Dhaka to open three more diplomatic missions soon

Dhaka is taking preparations to open three more diplomatic missions shortly.

An embassy will be opened in the Austrian capital of Vienna, according to diplomatic sources.

Logistic work is already underway to implement an earlier government decision to open full-fledged resident missions in the capitals of the Maldives and Jordan.

The new mission in Vienna will have ambassadorial level representation. With this, Bangladesh will have 46 ambassadorial level missions and 10 sub-missions.

It is learnt that the government might close down the embassy in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, while proceeding to open Vienna mission. Dhaka closed its embassy in Harare recently, capital of Zimbabwe.

Dhaka's decision to open a mission in Vienna came almost six months after the Austrian government expressed its desire to provide free accommodation for the Bangladesh embassy.

Vienna's importance as a diplomatic hub is internationally acknowledged. After New York and Geneva, Vienna houses the headquarters of several important UN and international agencies. The UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN Social Issues Secretariate and the Inter-governmental Agency on Narcotics and Drugs are headquartered in Vienna.

With the opening of the Vienna mission, Bangladesh's ambassadorial-level missions in Europe will rise to 12.

Presently, the country's full-fledged embassies in Europe are located in London, Paris, Rome, Brussels, Geneva, The Hague, Moscow, Madrid, Bonn, Stockholm and Warsaw.

After the opening of the Male mission, Bangladesh will have resident missions in all the SAARC countries.

Meanwhile, Dhaka needs to examine seriously the opening of missions in some other European capitals including those of Norway and Hungary. Both these countries have resident missions in Dhaka. Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Norwegian assistance in Asia while Hungary is considered one of the fastest emerging economies in East Europe, diplomatic sources pointed out.