Considering the potential for expanding its export market and the service needs of the growing number of Bangladeshi expatriates, Dhaka has decided to soon open seven new diplomatic missions in India, Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Romania, Sudan and Sierra Leone.

The cabinet approved the decision yesterday in its regular weekly meeting at the secretariat, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The decision was also aimed at improving trade, people-to-people contact and cultural ties with the seven countries.

Of the seven new missions, Bangladesh will have fully-fledged embassies in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, Sudanese capital Khartoum, Sierra Leone capital Freetown and Romanian capital Bucharest.

Bangladesh will open another Deputy High Commission in Chennai, the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The country already runs diplomatic missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Agartala and Guwahati.

With the opening of seven new missions, the number of Bangladesh missions abroad will be 80 in 59 countries, officials said.

The cabinet also gave retrospective approval to run 17 more new diplomatic missions, which are already in operation in Athens, Milan, Mumbai, Istanbul, Lisbon, Kunming, Beirut, Mexico City, Brasilia, Port Louis, Copenhagen, Warsaw, Vienna, Addis Ababa, Abuja, Algiers and Guwahati.

A high official at the foreign ministry said, “The opening of the new missions is part of the Awami League government's plan to prioritise economic diplomacy in its foreign policy.”

Justifying the government's decisions, he said it became necessary for the government to open more embassies abroad to serve the growing number of expatriate Bangladeshis, raise export and trade and establish political link with other countries.

According to an official estimate, over seven million Bangladeshis now live abroad and remit around $15 billion a year.

Officials said there was a common perception that the government spent a huge amount of money to run the foreign missions. But some missions, including those in the Middle Eastern countries, Malaysia, Singapore, the USA, the UK and Italy earn good revenue and send foreign currencies to Bangladesh by providing consular services to people.

Foreign ministry sources said the prime minister recently gave consent for the opening and reopening consulates in Toronto of Canada and Sydney of Australia as a large number of Bangladeshis were not getting consular access and other services.

According to them, over one lakh expatriate Bangladeshis live in Toronto, but the country has no mission there to serve them. There are consulates of 92 countries in Toronto, including those of India and Pakistan.

Foreign ministry officials said most of the expatriate Bangladeshis in Canada were not getting consular services as the Bangladesh High Commission is in Canadian capital Ottawa, about 400km off Toronto.

Opening a consulate in Toronto will greatly help Bangladesh export its products to Canada.

Sydney is home to about 75,000 Bangladeshi expatriates. Over 100 countries, including India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, have consular representatives in the city.

Opening a consulate in Sydney will immensely help Bangladesh expand its export to Australia as it has been enjoying duty and quota free access to the Australian market since July 2003.

Officials said the government recently opened a fully-fledged embassy in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa as part of its efforts to expand trade relations with the emerging African markets.

The ambassador posted in Ethiopia has been given the responsibility to strengthen trade and investment relations with 54 African nations. The headquarters of the African Union is in Addis Ababa.