The European Union (EU) on Tuesday welcomed Bangladesh's initiative for development of the human rights further, official sources said.
The remarks came from a meeting between a delegation of the European Union led by it's Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
EU's special representative for human rights due in Bangladeash
During an over one hour meeting starting at 10.00am, Gilmore also expressed satisfaction over the Awami League government's move to amend the Digital Security Act and the country's labour law.
When contacted, PM's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher confirmed holding of the meeting, but he declined to say anything more.
EU Special Representative for Human Rights in Dhaka with ‘wide-ranging’ agenda
However, official sources said that issues of development of human rights in Bangladesh, sending EU observers ahead of the next general election, Digital Security Act and labour law have prominently came for discussion, among other issues, in the meeting,
PM's Principal Secretary has assured the special representatives of providing the EU all sorts of cooperation from the government of Bangladesh they required.
He also called upon the EU to make sure that Bangladesh's exports to EU member countries will increase further after its complete graduation from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a developning nation.
European External Action Service (EEAS) Political Adviser Viktor Velek, Ambassador Charles Whiteley and First Secretary (Political) Sebastian Riger-Brown, among others, were present at the meeting.
Gilmore, who arrived in Dhaka on Monday on a six-day visit, will hold meetings with government officials and other stakeholders to discuss human rights issues.
He will also discuss with government officials concerned the Rohingya issue and will visit refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Gilmore is likely to hold meetings with Law Minister Anisul Haq, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, according to official sources.