Bangladesh likely to become BRICS member in August: Momen

Bangladesh is likely to become a member of BRICS in August this year.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said this while briefing reporters about the outcome of the meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and South African President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa here at the Bilateral Meeting room of Palais de Nations in Geneva.

He said that recently BRICS Bank has invited Bangladesh as a guest.

He said that in the future BRICS would invite Bangladesh to join in.

"Their conference will be held in August in South Africa and the Prime Minister would go there," he said.

BRICS now has five members—Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Russia.

In the future they will add eight more countries as members.

They have invited Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

"This will be another area of our financing. It will be good for us as we need money," he said.

The prime minister requested South Africa to open a mission in Bangladesh to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Earlier, President of Malta Dr George Vella also called on the prime minister at the same venue.

Sheikh Hasina requested him to open a mission in Dhaka. She also requested Malta to import RMG products and pharmaceuticals items.

After that, ILO DG Gilbert F Hounbo also called on her at the same place.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Labour and Employment Secretary Md Ehsan-E-Elahi and PM's speech writer M Nazrul Islam were present during the meetings.