022.
About people’s inspiration to change a government’s decision to reopen a mission, Shahriar Alam said, “This is a great example how people can inspire respective government in establishing political, diplomatic and economic ties.”
The Argentine Embassy in Dhaka was previously closed down in 1978 by the military junta that ruled over Argentina and the reopening of the embassy after 45 years is a significant milestone, ushering new horizon for trade expansion and import of wheat and oil from this Latin American country, diplomatic sources said.
In absence of a mission in Dhaka, the diplomatic operations such as issuance of visas were carried out from Argentine embassy in India. Now people will have the scope to avail the opportunity from Dhaka.
Earlier on Monday morning, the Argentine Foreign Minister arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen received him with a bouquet of flowers at the VIP Lounge of the Airport.