British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke called on the Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, Lutfey Siddiqi, at his office on Sunday and discussed areas of cooperation between the two countries. Bangladesh reaffirms support for Syrian people Special Envoy Siddiqi thanked the High Commissioner for the wide range of timely and relevant areas of assistance that the UK is currently providing to the Interim Government of Bangladesh. The areas of cooperation include technical assistance in the financial sector and convening relevant research in the implementation of governance reforms.  

A four-member BNP delegation, led by party standing committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, attended a luncheon hosted by the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cook on Sunday. The BNP delegation arrived at the British High Commissioner's residence around 12 pm, following an invitation from her, said party media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He said it was simply a luncheon and declined to provide further details. BNP announces 61-member Dhaka South city unit committee The other members of the BNP delegation included party organising secretary Shama Obed and party leaders Advocate Fahima Nasreen Munni and Advocate Nipun Ray Chowdhury. Anti-Bangladesh incidents in India: BNP submits memorandum to Indian High Commission

Bangladesh has expressed strong discontent over what it calls "misleading statements" by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of the United Kingdom regarding deaths and minority issues in the country. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain conveyed this sentiment to British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke during a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.  “I told her (British High Commissioner to Bangladesh) that we are very hurt because there has been an attempt to show that there have been more deaths after August 5. This is completely false,” he told reporters after his meeting with High Commissioner Cooke. Hossain said he invited her to his office to present Bangladesh’s position and requested her to relay the actual situation on the ground. The adviser shared two incidents—two members of the British Parliament delivered speeches on the minority situation in Bangladesh on November 2. Chief Justice pays courtesy call on Chief Adviser He informed the UK High Commissioner about misinformation in those speeches. Apart from that, some British-based organizations have presented some information that does not reflect the authentic on-the-ground information.  “Members of Parliament can say whatever they want; there is nothing anyone can do here. But I have requested the British High Commissioner to inform the British government of Bangladesh's position on this issue,” Hossain said. In response, Cooke assured the adviser that she would pass on the message and suggested that Bangladesh’s mission in London could also take steps to communicate the accurate narrative, he said. Chinese envoy meets BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Hossain shared with the High Commissioner that nearly 1,500 people were killed before August 5, and the statement completely misrepresented the events of the July-August uprising. The Foreign Adviser also said that some incidents may have occurred after August 5. “However, the way it has been portrayed is not correct. It’s absolutely not correct.”  

Acting British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Javed Patel has said it is extremely important that young people are empowered to be key stakeholders in driving local, national, regional, and global change. “Climate action is a priority for the UK and I am glad that we supported this year’s National Earth Olympiad, helping to establish the next generation of climate stewards in Bangladesh,” he said congratulating the students on their success. Also read: $ 80 billion planned for investment by 2030 to achieve climate resilience The acting high commissioner hosted a reception on Saturday to recognise the finalists of the Bangladesh National Earth Olympiad 2022. Of the 35 participants selected for special awards, five will be going on to represent Bangladesh at the International Earth Science Olympiad which takes place from 24-30 August. “I am inspired by the young people here today, and confident that their drive and commitment to combatting the climate crisis will help them to do just that,” Patel said.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Sunday said their shared aim is to see “voluntary, safe and dignified” repatriation for the Rohingya as soon as conditions in Myanmar allow.  “Bangladesh continues to be extraordinarily generous in its response. The refugees have access to healthcare, food, shelter, and water and sanitation,” he said while addressing a programme hosted by Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU). DRU President Nazrul Islam Mithu and General Secretary Nurul Islam Hasib also spoke at the event. The High Commissioner said they have seen generosity in the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines for refugees. Also read: World now looks at Bangladesh with admiration, says Dickson He, however, said despite progress, the situation remains challenging both for the Rohingyas, especially for women, and for their hosts in Bangladesh. “We’re leading donor to the international response to the Rohingya refugee crisis having contributed over £320m since 2017 to support both refugees in the camps and host communities including in building resilience against COVID-19,” said the High Commissioner. Describing the Rohingya crisis as a “tragedy for all involved,” the British High Commissioner said no one chooses to live in a refugee camp or to host a large influx of displaced people. “As with so many other refugees worldwide, the great majority of the Rohingya population say they want to return home,” said the British envoy, adding that they are ensuring the Rohingyas and Bangladesh are not forgotten. High Commissioner Dickson said they raise the plight of the Rohingya on the international stage, including in the UN Security Council. “As a new Dialogue Partner of ASEAN, we support the efforts of the ASEAN Special Envoy.” Also read:Bangladesh seeks investment from expatriate business community in UAE Bangladesh is now hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char Island.

Describing the UK’s admiration for what had been achieved in Bangladesh over the past 50 years, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Wednesday said they will continue to work with Bangladesh in its efforts to achieve a smooth and successful graduation. “Graduation is a milestone, not a finishing line. We’ll continue to work with Bangladesh to achieve a smooth and successful graduation,” he said, adding that they have also decided to provide continued duty-free, quota-free access to the UK market for three years after graduation, to 2029. While speaking at “DCAAB Talk”, the envoy said he was delighted that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would be visiting London and Manchester to engage with British businesses during her visit to the UK. Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event. DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event. The High Commissioner reflected on the huge challenge ahead at COP26 and said the UK is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and welcoming the Bangladesh delegation to Glasgow. “This was just one sign of the way that the UK was working with an increasingly confident, prosperous and outward-looking Bangladesh on the world stage, as we headed into the next 50 years of partnership,” he said. At the High Commission in Bangladesh, Dickson said his teams were engaged deeply in issues such as climate and biodiversity, maritime security and many other areas, including working with British businesses to build a trade and investment relationship as Bangladesh graduated from Least Developed to Middle Income Country status. Read: COP26: Dickson says Bangladesh has particular role in 3 areas Regional Security Challenges The High Commissioner said the UK is working closely with the government of Bangladesh on regional security challenges. A particular challenge is the Rohingya crisis that was created by the actions of the Myanmar army over four years ago, he said. The UK was very clear that the shared objectives were for the Rohingya to go home to Rakhine state, as soon as it could happen in a way that was “voluntary, dignified and safe”. “No one wanted to live in a refugee camp. Events in Myanmar were moving in a way that was worrying, so it seemed the Rohingya would likely remain in Bangladesh for some time to come,” said the High Commissioner. The UK is working closely with the government of Bangladesh to ensure the extraordinary generosity in hosting the Rohingyas continued, and that the funding was there to provide the refugees with the healthcare, food, shelter, water and sanitation they needed until they could return to Myanmar. The UK had contributed over £320m to the global response, working closely with allies on camp conditions and building resilience, including against Covid-19. The High Commissioner was concerned about recent violence at the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. Read: Election should be Bangladesh-led process: Dickson He said the UK was exploring ways that refugees could be given more productive ways to spend their time, with the opportunity for them to volunteer, provide camp services and basic livelihoods, and for children to be educated. On a global stage, he said, the UK also makes sure this crisis is not forgotten. “The UK is the penholder on the crisis in the UN Security Council and works hard to keep it on the agenda, despite not having full support from all UNSC members.” Dickson said the UK is also using its new status as a Dialogue Partner to ASEAN and supporting the ASEAN Special Envoy to support better outcomes in Myanmar. The High Commissioner said the solution was leadership – leaders needed to lead people away from exploiting division, towards healing it. He said the UK was continuing to support the government of Bangladesh in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. On vaccines, the envoy said, the UK was providing all its support globally, including to Bangladesh, through the COVAX programme. “The UK was not on the front page but was a significant part of the effort.”

The UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office will provide £300,000 of financial support to Bangladesh-based Solshare, one of the 15 finalists in the inaugural Earthshot Prize competition. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson has made the announcement. To mark the occasion, the British High Commissioner hosted a celebratory event where guests learned more about Solshare’s ground-breaking work to repair our planet, and the finalists received a personal message from HRH Prince William, who congratulated them on their fantastic achievement. Congratulating Solshare, the High Commissioner said reaching the final three in the global Earthshot competition is a huge achievement for Solshare. "I am delighted that FCDO will now provide £300,000 to a partnership between Shakti Foundation and Solshare, to help scale up their innovative model using rooftop solar home systems for peer-to-peer energy exchange networks, enabling poor households both to generate electricity from a renewable source and gain an income by selling their surplus energy to the national grid," he said. The High Commissioner said Solshare’s innovative work will help Bangladesh move towards carbon neutrality and improve the lives and livelihoods of millions of Bangladeshis. Launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in October 2020, The Earthshot Prize is the most prestigious global environment prize in history.

British High Commissioner Robert Chatterton Dickson on Tuesday said the UK is committed to working with Bangladesh to create a trade and investment relationship that will help both economies grow.

British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson paid a courtesy visit to Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) to discuss various bilateral issues relating to trade and commerce.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson has visited Chattogram and said the UK has played a part in the development of Chattogram for more than 200 years.