Bangladesh, UK agree to strengthen cooperation on safe, orderly migration

Dhaka: Bangladesh and the United Kingdom have agreed to strengthen cooperation on safe, orderly, and regular migration, alongside other issues of mutual interest, including climate change and humanitarian support.

The understanding was reached during a meeting between Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir and UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband on November 2 in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Both ministers agreed to extend reciprocal support in multilateral forums on various issues, including promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting also reviewed the growing bilateral relations between the two countries, with both sides expressing satisfaction over strong trade ties, preferential access for Bangladeshi products to the UK market, and British investment in Bangladesh.

The ministers also discussed Bangladesh's agreement to purchase Airbus aircraft for its national carrier, Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

During the meeting, the UK Foreign Secretary thanked Bangladesh for hosting more than one million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingyas) and assured continued British humanitarian support for them.

Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir also conveyed an invitation from the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to his British counterpart to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.