Opposition leader praises Spain's Palestine stance, seeks deeper Dhaka-Madrid ties

Opposition Leader and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday praised Spain for its continued support for an independent Palestinian state during a meeting with Spain's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Gabriel Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru.

The two sides also discussed the Rohingya crisis, post-election reforms, implementation of Bangladesh's national budget, and ways to expand bilateral trade, investment, development cooperation and people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and Spain.

The meeting, held at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangsad, was the ambassador's first courtesy call on Shafiqur since he assumed the post of opposition leader.

According to a statement from the opposition leader's office, the two sides discussed implementation of Bangladesh's national budget, the Rohingya crisis and its possible solutions, as well as the challenges surrounding the protracted refugee situation.

They also exchanged views on expanding bilateral trade, investment, development cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, with both sides expressing optimism about strengthening Bangladesh-Spain relations.

Shafiqur praised the longstanding friendship between the two countries and expressed hope that Spain would continue supporting Bangladesh's development and democratic progress.

He also commended the Spanish government for maintaining its support for an independent Palestinian state.

Ambassador Gabriel Sistiaga Ochoa de Chinchetru said he was confident bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Spain would become stronger and more multidimensional in the years ahead.

Also present at the meeting were the opposition leader's foreign affairs adviser, Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Qasem Arman, MP, and Ali Ahmad Mabrur, a member of the Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee.