Press Release

Lisbon, Friday, 01 July 2022:

Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, M.P. formally inaugurated the new Chancery building of Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon today (01 July 2022). The entrance and premises of the Chancery wore a festive look with decorations befitting the occasion. Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Ambassador Álvaro Mendonça e Moura graced the inaugural ceremony as special guest.

After unveiling the inaugural plaque and cutting the ribbon, the Foreign Minister paid his homage to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a floral wreath at his mural portrait lying on the wall of the Chancery building. Ambassador Mr. Tarik Ahsan, Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam, BN, officials from the Foreign Ministry, other embassy officials, distinguished Portuguese guests along with leaders and members of expatriate Bangladesh community were present on this auspicious occasion.

Participants of the event assembled at the auditorium of the Chancery to share their feelings on the special day. Bangladesh expatriates expressed their joy at having a Bangladesh-owned Embassy in Portugal. Portuguese guests congratulated Bangladesh government on securing a permanent address of Bangladesh in Lisbon.

Ambassador Tarik Ahsan, in his welcome speech, said that permanent Chancery building had been a long-felt need, as workload of our Embassy has increased manifold, due to its increased activities in consular affairs as well as in pursuit of economic, cultural and public diplomacy.  He viewed that the new Chancery building would contribute in a big way to strengthening the bonds of friendship between peoples of Bangladesh and Portugal. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her directives to establish the permanent Chancery building and Ambassador’s Residence in Lisbon.

Ambassador Álvaro Mendonça e Moura in his remarks congratulated Bangladesh government and all the expatriates living in Portugal at this historic moment. He opined that the friendly relation between Bangladesh and Portugal would be elevated to a higher level with this inauguration of the permanent chancery building in Lisbon.

Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, M.P. in his speech viewed that the Chancery building symbolizes the presence of a transforming Bangladesh that has just celebrated 50 years of its independence last year, and stands poised to enhance its global footprints by surging ahead with its value-based diplomacy in pursuit of its national development aspirations. He said, “This building is not just a mere construction or enclosure, but bears our message to our friends in Portugal that we value our shared history, that we cherish our present-day human connectivity, and that we look to our shared future with much anticipation and optimism.”

Towards the end of the event, a special prayer was offered on the occasion seeking continued success of the Embassy of Bangladesh in Lisbon as well as peace, progress and prosperity of Bangladesh. The guests were treated with Bangladeshi food.

After the main segment of inaugural ceremony, the Foreign Minister inaugurated Bangabandhu Corner of the Chancery, went round different sections of the Chancery building and interacted with consular service seekers.

The resident Embassy of Bangladesh in Lisbon was first established at a rented building in July 2012. The government of Bangladesh bought two properties in 2020 for permanent addresses of the Chancery and Ambassador’s Residence. Shifting from rented properties to these own properties took place after their remodelling and renovation. The property for Chancery is a three-storied building, based on a land plot of 2,000 square metre. Main features of the property include reception area, auditorium, Bangabandhu Corner, conference room, dining room, wide exhibition room, consular service area with separate entrance, spacious waiting room and fountain, apart from office rooms for officials as well as large open space suitable for hosting big public events. This is one of the largest Chancery buildings of Bangladesh in Europe.

In the evening, the Foreign Minister attended a dinner hosted in his honour by Ambassador Tarik Ahsan at Bangladesh House. This was also attended by Secretary General of Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb. Álvaro Mendonça e Moura, other high officials, members of civil society of Portugal as well as members of Foreign Minister’s delegation and Embassy officials.

Earlier in the morning, the Foreign Minister had a bilateral meeting with Portuguese Foreign Minister Dr. João Gomes Cravinho.

Yesterday (30 June) evening, the Foreign Minister attended a reception arranged by the Bangladesh community of Portugal. He listened the issues raised by the expatriates Bangladeshis and assured them, he would advise appropriate authorities back in Bangladesh to address the issues relating passport and police clearances.