According to The Telegraph, the new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering keeping the nation’s foreign aid budget frozen for two more years. British foreign aid spending is limited to 0.5 percent of national income. Since the country’s public finances had taken a significant hit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic two years prior, the British government reduced its spending on international aid. By 2024–2025, according to Sunak, who was the finance minister at the time, foreign spending should revert to its previous level of 0.7 percent of GDP. Read More: Rishi Sunak as UK PM: What are the expectations? The Telegraph, however, reported that officials are considering extending the cut in foreign aid funding by a further two years, until 2026–2027. The report also noted that there was room for even larger cuts and the possibility of indexing future foreign aid spending for three years to inflation. The report is released at a time when the UK is planning expenditure reductions and eliminating tax breaks due to the increasing cost of housing, food, fuel, and heating.  Read More: Rishi Sunak becomes UK's 3rd PM this year by King Charles III

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday greeted new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying she looks forward to working closely with him in further strengthening  “our long-standing political, economic, and strategic partnerships”. ‘I, on behalf of the Government and the people of Bangladesh, extend the heartiest congratulations to Your Excellency on your assumption of the Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” she said in a congratulatory letter. She also said: “It makes me happy to see a young Briton of South Asian heritage of your credentials and dynamism in this top leadership position. I wish your excellence in serving the British people and promoting peace worldwide shall be a testament to your visionary leadership.” She stressed that Bangladesh and the United Kingdom enjoy historic relations deeply rooted in shared values of democracy, secularism, and tolerance.  “Over time our robust cooperation in trade, investment, and sustainable development has grown from strength to strength. On top of everything, the more vibrant Bangladesh-British Diaspora in the UK serves as the common treasure for developing the two countries.” PM Hasina mentioned that this year Bangladesh and Britain celebrated 50 years of friendship between the two Commonwealth nations. She wished Sunak the best of health, happiness, and success while rendering his high responsibility and peace, progress, and prosperity for the people of the United Kingdom.