President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the United Kingdom to expand cooperation with Bangladesh in education, human resource development and technology and strengthen trade and investment ties.
He made the call when British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban.
During the meeting, Cooke handed over a congratulatory letter from King Charles III to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on his assumption of the presidency. The President thanked the King and asked the High Commissioner to convey his greetings to him.
The President sought greater opportunities for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education in the UK, an increase in Commonwealth scholarships, and support for human resource development and strengthening education and technology institutions.
He said expatriate Bangladeshis living in Britain are playing an important role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
Mirza Fakhrul also stressed closer cooperation between Bangladesh and the UK as Commonwealth members on development and issues of common interest.
He said Bangladesh has returned to the democratic path through a free, impartial and peaceful election and stressed strengthening democratic institutions and the capacity of elected representatives.
Referring to the UK’s Westminster-style democracy, the President called for regular contacts, mutual visits and exchanges of experience between parliamentarians of the two countries.
Sarah Cooke said nearly 99.99 percent of Bangladeshi products, including readymade garments, would continue to enjoy duty-free and unrestricted access to the UK market for another three years after Bangladesh graduates from the LDC category.
The President described the facility as an important opportunity to further expand commercial relations between the two countries.
The British High Commissioner also briefed him on a digital climate data exchange initiative between Bangladesh and the UK. Mirza Fakhrul said the initiative could improve weather forecasting and help increase agricultural production through the exchange of weather and climate information.
The Secretary of the President’s Office, the President’s Press Secretary, the British Deputy High Commissioner and senior officials were present at the meeting.
