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Interview

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Diplomacy on the Fairway

Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen is the Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh, appointed on 3 October 2024. Born on 15 March 1969 in Halden, Norway, he holds a law degree (cand.jur.) from the University of Tromsø. He joined the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1997, with diplomatic postings in Damascus (1999–2002) and Pretoria (2006–2007). In 2007, he was appointed State Secretary for International Development. As Ambassador to Bangladesh, he focuses on democracy, human rights, women’s empowerment, climate action, and trade. Norway and Bangladesh have shared diplomatic relations since 1972, with cooperation in development, Rohingya humanitarian support, renewable energy, and education.

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Golf, Diplomacy, and the Art of Patience

March 8th, 2025 Saturday morning was pre-scheduled for a round of golf with H.E. André Carstens, Ambassador of the Netherlands, at Kurmitola Golf Club with the Editor Md. Zahirul Islam of Golf and beyond magazine. Under the crisp morning sky, the Ambassador arrived with a warm smile, ready to take on the course. A relatively new golfer, he has already embraced the sport with enthusiasm, finding parallels between golf and diplomacy—both requiring patience, strategy, and resilience. In this exclusive interview, he shares his journey into golf, its impact on his professional life, and how the sport helps bridge cultural and diplomatic gaps.

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