Bangladesh may become member of BRICS in August

Bangladesh can become a member of BRICS in August, said Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen. He gave this information to reporters during a briefing on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina‍‍`s meeting in Geneva yesterday. 

The foreign minister of Bangladesh said, "They (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have recently invited us as guests to the BRICS bank. The bank has made us a member. In the future they will include us in BRICS, their conference will be held in August." 

BRICS now consists of five countries. According to  AK Abdul Momen, they will include eight more countries in the future. Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia have been invited.

Highlighting the benefits of joining BRICS, he said, "It will be another area of ​​our financing. So, it‍‍`s beneficial for us as we require money." 

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa started their own BRICS bank journey in 2015. Later, however, its name was changed to New Development Bank. In addition to the five founding member countries of the bank, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt joined as new members in 2021. According to the foreign minister‍‍`s statement, Bangladesh is going to join the BRICS alliance along with the bank. 

Meanwhile, PM Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Palais de Nations in Geneva.

She also met with the President of Malta George Vella at the same place. The Prime Minister requested Malta to import medicines and ready-made garments from Bangladesh, said the foreign minister‍‍`s press conference.

On the other hand, in separate meetings with the President of South Africa and the President of Malta, the Prime Minister requested both to open their missions in Bangladesh. Apart from bilateral issues, Rohingya crisis and international issues were also discussed with them, said Momen.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also held a meeting with the Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Gilbert F. Houngbo.