Bangladesh is expecting a visit of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Dhaka this year, marking the 50 years of diplomatic ties between the countries.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem conveyed the expectation of Dhaka at a bilateral meeting with British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Philip Barton.
The meeting was held on Friday in London marking February 4, the day the UK officially recognised Bangladesh in 1972.
The British minister also showed interest in joining the celebrations related to UK-Bangladesh ties.
"We would be delighted to join celebrations of 50 years of the UK’s historic relations with Bangladesh including our longstanding economic and development partnership, climate co-operation and the vibrant Bangladeshi diaspora,ʺ he said.
During the meeting, they discussed the possibility of VVIP visits between the two countries, joint events and dialogues on trade and Investment, climate partnership, and British Bangladeshi diaspora and joint exercise between the Armed Forces on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence and Bangladesh-UK diplomatic relations.
At the meeting, High Commissioner Tasneem said, ʺFifty years ago since the hoisting of the flag of independent Bangladesh in August 1971 at the first Bangladesh diplomatic mission in London at 24 Pembridge Gardens followed by the warm reception accorded to Bangladesh’s first President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 8 January 1972 by Prime Minister Edward Heath at No 10, Bangladesh-UK special friendship has only grown strength to strength bilaterally and multilaterally."
Boris Johnson earlier visited Bangladesh in 2018 as foreign minister.
High Commissioner Tasneem briefed the PUS about the successes of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Government in containing COVID pandemic in Bangladesh and the stimulus packages, as well as the rapid COVID vaccine roll out program. She also congratulated Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his 24/7 COVID vaccination program that so far facilitated vaccination of more than 10 million people.
Bangladesh High Commissioner also praised the British Government for its pen holding role on the Rohingya issue at the UN Security Council.
Both sides also discussed the possible dates of the '4th Bangladesh-UK Strategic Dialogue' in London which is expected to incorporate FCDO’s new mandate on development partnership as well as trade, investment and defence cooperation.
