Dhaka, Dec 22 (UNB) - In an important development on the diplomatic front, Mauritius withdrew its earlier decision to deport Bangladeshi workers after December 31.

The government of the Indian Ocean island-state changed its mind following a request from Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni during a diplomatic foray straight from Copenhagen after the Cop15 global
climate summit.

The Foreign Minister urged the Mauritian government to extend work permits to Bangladeshi male workers beyond this December and facilitate fresh recruitment during her visit to the country on December 21.

She visited Mauritius at the invitation of her counterpart, Arvin Boolell, said an official announcement in Dhaka Tuesday.

This was the first-ever high-level trip to the island from Bangladesh since the independence of the country.

During the visit, the Foreign Minister called on Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Empowerment Ramakrishna Sithanen, Foreign Minister Arvin Boolell, Minister for Labour, International Relations and Employment Jean Francois Chaumiere and Minister for Industry, Science and Research Dharambeer Gokhool.

During the meeting with Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Jean Francois Chaumiere, Dr Dipu Moni raised the issue of various problems facing the Bangladeshi workers as well as their prospect in Mauritius.

After a threadbare discussion Jean Francois Chaumiere declared withdrawal of the government’s earlier decision to deport the workers.

“The Mauritian Labour Minister also expressed his satisfaction over praiseworthy contribution of the Bangladeshi workers,” said the release.

The Mauritian government showed their keen interest in recruiting skilled doctors, engineers and architects from Bangladesh.

Dr Dipu Moni welcomed the retraction move and mentioned that Bangladesh is ready to provide manpower in accordance with the requirements of Mauritius, particularly for garment, tourism and fish-processing industries.

She also underscored the need for signing a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of manpower, which has been forwarded to the Mauritian authority for their consideration.

“Once signed, the MoU would facilitate the transparent movement of our workforce in Mauritius,” she said about the remedial measure.

During a separate meeting, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam fondly recalled the close friendship between his father Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, the founding Prime Minister of Mauritius, and Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Foreign Minister gratefully recalled that Mauritius was the first African country to recognize Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state.

Navinchandra Ramgoolam mentioned his recent meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Copenhagen where they agreed to further enhance cooperation in the field of economy, culture, trade and investment and other areas of mutual interest.

Later, Dr Dipu Moni held a bilateral meeting with Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Economic Empowerment Ramakrishna Sithanen and signed a bilateral ‘Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion.

She apprised the Vice-Prime Minister that Bangladesh government has taken a number of socioeconomic programmes to build a peaceful country free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Foreign Minister also mentioned that the Bangladesh government is committed to materializing its pledges of graduating to digital Bangladesh, an ICT-driven nation, “in line with the Vision-2021 under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina”.

Dr Dipu Moni also met Minister for Industry, Science and Research Dharmbeer Gokhool, who expressed his desire about cooperation from Bangladesh on Garments Fashion Designing and proposed a Mauritian team’s visit to Bangladesh Fashion Designing Institute soon.

She welcomed the proposal and agreed to provide them an effective visit to the BGMEA Fashion Designing Institute.

The Mauritian Minister praised Bangladesh’s banning of polythene shopping-bags which are non-biodegradable and expressed his desire to take similar steps in Mauritius.

He requested Bangladesh’s cooperation in developing eco-friendly shopping bags made of jute for Mauritius.

Dharmbeer Gokhool also showed his interest in Bangladesh’s expertise in Shipbuilding Industry and SMEs. The Foreign Minister assured him of full cooperation.

During her meeting with her Mauritian counterpart, Dr Dipu Moni stressed exploring new areas of cooperation in the fields of tourism, commerce, trade and investment.

She offered to export pharmaceuticals, knitwear, ceramics, leather goods, melamine, jute goods etc from Bangladesh.

They decided that Joint Working Groups (JWG) on various prospective sectors of cooperation will soon be formed between the two countries to implement the agreements.

In her daylong programmne, the Foreign Minister visited the CMT Garments Factory at DBM Industrial Estate where a large number of Bangladeshi women are employed.

She also visited dormitories of female Bangladeshi workers and enquired about their wellbeing.