British Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina acknowledging the ‘strong and growing’ relationship between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
Visiting Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sir Simon McDonald handed over the letter to Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Tuesday morning.
“I’ve just come from a meeting with the Foreign Minister and had the honor of delivering a letter from my Prime Minister to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh,” McDonald told reporters at state guesthouse Meghna. In the letter, he said the British Prime Minister acknowledged the strong and growing relationship between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom. Theresa May looks forward to having her first official meeting with her Bangladesh counterpart, McDonald said adding that particularly, the two countries prepare for the Commonwealth Summit next year. Before talking to the press briefly, he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on regular holding of the strategic dialogue with his Bangladesh counterpart Md Shahidul Haque. Responding to a question, the British Under Secretary said they know that Bangladesh wants to have same trade privileges that it enjoys now [under Everything but Arms (EBA)] in the European market.
“We know that this is an important part of negotiation. I can assure you, looking ahead, the United Kingdom wants even better relationship with Bangladesh in the future,” he said indicating that there will be no negative impact following Britain’s exit from the EU. Theresa May has informed the European council that she will trigger article 50 on Wednesday. “Tomorrow is the key day in the United Kingdom,” said the British Under Secretary mentioning that they are more ‘conscious’ than ever of the importance of Bangladesh-UK ‘historic relations’ beyond Europe. He also said their intention is to see the relationship getting stronger in the future.
On counterterrorism cooperation, McDonald said this is a priority issue for both the governments. “We’ll work closely.” In his opening statement, the British Under Secretary said this is his first visit to Bangladesh.
“So, we’re celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations with our first Strategic Dialogue which I’m very happy to conduct with (my Bangladesh counterpart),” he said.
Later, both sides sat at an ‘inclusive discussion’ at the same venue which will cover all the aspects of ‘multidimensional’ relationship between the two countries.
Economic cooperation, security and issues related to shared-values like democratic values and respect for human rights are likely to be discussed in the discussion titled ‘Strategic Dialogue’, diplomatic sources said.
Brexit impacts, visa issues and airport security are also likely to be discussed at the dialogue to be held for the first time. Bangladesh and the United Kingdom (UK) agreed to hold such a dialogue when the UK Minister for Asia and the Pacific Alok Sharma MP met Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali here earlier this month.
Sharma expressed optimism that the Strategic Dialogue will play an important role in further strengthening and widening the ties between the two countries, and taking it to the next level.
