Bangladesh and the UK reaffirm their commitment to expanding trade, investment and cooperation on climate change, migration and humanitarian assistance during talks on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit.
Bangladesh and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade, investment and cooperation in international forums, signalling continued efforts to deepen their longstanding partnership. The commitment was reiterated during a meeting between Bangladesh's Acting Foreign Minister Humaiun Kobir and British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.
The meeting took place in St John's, Antigua and Barbuda, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). According to a statement from Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both ministers expressed satisfaction with the progress of bilateral relations and discussed opportunities to expand economic engagement.
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The discussions highlighted the strong presence of Bangladeshi exports in the UK market and the contribution of British investment to Bangladesh's economy. Both sides acknowledged the importance of maintaining and expanding commercial ties to support economic growth and create further opportunities for businesses in the two countries.
The ministers also welcomed Bangladesh's agreement to purchase Airbus aircraft for its national carrier. The development reflects the growing scope of bilateral engagement, particularly in the aviation sector, and adds another dimension to economic cooperation between Dhaka and London.
Beyond trade and investment, the two countries agreed to extend reciprocal support in multilateral forums on several shared priorities. These include climate change, safe, orderly and regular migration, and humanitarian assistance. The commitment is intended to strengthen coordination on international challenges and advance common interests through multilateral institutions.
Humanitarian cooperation, particularly support for displaced Rohingya people, also featured in the discussions. Miliband thanked Bangladesh for hosting around one million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals who have sought refuge in the country. He assured Kobir of the UK's continued humanitarian support for the Rohingya community.
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Bangladesh has continued to seek international assistance for the displaced population and support for a sustainable resolution to the crisis. The UK's assurance reinforces the humanitarian dimension of the bilateral relationship and the importance of continued international engagement.
During the meeting, Kobir also conveyed an invitation from Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time. The invitation reflects Dhaka's interest in maintaining high-level political engagement and further strengthening relations.
The latest discussions demonstrate the breadth of Bangladesh-UK cooperation, spanning trade, investment, aviation, climate action, migration and humanitarian assistance. Both countries have expressed their intention to build on existing ties through continued dialogue and mutual support in bilateral and multilateral engagements.