German Embassy Dhaka

Our final stop in Chattogram was the Venom Research Centre, Bangladesh (VRC), at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

The VRC addresses a critical public health issue in Bangladesh: snakebites. Snakebites kill an average of 16 people in Bangladesh every day.

During his visit, Ambassador Lotz learned from the VRC staff how they care for the 300+ snakes which live here, and collect and preserve their venom to synthesize life-saving antivenom.

Germany is proud to have contributed funds to this invaluable project.

On Day 3 of the Chattogram trip, Ambassador Lotz paid a visit to the Asian University For Women (AUW), touring the campus and meeting with faculty and students.

Since opening its doors in 2008, AUW has served students from nearly 20 countries across Asia, with a particular focus on students affected by poverty, displacement, and political instability.

AUW’s commitment to supporting students from diverse and challenging backgrounds aligns with Germany’s values of inclusivity and opportunity. It was a pleasure to meet the intelligent, talented, articulate young women trained here.

Wishing everyone a happy and blessed Eid-ul-Azha!🌙♥️

From the Embassies of the Schengen States in Dhaka:
Please apply with the embassy corresponding to the main destination of your trip. Applying to the wrong embassy will result in refusal of your application.

ঢাকায় অবস্থিত শেনজেনভুক্ত দেশগুলোর দূতাবাস থেকে:
অনুগ্রহ করে আপনার ভ্রমণের প্রধান গন্তব্যের দূতাবাসে আবেদন করুন। ভুল দূতাবাসে আবেদন করলে আপনার আবেদনপত্রটি প্রত্যাখ্যান করা হবে।

On 18 May, we co-hosted, with the Embassy of Switzerland, a reception for German and Swiss Airline Liaison Officers (ALOs) visiting Bangladesh to provide training and guidance to airlines, airport officials, and consular staff of various foreign missions in Dhaka.

The event began with opening remarks from German Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz and Swiss Ambassador Reto Renggli, followed by a brief presentation by the ALOs, and finally a Q&A session.

ALOs serve as an important bridge between government agencies, airlines, and airport authorities to facilitate safe and secure international travel. It was a pleasure for the German and Swiss embassies to host them and learn about their work.

♻️🚢 Bangladesh is a world leader in ship recycling. So, having a shipbreaking facility on our Chattogram itinerary was a must!

On 13 May, Ambassador Rüdiger Lotz visited PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Industries Ltd. (PHP SBRIL)—Bangladesh’s first Hong Kong Convention-compliant ship recycling yard. PHP SBRIL Managing Director, Mohammed Zahirul Islam, gave the Ambassador a guided tour of the facility including their PPE room, healthcare centre, asbestos removal centre and bonsai garden.

More and more defunct ships are in need of recycling each day. So, there is enormous potential for Bangladesh in this sector. But any growth and expansion must prioritize protection of the environment and of workers’ rights, Ambassador Lotz said to local media during the visit.

To that end, Germany has partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the BIMCO, to launch an Employment Injury Scheme in June 2026 for Bangladesh’s ship recycling sector, which will provide compensation to workers and their families in the event of permanent injury or death from a workplace accident.

On Day 2 of the Chattogram trip, Ambassador Lotz spent the morning with Germany’s Honorary Consul for Chattogram, Mirza Shakir Ispahani.

After some tea and refreshments at the Ispahani head office, we stopped by two of their facilities—Pahartoli Textiles Ltd. and the Ispahani Tea Blending & Packeting Factory—which are supported by German machinery from Kaeser and Trützschler.

A highlight of the visit was their tea-tasting lab (https://web.facebook.com/share/r/18njZ45utr/) where expert tea-tasters meticulously assess the colour and flavour of freshly brewed teas from different gardens. Afterwards, only the best quality blends are sent for packaging.

Ambassador Lotz also had the opportunity to sample the tea, though his assessment likely won’t be added to their official scoring!