Bangladesh and the UK have agreed to deepen bilateral relations, particularly on political, climate and aviation fronts.
This was discussed when Md Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a meeting with Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK, on Monday in London, read a press release.
During the meeting, Shahriar expressed happiness that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could attend the historic royal coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6 in London.
He also expressed satisfaction at the fruitful meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her British counterpart Rishi Sunak at the Marlborough House on May 5 on the margins of the Commonwealth Leaders’ Event.
The FCDO minister of state conveyed the British government’s sincere appreciation for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s attending the royal coronation.
She expressed that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was pleased to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the royal coronation.
Trevelyan further expressed satisfaction at the signing of the Joint Communique on Aviation Trade and Investment Partnership between the governments of Bangladesh and the UK during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to the UK.
Shahriar thanked the British government for their humanitarian support to the Rohingya camps and political support towards a safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
He also underscored that the Rohingya crisis must not go out of sight of the international community.
The British minister of state praised the Bangladesh government’s generosity in hosting the Rohingyas and expressed eagerness to remain engaged with the issue.
Trevelyan thanked the Bangladesh government for its decision to accede to the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling and expressed the desire to work together for green shipping and maritime security.
Both sides also shared their views on Commonwealth affairs, particularly on trade and investment issues, including the upcoming Commonwealth Trade and Investment Forum to be held in September in Dhaka, read the release.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem and foreign ministry Director General (West Europe and EU) Kazi Russel Pervez were present at the meeting.
