The French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Mr. Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, called for stronger academic and people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and France during an event at Rajshahi University. The event, part of the 'Meet the Ambassador' series organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh, saw prominent speakers advocating for enhanced cooperation. Mr. Séré-Charlet highlighted the importance of ensuring equal participation of women and men in diplomacy, policymaking, and public life, drawing from France's feminist foreign policy.
Advocating for Gender Equality and Climate Action
Mr. Séré-Charlet stressed the need for greater space for women in international affairs and the protection of fundamental rights regardless of gender, identity, or background. He also addressed the growing global challenges, emphasizing the urgency of collective action to tackle climate change and protect the planet for future generations. The Ambassador observed that conflicts, violence, human rights violations, and political instability have created several black spots across the world, making international cooperation more crucial than ever.
Strengthening Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation
The Ambassador underlined the need to strengthen regional cooperation, bilateral partnerships, multilateral institutions, and respect for international law. He expressed concern that the international community often struggles to unite in support of those facing violence and human rights abuses, urging countries to stand for their shared values and principles while seeking peaceful and coordinated solutions to global crises. Professor Abdul Alim, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Rajshahi University, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and France and the growing cooperation in education, culture, trade, climate action, and technology. He expressed hope that the Ambassador's visit would contribute to stronger academic collaboration and deeper people-to-people relations between the two countries.
Zillur Rahman, president of the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS), emphasized that diplomacy is ultimately about people and connections, noting the longstanding warm relations between Bangladesh and France across various sectors. He pointed out that the discussion was timely, given the rapidly changing world. The event brought together students, academics, and diplomats to discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations and address global challenges collectively.