French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré- Charlet. File Photo

DHAKA, July 14, 2026 (BSS) - French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Séré-
Charlet today said France expects a level playing field and genuine reciprocity 
from Bangladesh to further strengthen bilateral relations, expressing hope 
that Dhaka would demonstrate its commitment to expanding the partnership in a 
concrete manner.

"As reliable partners, we naturally expect to benefit from a level playing 
field in order to continue and develop our relationship based on genuine 
reciprocity. We expect Bangladesh to also demonstrate its interest in 
partnering in a concrete way," he said.
 
The Ambassador was addressing a reception hosted by the French Embassy at its 
premises in Dhaka to celebrate Bastille Day, the National Day of France. 

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood attended 
the reception as the chief guest while diplomats, senior government 
officials, business leaders, development partners and members of civil 
society were also present.

Ambassador Charlet said that France is committed to revitalising and 
expanding its long-standing partnership with Bangladesh across trade, 
investment, culture, climate action, innovation and strategic cooperation.

Referring to the longstanding economic partnership between Bangladesh and 
Europe, Séré-Charlet  said France and the European Union have consistently 
supported Bangladesh's economic growth over the past quarter-century.

"A good example is that France and the European Union have been supporting 
Bangladesh for 25 years by establishing a system that has favored its exports 
and has allowed the Bangladeshi ready-made-garment industry to develop with 
remarkable results," he said.

The envoy said that France and the European Union remain attentive to the 
initiatives the Bangladesh government intends to pursue for further deepening 
bilateral cooperation.

Reflecting on Bangladesh's recent political developments, Charlet  said the 
country had undergone an extraordinary democratic transition over the past 
several months.

He recalled that when he arrived in Bangladesh, the country was still under 
an interim government and political discussions centred on the timing of the 
national election and the July Charter.

Welcoming Bangladesh's return to democratic governance, he said the European 
Union had closely supported the electoral process by deploying an election 
observation mission comprising more than 200 observers.

"I must confess that I am very impressed, and so are we in Paris, by the 
strong commitment of the Bangladeshi people to democracy. The elections were 
held in a very remarkable way, with a high level of participation and results 
that were not disputed," he said.

"We are very pleased because we needed a Bangladesh back within the community 
of democracies," he added.

He also congratulated Bangladesh on the election of Dr. Khalilur Rahman as 
President of the 81st United Nations General Assembly and Bangladesh 
Ambassador to France Khondker Talha on his election as President of the 
UNESCO Executive Board.

The ambassador expressed confidence that Bangladesh and France could further 
elevate their partnership through stronger political dialogue, expanded 
economic cooperation and closer people-to-people exchanges.

Highlighting existing cooperation, the ambassador said France is actively 
engaged in Bangladesh through cultural exchanges, development cooperation and 
business partnerships.

French companies are also expanding their presence in Bangladesh in sectors 
including fashion, aerospace, civil aviation, water management and 
infrastructure, while France is keen to further increase its commercial 
engagement, he added.

The ambassador highlighted climate change as another key pillar of bilateral 
cooperation, saying more than 80 percent of AFD's annual projects in 
Bangladesh focus on climate mitigation, resilience and biodiversity 
conservation.

He said the French Development Agency (AFD), which has been operating in 
Bangladesh since 2012, has provided nearly two billion euros in financing, 
particularly for climate resilience, poverty reduction and women's 
empowerment.

Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet  said France recognises Bangladesh's geographical, economic and 
human potential and is ready to build a long-term partnership with the 
country, which he described as a rapidly growing economy with an efficient 
workforce and the potential to become a pillar of stability in the region.

France also has a strategic interest in the Indo-Pacific, where more than 1.5 
million French citizens live permanently, making deeper engagement with 
Bangladesh a natural priority, he noted.

The ambassador further noted that France was among the first countries to 
recognise Bangladesh following its independence in 1971, describing the 
relationship as one that transcends governments and is rooted in the 
friendship between the peoples of the two nations.

He also paid tribute to the late Andr Malraux, describing him as a renowned 
French writer, resistance hero and a close friend of Bangladesh who had 
championed the country's cause even before its independence.

On international affairs, Séré-Charlet  reaffirmed France's commitment to peace, 
multilateralism and international law, referring to French diplomatic 
initiatives on the Strait of Hormuz crisis, recognition of the State of 
Palestine and support for Ukraine's sovereignty.