Visiting Norwegian State Secretary for International Development Stine Renate Håheim met with foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry in Dhaka. Photo: MoFA

 
DHAKA, May 20, 2025 (BSS) – Visiting Norwegian State Secretary for International Development Stine Renate Håheim today reaffirmed Norway’s support for Bangladesh’s Interim Government and commended its efforts to maintain stability and implement democratic reforms. 
 
She made the remarks during a meeting with foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry here this afternoon, said a ministry’s press release.  
 
During the meeting, State Secretary Håheim laid emphasis on deepening bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Norway. 
 
She also praised Bangladesh for its continued generosity in hosting a large number of Rohingyas from Myanmar.
 
Hossain expressed his appreciation for Norway’s longstanding development assistance and its growing engagement in Bangladesh’s private sector. 
 
The adviser stressed the need for greater international burden-sharing and called for a sustainable resolution to the Rohingya crisis, including the early repatriation of forcibly displaced people of Myanmar.
 
He also underscored the importance of Bangladesh’s vibrant and rapidly growing youth population in shaping the country’s future - through fostering innovation, driving economic growth, and strengthening democratic resilience.
 
Both the Adviser and the State Secretary highlighted the need for maintaining close cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual interest, reaffirming their commitment to working together to address contemporary challenges. 
 
The Norwegian State Secretary is currently on a two-day visit to Bangladesh. 
 
She is scheduled to visit the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar tomorrow to gain firsthand insight into the ongoing humanitarian needs and challenges.