Bangladesh and the UK agreed to deepen bilateral relations, particularly on political, climate and aviation fronts. This was discussed when State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, MP held a meeting with Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK, on 19 June 2023 in London.

During the meeting, State Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed happiness that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could attend the historic royal coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023 in London. He also expressed satisfaction at the fruitful meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunank at the Marlborough House on 5 May 2023 on the margins of the Commonwealth Leaders’ Event. The FCDO Minister of State conveyed 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. She 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 last month.

The State Minister 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 Bangladesh government’s generosity in hosting the Rohingyas and expressed eagerness to remain engaged with the issue.

The British Minister of State thanked the Bangladesh government for its decision to accede to the Hong Kong Convention on ship re-cycling 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 he held in September this year in Dhaka.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem and Director General (West Europe & EU) of MOFA Kazi Russel Pervez were present at the meeting.