Commonwealth secy gen due in Dhaka 8 Aug

Commonwealth secretary-general Patricia Scotland is set to arrive in Dhaka on a two-day visit on 8 August to have discussions with the head of the government, ministers and other public figures on priorities and commitments.

She will also visit Sri Lanka and Brunei as part of her first official visits to three Commonwealth member countries in South and South East Asia, reports UNB.

“Sri Lanka, Brunei and Bangladesh are greatly valued members of the Commonwealth family,” said the Secretary-General ahead of her travel.

“I look forward to acquainting myself more closely with the many encouraging and positive developments taking place in the region - and with challenges which the convening power of the Commonwealth can help to tackle.”

Scotland, during her stay in Bangladesh, will address a programme at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) on ‘The Commonwealth Advantage - progress and potential’.

Next year, Scotland said, Sri Lanka will host the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, according to Commonwealth Secretariat.

“This will again be an opportunity to share the best legal practice from throughout the commonality and yet rich diversity of our Commonwealth family in order to improve access to justice for all our citizens,” she said.

In all three countries the Secretary-General will have discussions with the heads of government, ministers and other public figures on priorities and commitments agreed by leaders at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in April, and will update them on the strategic implementation of the work to be undertaken.

In Sri Lanka, Patricia Scotland will discuss ways in which the country can work even more closely within a Commonwealth context on issues related to trade, connectivity and other national priorities.

During her time in Brunei, among other engagements, the Secretary-General will deliver a public lecture at the University of Brunei Darussalam.

She will also acknowledge the very significant contribution Brunei makes towards partnership by offering the Commonwealth Third-Country Training Programme which assists in building the capacity of Pacific island member states of the Commonwealth.