People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Brazil recognized the independence of Bangladesh in 1972 and, in 1973, Bangladesh established a diplomatic mission in the Brazilian territory. The Embassy of Brazil in Dhaka, the first one of a Latin American country, was established in 1974. The  Brazilian representation was closed in 1998 and reopened in 2009.

Bilateral agreements in the areas of trade, culture and education are in effect, and technical and defense cooperation agreements are under negotiation. In 2017, the foreign ministries of the two countries established a consultations mechanism on themes of the bilateral, regional and multilateral agendas.

In 2018, the Brazilian government donated antimalarial medicines to Bangladesh, and in 2020 it  made a donation, through the World Food Program, for the acquisition of  Covid-19 test kits by Bangladesh.

In 2021, bilateral trade reached a record high of $1.9 billion, of which $1.8 billion accounted for Brazilian exports (with emphasis on sugar, cotton, soy beans and vegetable oils). Braziliam imports from Bangladesh ($118 million in 2021) consist mainly of clothing. With the goal of expanding and diversifying bilateral exchange, Brazil-Bangladesh chambers of commerce were established in the respective capitals.

Between February and March 2022, the president of Caixa Econômica Federal (CEF) bank made a working visit to Bangladesh. The mission aimed at learning about Bangladeshi experiences in the areas of microcredit and microfinance, with a view to establishing possible bilateral cooperation initiatives in those fields.

Chronology of bilateral relations

2022 – The president of Caixa Econômica Federal bank, Pedro Duarte Guimarães, pays a working visit to Bangladesh (February-March); the Livestock Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh visits Brazil (April)

2021 – A delegation of 46 general officers makes a study visit to Brazil, organized by the National Defense College (NDC) of Bangladesh (October)

2019 – The Minister of Commerce, Tipu Munshi, visits Brazil (August)

2018 – The Prime Minister’s office coordinator of sustainable development, Abul Kalam Azad, travels to  Brazil as head of delegation to the 8th World Water Forum, in Brasília (March)

2017 – The Bilateral Consultations Mechanism is established and its first meeting is held in Dhaka (March)

2012 – The Bangladeshi Embassy in Brasilia is reopened

2011 – Deputy foreign minister Mijarul Quayes visits Brazil (August)

2010 - Technical mission of the Ministry of Planning, Budget and Management (MPOG) to Bangladesh (May)

2009 – The Embassy of Brazil in Dhaka is reopened (Decree No. 6778, of 02/18/2009)

2002 – The  Embassy of Bangladesh in Brasilia is closed  (31 August)

1998 – The  Brazilian Embassy in Dhaka is closed (August 1)

1994 – The Minister of Jute, Hannan Shab, and the Minister of Industry of Bangladesh, Zahiruddin Kahn, travel to Brazil

1992 – Foreign Minister Mostafizur Rahman and the Minister of Environment and Forest visit Brazil to participate in the Rio-92 Conference

1989 – Meeting between President José Sarney and his counterpart Hossain M. Ershad in Paris

1974 – The  Brazilian Embassy in Dhaka is opened (Decree No. 74,263, of 07/08/1974)

1973 – The  diplomatic representation of Bangladesh in Brasília is opened(May)

1972 – The People's Republic of Bangladesh is recognized by the Brazilian government (May 15)