The first account of a Bengali in Mauritius was in 1765 by the Mughal Empire diplomat I'tisam-ud-Din.[1][2] Following this, Mirza Abu Taleb Khan, who later visited Europe in the closing years of the 18th century, had noticed that Bengali sailors had settled in Maldives.[3]
Mauritius recognised Bangladesh's independence on February 20, 1972.[4]
Mauritius has sought Bangladesh's assistance in the education sector. Mauritius has requested Bangladesh to expand access for Mauritian students intending to pursue higher studies in Bangladesh.[5]
Economic cooperation
Bangladesh and Mauritius have shown their interest to expand the bilateral economic activities between the two countries and have been taking necessary steps in this regard. In 2013, a 7-member Bangladeshi delegation led by former commerce minister G M Quader paid a visit to Mauritius to initiate talks on Preferential Trade Agreement with Mauritius. Bangladeshi garments and handicrafts are potential products in the Mauritian market. Mauritius is also a significant destination for manpower export of Bangladesh.[7] In 2005, Bangladesh has signed an MoU with Mauritius to formulise the existing cooperation in the field of manpower export to Mauritius.[5] Bangladesh also exports pharmaceutical medicine to Mauritius.[8]
Bangladeshi diaspora
As of 2013, there are about 10,000 Bangladeshi expatriates living in Mauritius.[7]
References
^C.E. Buckland, Dictionary of Indian Biography, Haskell House Publishers Ltd, 1968, p.217