Bangladesh-UK strategic dialogue begins Wednesday

The 3rd Strategic Dialogue between Bangladesh and the UK is set to begin in Dhaka on Wednesday.

The Strategic Dialogue is a forum led by Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque and permanent under secretary of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sir Simon McDonald, says a press release of Bangladesh High Commission in London.

New Bangladesh high commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem will attend the dialogue.

The two-day dialogue is expected to discuss entire gamut of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, along with other regional and multilateral issues.

The issues, including Rohingya, countering terrorism and violent extremism, growing focus on trade and investment relations, new areas of cooperation, regional connectivity and stability are likely to be discussed.

Besides, climate change, migration, cooperation in UN peacekeeping, Sustainable Development Goals, and Development partnership in the LDC gradation process will also come up in the discussion.

The Bangladesh side is expected to consist of the delegation from representatives of the foreign ministry, the commerce ministry, Export Promotion Bureau, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, the defence ministry, Economic Relations Division, Security Services Division, Special Branch of Bangladesh Police, and the civil aviation of tourism ministry.

The UK side will have a delegation of 15-20 experts comprising the representatives from Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Department of International Development, the trade department, UK home office, the transport department and the defence ministry.

Sir Simon McDonald is expected to deliver a speech on UK-Bangladesh relations in the era of UK’s exit from the EU at Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies (BIISS). He is also likely to meet young leaders and diplomats during this visit.

The UK PUS will have a bilateral tête-à-tête with his Bangladesh counterpart.