DHAKA: Bangladesh sought support of Benin and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for its candidacy in the elections of Human Rights Council (HRC), International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Regarding the matter, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mohammed Shahriar Alam held separate bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Benin and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at Benin city of Cotonou on Tuesday, said a Foreign Ministry release.

Shahriar held the meeting on the sideline of Least Developed Countries’ (LDC) ministerial meeting on ‘New Partnerships for Building Productive Capacity’ in Cotonou.

During the meeting with Raymond Tshibanda N’Tungamulongo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Shahriar requested the Government of DRC to support Bangladesh for its candidature at the Human Rights Council.

The Congolese Minister assured Shahriar of supporting Bangladesh in the election. Shahriar also requested for support in the elections of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU). In response, Raymond said, his government would positively consider the requests from Bangladesh.

Shahriar also held another bilateral meeting with Professor Nassirou Bako Arifari, Foreign Minister of Benin where they discussed different bilateral and multilateral issues.

The two ministers discussed the possibility of increasing trade, and also collaboration in the areas of agriculture and water management between the two countries.

Nassirou acknowledged the achievements of Bangladesh in the areas of flood rehabilitation, and also its success in inventing draught resistant and salinity resistant rice varieties.

Shahriar invited Nassirou to visit Bangladesh, which the Benin minister accepted, mentioning that he would visit Bangladesh soon.

The state minister also sought the support for Bangladesh from Benin in the different elections.

The release said, at the ministerial meeting, the state minister spoke on the public-private partnerships and south-south cooperation in support of technological acquisition. He also highlighted the commitment of the Government of Bangladesh to create a conducive environment for technology facilitation and transfer.

Shahriar assured the participant that Bangladesh would be ready to provide support to any international science, technology and innovation facilitation mechanism dedicated for LDCs, it added.

BDST: 1134 HRS, AUG 01, 2014