Bangladesh–Maldives relations

Last updated
Bangladesh-Maldives relations
Flag of Bangladesh.svg
Bangladesh
Flag of Maldives.svg
Maldives

Bangladesh and Maldives established diplomatic relations in 1978. Rear Admiral Akhtar Habib is the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to the Maldives. [1]

Contents

History

The 14th-century Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta identified Sultan Salahuddin Salih as a Bengali and credited him for the establishment of a new dynasty in the Maldives including his son Omar I and a granddaughter, Khadijah. [2] [3] [4] Other records have also mentioned a granddaughter of Alauddin Husain Shah being a queen in the Maldives too. [5]

The Maldives and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations on 22 September 1978. The Maldives opened its High Commission in Bangladesh in 2008. [6] In 2011, the Maldives government removed duty on all Bangladesh exports to the country. [7] In 2011, Bangladesh Army gave Maldives National Defence Force 7 military trucks. [8] Maldives closed its High Commission in Dhaka in March 2014 after the foreign ministry budget was slashed by 40 percent. Bangladesh offered to pay rent for embassy premises among other local costs but was refused "politely" by Maldives. [6]

In December 2014, Bangladesh sent 100 thousand litres of water after Maldives' sole water desalination plant stopped working after catching fire. [9] Maldives announced its intention to reopen the High Commission in Dhaka in July 2015. [10] The BNS Somudra Avijan delivered to the Maldives more than 100 metric tons of food, medicine and medical equipment in COVID-19 pandemic assistance in April 2020. [11] A Bangladesh Air Force medical team supported Maldives in their COVID-19 vaccination program in 2021. [12]

Economic relations

The Maldives has a significant Bangladeshi migrant worker population and has encouraged the migration of Bangladeshi workers. [13] [14] Bangladesh has a High Commission in the Maldives. [15] Maldivian government regularized the immigration status of more than 16 thousand Bangladeshi migrants on 2009. [16] In 2011 Bangladesh exported goods worth US$0.72 million and imported US$1.46 million from Maldives. [7] Official estimated suggest there are 70 to 80 thousand Bangladeshis in the Maldives. On 30 March 2015, the Bangladeshi expatriate community held a protest outside the Bangladeshi High Commission to protest against the death of two Bangladeshi expatriates. The Maldivian government warned that the protesters risked losing their visas. Ahmed Tholal, the Vice President of Human Rights Commission in Maldives, called the government move unconstitutional. [17] Bangladesh also exports pharmaceutical medicine to Maldives. [18]

Representatives

High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Maldives

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maldives</span> Country in Southern Asia

The Maldives, officially the Republic of Maldives, is an archipelagic state and country in South Asia, situated in the Indian Ocean. It lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, about 750 kilometres from the Asian continent's mainland. The Maldives' chain of 26 atolls stretches across the equator from Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to Addu Atoll in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Maldives</span> Aspect of history

The history of the Maldives is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of South Asia and Indian Ocean; and the modern nation consisting of 26 natural atolls, comprising 1194 islands. Historically, the Maldives had a strategic importance because of its location on the major marine routes of the Indian Ocean. The Maldives' nearest neighbours are the British Indian Ocean Territory, Sri Lanka and India. The United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and some Indian kingdoms have had cultural and economic ties with the Maldives for centuries. In addition to these countries, Maldivians also traded with Aceh and many other kingdoms in, what is today, Indonesia and Malaysia. The Maldives provided the main source of cowrie shells, then used as a currency throughout Asia and parts of the East African coast. Most probably Maldives were influenced by Kalingas of ancient India who were earliest sea traders to Sri Lanka and the Maldives from India and were responsible for the spread of Buddhism. Stashes of Chinese crockery found buried in various locations in the Maldives also show that there was direct or indirect trade contact between China and the Maldives. In 1411 and 1430, the Chinese admiral Zheng He 鄭和 visited the Maldives. The Chinese also became the first country to establish a diplomatic office in the Maldives, when the Chinese nationalist government based in Taipei opened an embassy in Malé in 1966. This office has since been replaced by the embassy of the People's Republic of China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Bangladesh</span> National economy of Bangladesh

The economy of Bangladesh is a major developing market economy. As the second-largest economy in South Asia, Bangladesh's economy is the 37th largest in the world in nominal terms, and 25th largest by purchasing power parity. Bangladesh is seen by various financial institutions as one of the Next Eleven. It has been transitioning from being a frontier market into an emerging market. Bangladesh is a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area and the World Trade Organization. In fiscal year 2021–2022, Bangladesh registered a GDP growth rate of 7.2% after the global pandemic. Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Maldives</span> Overview of Islam in Maldives

Islam is the state religion of Maldives. The 2008 Constitution or "Fehi Gānoon" declares the significance of Islamic law in the country. The constitution requires that citizenship status be based on adherence to the state religion, which legally makes the country's citizens 100% Muslim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abu Sayeed Chowdhury</span> Bangladeshi jurist and politician (1921–1987)

Abu Sayeed Chowdhury was a jurist and the second president of Bangladesh. Besides that, he held the positions of the Chairmen of the United Nations Commission on Human rights, the vice-chancellor of the University of Dhaka, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh and the first Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Pakistan relations</span> Bilateral relations

Pakistan and Bangladesh are both South Asian Muslim-majority countries. Following the end of British rule in India, the two countries formed a single state for 24 years. The Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 resulted in the secession of East Pakistan as the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized Bangladesh in 1974 after pressure from across the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Malaysia relations</span> Bilateral relations

Malaysia has a high commission in Dhaka and Bangladesh has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur. Both nations are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Developing 8 Countries and the Non-Aligned Movement. Malaysia was one of the first countries to recognise the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.

Abu Sayed Mohammad Abdul Awal (G), ndc, MDS, psc, BN is a retired Bangladesh Navy Rear Admiral and former Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladeshi diaspora</span> People of Bangladeshi birth, descent or origin who live outside of Bangladesh

The Bangladeshi diaspora are people of Bangladeshi birth, descent or origin who live outside of Bangladesh. First-generation migrants may have moved abroad from Bangladesh for various reasons including better living conditions, to escape poverty, to support their financial condition, or to send money back to families there. The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment estimates there are 13 million Bangladeshis living abroad, the fourth highest among the top 20 countries of origin for international migrants. Annual remittances transferred to Bangladesh were almost $22.1 billion in 2021, the seventh highest in the world and the third highest in South Asia.

Bangladeshis in the Maldives are a part of the Bangladeshi diaspora, consists people of Bangladeshi descent who have immigrated to or were born in another country. In most cases, first generation migrants may have moved abroad from Bangladesh for better living conditions, to escape poverty, or to send money back to families in Bangladesh. Till now, most Bangladeshis in the Maldives are first generation immigrants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rana Plaza collapse</span> 2013 industrial building collapse in Savar, Bangladesh

The Rana Plaza collapse was a structural failure that occurred on 24 April 2013 in the Savar Upazila of Dhaka District, Bangladesh, where an eight-story commercial building called Rana Plaza collapsed. The search for the dead ended on 13 May 2013 with a death toll of 1,134. Approximately 2,500 injured people were rescued from the building. It is considered the deadliest accidental structural failure in modern human history, the deadliest garment-factory disaster in history and the deadliest industrial accident in the history of Bangladesh.

NRB Bank is one of the third generation private banks in Bangladesh. Mohammed Mahtabur Rahman, chairman of Al Haramain Perfumes, is the chairman of the NRB Bank. Mohammed Jamil Iqbal and Tateyama Kabir are vice-chairmen of the NRB Bank. Mehmood Husain is the CEO and Managing Director of NRB Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Libya relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh–Libya relations refer to the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Libya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Morocco relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh–Morocco relations refer to the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Morocco. Majid Halim is the ambassador of Morocco to Bangladesh since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syed Muazzem Ali</span> Bangladeshi diplomat and foreign service officer (1944–2019)

Syed Muazzem Ali was a Bangladeshi foreign service officer and career diplomat. In 2020, he was posthumously conferred the Padma Bhushan award, the third-highest civilian honour of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Brunei relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh and Brunei established diplomatic relations in 1984. Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain is the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Brunei. Bangladesh is a source of workers for Brunei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saadat Husain</span> Bangladeshi civil servant (1946–2020)

Sadat Hussain was a Bangladeshi bureaucrat and the 9th chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, one of the country's leading constitutional bodies. He also served as the chief of the Bangladesh Civil Service and as the cabinet secretary to the government of Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 vaccination in Bangladesh</span> Immunisation programme against COVID-19 in Bangladesh

Bangladesh began the administration of COVID-19 vaccines on 27 January 2021 while mass vaccination started on 7 February 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalaluddin Tabrizi</span> Sufi saint of Bengal

Abū al-Qāsim Jalāl ad-Dīn Tabrīzī was a celebrated Sufi saint of South Asia. He arrived in Bengal shortly after the start of its Muslim rule, where he propagated Islam to the local populace and spent the rest of his life. The Jaliliyyah Order, a small tariqah, is named after him, and he is considered to be the protagonist of the Sanskrit fiction Sekhaśubhodayā.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mohammad Nazmul Hassan</span> Bangladeshi admiral and diplomat

Vice Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, NPP, ndc, ncc, psc is the four star Admiral of the Bangladesh Navy who is currently serving as the Chief of the Naval Staff. Earlier he was Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (. Prior to join here, he served as Commander, Chattogram Naval Area. Before that, he was High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Republic of Maldives. He also served as the commander of Bangladesh Navy Fleet. Before that, he was Director of Naval Operations and Director of Naval Intelligence at Naval Headquarters.

References

  1. "Akhtar Habib new ambassador to Maldives". The Daily Star. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  2. Ibn Battuta (1953). "The Maldive Islands (Dhibat-ul-Mahal)". In Husain, Syed Mahdi (ed.). The Rehla of Ibn Battuta. Baroda Oriental Institute. p. 204.
  3. Kalus, Ludvik; Claude, Guillot (2005). "Inscriptions islamiques en arabe de l'archipel des Maldives" [Islamic inscriptions in Arabic from the Maldives archipelago]. Archipel (in French). Paris, France. 70: 25. doi:10.3406/arch.2005.3971.
  4. Talib, Abdul Mannan (1980). বাংলাদেশে ইসলাম[Islam in Bangladesh] (in Bengali). Adhunika Prakasani. p. 58.
  5. Mukherjee, Rila, ed. (2011). "Further commonalities: networks of religion, diplomacy, politics and economics". Pelagic Passageways: The Northern Bay of Bengal Before Colonialism. Primus Books. p. 115. ISBN   9789380607207.
  6. 1 2 "Maldives closes Dhaka mission today". The Daily Star. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  7. 1 2 "Maldives eyes direct shipping link with Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  8. "Bangladesh Army chief meets Maldives President". www.banglanews24.com. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  9. "Bangladesh sends water to aid Maldives' crisis". The Daily Star. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  10. "Maldives to reopen Dhaka mission". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  11. Uddin, A F M Ahsan (15 April 2020). "Logistics Operation to Maldives – True Example of Naval Diplomacy". Daily Sun. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  12. "The Government of Bangladesh deploys medical team to support the vaccination program in Maldives". Maldives Gov. 3 March 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  13. "Bangladesh seeks stronger trade ties with Maldives". maldivesindependent.com. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  14. "Maldives keen to recruit more workers from Bangladesh". The Daily Star. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  15. "Newly appointed Bangladesh high commissioner to Maldives makes a courtesy call on President". BSS. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  16. "16,100 Bangladeshi workers in Maldives to be regularised". The Daily Star. 1 November 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  17. "Bangladeshi expats to protest 2 compatriots' death in Maldives". The Daily Star. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  18. Bachar, Sitesh Chandra. "Pharmaceutical Industry". Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.