Bangladesh, Kosovo reaffirm strong opposition to all forms of transnational crimes

Recognising their common commitment to peace, stability, and international security, Bangladesh and Kosovo have reaffirmed their strong opposition to terrorism, violent extremism, and all forms of transnational crimes.

They reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the friendly relations between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect, shared values, common interests, and the principles of international law.

The issues of mutual interest were discussed at the second Foreign Office Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo held in Prishtina recently.

The Bangladeshi delegation was led by Dr. M. Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral – East & West) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the Kosovar delegation was led by Ilir Muçaj, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.

The two sides acknowledged the significant untapped potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, education, agriculture, information and communication technology, tourism, labour mobility, and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed to continue working closely to fully utilise the complementarities of their respective economies for mutual benefit.

The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with the steady progress achieved since the establishment of diplomatic relations, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both sides welcomed the bilateral instruments concluded thus far and emphasised their importance in strengthening institutional cooperation.

They agreed that bilateral relations would be further enhanced through the early conclusion of the agreements currently under negotiation, particularly those related to economic cooperation, the avoidance of double taxation, and other mutually beneficial areas.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation at both the bilateral and multilateral levels and agreed to continue close coordination and consultation in regional and international organisations on issues of mutual interest.

The Kosovo side highly appreciated Bangladesh's longstanding contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations and expressed its sincere gratitude to the members of the Bangladesh to the UN Peace Keeping Forces who served in Kosovo.

The Bangladeshi side welcomed Kosovo's growing participation in international and regional organisations and initiatives and expressed its support for Kosovo's continued integration into international organisations, conventions, and multilateral mechanisms as an equal participant.

The Kosovo side commended Bangladesh for its humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis and expressed its support for Bangladesh's efforts aimed at ensuring the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the displaced Rohingya population to Rakhine State in Myanmar.

The Kosovo side also underlined the importance of sustained engagement by the international community to facilitate a durable solution to the crisis.

The two sides recognised the growing demand for labour mobility and underlined the importance of establishing a structured framework for the recruitment and employment of Bangladeshi workers in Kosovo.

They agreed to explore the possibility of developing government-to-government (G2G) cooperation mechanisms that would ensure transparent, orderly, and mutually beneficial labour migration.

The two sides emphasised the importance of maintaining regular Foreign Office Consultations as an effective mechanism for strengthening bilateral cooperation, reviewing progress, and identifying new areas of collaboration.

They agreed to hold the third Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka during 2027 at a mutually convenient date.

The consultations were held in a constructive atmosphere, reflecting the excellent relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the People's Republic of Bangladesh and their shared commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation.