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Lithuania’s Honorary Consulate in Bangladesh was officially inaugurated in Dhaka on Monday, May 18.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Honorable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Md. Shahriar Alam, local MPs and other dignitaries, including representatives of the diplomatic and business community.

“Bangladesh recognized Lithuania’s independence the very next day after the Soviet Union did this on 6th of September 1991. I have no doubt Lithuania would also have extended active support to Bangladesh in its freedom struggle in 1971, had Lithuania herself not been oppressed and silenced at that time,” said Lithuania’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Laimonas Talat-Kelpša.

The Ambassador highlighted Lithuania’s social and economic achievements over the last two decades, which have turned Lithuania into one of the world’s most advanced nations, and invited the Bangladeshi partners to develop bilateral ties, especially in the fields of business, culture and education.

To taste Lithuania’s success, the guests were served Lithuanian hard cheese during the reception.

Lithuania and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations in 1992.

Bilateral trade in 2014 amounted to 5.3 million euros, of which 4.5 million euros was Lithuanian exports to Bangladesh. The main export commodities were aircraft and their components, flax, and dairy products.

Lithuanian honorary consul in Bangladesh Mr. Mishal Ali is operating in Dhaka since 2012, yet the official opening of the consulate was made possible only this year.