Bangladesh and France have signed two bilateral agreements aimed at improving cooperation in infrastructure projects and the development of Bangladesh’s first-ever earth observation satellite. The agreements were made after French President Emmanuel Macron held extensive talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his visit to Dhaka. This was the first visit by a French president to Bangladesh since 1990.

During the talks, Prime Minister Hasina expressed her gratitude for France’s support of Bangladesh’s sovereign policy independence, particularly in the face of ongoing geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty. Both leaders expressed hope that the strengthened cooperation between the two countries would contribute to regional and global stability and peace.

Prime Minister Hasina highlighted France’s role as a trusted development partner and expressed gratitude for their assurance of continued cooperation in infrastructure development. To solidify this partnership, a Credit Facility Agreement was signed between the Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh and the France Development Agency. This agreement will support the Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement project, which aims to enhance municipal infrastructure and service provision in 88 municipalities.

Additionally, a Letter of Intent was signed between Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited and Airbus Defence and Space SAS of France. This agreement paves the way for the development of the Bangabandhu-2 Earth Observation Satellite System. This satellite will be the first of its kind for Bangladesh, reducing its dependence on purchasing images from other satellite companies when needed.

The bilateral agreements mark a milestone in the relationship between Bangladesh and France. The trade volume between Dhaka and Paris reached a record high of 4.9 billion euros in 2022. Currently, thirty French companies have offices in Bangladesh, primarily in the ready-made garment sector, logistics shipping, and engineering industries.