Bangladesh and the EU plan to discuss the Rohingya crisis and other shared concerns at the UNGA, while also exploring cooperation in trade, investment, migration, aviation and sustainable development.
Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) express readiness to discuss issues of mutual interest on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), with the Rohingya crisis expected to be among the key topics of engagement.
The discussions take place during a meeting between EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller and Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the foreign ministry in Dhaka. The two sides exchange views on the upcoming UNGA and explore possible engagement on bilateral, regional and global issues.
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Particular attention is given to the prolonged Rohingya crisis. Bangladesh and the EU express their willingness to discuss the issue during the UNGA with the aim of keeping the situation on the international agenda. Bangladesh continues to host a large population of forcibly displaced Rohingyas, while the EU provides humanitarian assistance to those sheltered in the country.
During the meeting, both sides express satisfaction with the longstanding Bangladesh-EU partnership and reaffirm their commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple areas. Kobir describes the EU as a trusted and reliable partner and reiterates Bangladesh’s commitment to multilateralism, democratic values and a rules-based international order.
The state minister also acknowledges the EU’s engagement in Bangladesh’s democratic transition, including the deployment of the EU Election Observation Mission, as well as its support for the country’s ongoing reform process.
Economic cooperation is another focus of the discussions. Bangladesh and the EU examine ways to strengthen trade and investment ties, including progress towards formal negotiations on a potential Bangladesh-EU Free Trade Agreement. Such negotiations are expected to support longer-term economic engagement between the two sides.
The meeting also covers migration management, aviation cooperation and sustainable development. These areas form part of the broader bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the EU.
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Miller congratulates Kobir on assuming his office, while both sides reaffirm their interest in strengthening cooperation on bilateral, regional and global matters. The planned engagement at the UNGA is expected to provide an opportunity for Bangladesh and the EU to continue discussions on the Rohingya crisis and other areas of shared interest.