State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Sunday said he saw no sign of disrespect in the sitting posture of Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Ed Miliband during his meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the sidelines of the COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, describing it as an awkward seating arrangement rather than any deliberate gesture of discourtesy.

“I personally know Ed Miliband and have met him twice over the last two weeks - once on the sidelines of the Commonwealth meeting and again when he paid a courtesy call on our Prime Minister,” he said while responding to a question at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Describing the interactions as cordial, the State Minister said Ed Miliband showed great sincerity and respect towards the Prime Minister and acknowledged him as a leader of the democratic country, elected through the votes of the people of Bangladesh.

Kobir said Ed Miliband also expressed appreciation for Bangladesh's democratic transition and the people of the country, as a new journey began through a mass movement under the leadership of transformative leader Tarique Rahman.

Regarding the discussions on social media platforms over Ed Miliband's sitting posture during the meeting, the State Minister said he is relatively new to his responsibilities and might himself have been in an awkward position in terms of seating arrangement. “I did not see anything that suggested disrespect. Rather, I saw sincerity,” he said.

Kobir also said the discussions surrounding  the matter was diverting attention from more meaningful and positive aspects of the engagement.

Referring to a historical comparison, he recalled that former Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had also sat with his legs raised in front of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He said the incident involving Ed Miliband should not be interpreted as an act of disrespect, reiterating that it was more likely an awkward seating arrangement.

The State Minister said Ed Miliband's frequent movements during the meeting could also be attributed to his uncomfortable sitting position.

The meeting also emphasised the need to further strengthen cooperation between Bangladesh and the UK in climate action, addressing humanitarian crises, migration and economic partnership.

The Prime Minister, during the meeting, sought stronger British diplomatic support for the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.

Ed Miliband was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 20 July 2026, an official told UNB. He was previously Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero between 5 July 2024 and 20 July 2026.

Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury and Additional Foreign Secretary (Public Diplomacy and Other Priority Matters) A.K.M. Shahidul Karim were also present at the media briefing, which highlighted the outcomes of the Prime Minister’s visit to Türkiye in connection with COP31.