British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson has said Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships welcome exceptional people from across the world to study, grow, and thrive at some of the world's best universities. A scholarship can be a transformative experience, not just for the scholars, but for their communities and countries as they return and use the benefits of their UK experience to make a positive difference in their chosen field, he said. "Our alumni network is full of dynamic influencers, well-equipped to make a difference professionally and socially. They are a vital part of the vibrant people-to-people links between Bangladesh and the UK," said Dickson while speaking at a reception on Thursday. Read more: Applications invited for Chevening scholarships The British High Commission hosted the reception for Bangladeshi scholars who were awarded the UK Government's prestigious Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships. Dickson congratulated the scholars on completing their masters degrees and welcomed them into the greater UK Chevening and Commonwealth alumni family. British Council Bangladesh Director Tom Miscioscia said there are currently 129 Bangladeshi students studying on a Commonwealth Scholarship. Since the first one was awarded in 1960, 1,812 Bangladeshi students have held these scholarships or fellowships funded by the UK government through the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK. The Commonwealth alumni work across a range of sectors and fields and "bring about development" impact at a local and international level. "I also encourage all returnee scholars to join the British Council's new global platform for UK alumni 'Alumni UK', which is an online alumni platform providing networking opportunities, resources to support professional development and access to events," said Miscioscia. Read more: UK ready to send independent observers to Bangladesh national polls: Envoy Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships are awarded to individuals from all backgrounds who can demonstrate that they have the commitment and skills required to create positive change. These UK scholarships are a recognised platform bringing together some of the brightest minds to realise their educational aspirations while gaining access to a range of professional and cultural experiences. Chevening scholarships are the UK Government's global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, partner organisations, and partner universities. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK awards scholarships and fellowships for postgraduate study and professional development to Commonwealth citizens each year, with Bangladesh being one of the priority countries.  

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson has said the world, today, looks with admiration at what Bangladesh has achieved in its first half century. The country has moved forward, a role model of positive transformation while continuing to grapple with political and governance challenges as a vibrant, independent nation, he said.  "I am happy to reflect on Bangladesh’s transformation from “one of the world’s poorest countries” into “one of the world's fastest-growing economies” and the UK’s part in that story," said the High Commissioner highlighting a new era of "Brit Bangla Bondhon". Read: World now looks at Bangladesh with admiration, says Dickson He mentioned RMG powerhouse, a leading contributor to peace and security, especially as a provider of troops to UN peacekeeping missions, and one of the most influential global voices on climate change, as they have just seen at COP26 in Glasgow as some of the few achievements.  "The UK is proud to be a friend of Bangladesh through all this. We look forward to strengthening these bonds of kinship and culture through the dynamism of our strong people to people links, for the next 50 years and beyond," Dickson said in a message on the 50th anniversary of the Bangladesh-UK’s diplomatic relationship on Friday.  Modern links between the UK and Bangladesh include trade and investment, the British Bangladeshi contribution to the UK National Health Service, education, development, defence, culture, cricket and curry, he said, adding that they share a mutual vision of a modern 21st century partnership bound by strong historical ties. On this day, 50 years ago, the UK and Bangladesh established the diplomatic relationship.  On behalf of the UK, High Commissioner Dickson congratulated the people and the government of Bangladesh on this historic anniversary of a new era of "Brit-Bangla Bondhon". As British High commissioner in Bangladesh, he feels proud that the UK played such a key role in Bangladesh’s founding story.  Before Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman set foot in his liberated homeland, his historic trip to the UK in January 1972 and his meeting with UK Prime Minister Edward Heath forged a new friendship and accelerated the recognition of Bangladesh as an independent nation. 

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Wednesday said the drive to administer Covid-19 booster doses will in next seven to ten days. “Currently, we have 4.5 crore doses of vaccine in stock, and the drive to inoculate booster doses can be started within seven to ten days,” he said at a programme while receiving 80 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine donated by Japan and UK through the global COVAX facility. Read: National Committee recommends booster dose for above 60 citizens, frontliners Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Naoki Ito and British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson handed over the donations to the health minister at State Guest House Padma. Maleque said “Japan is a close friend of Bangladesh since the Liberation War while the British government stands by Bangladesh in any crisis of the country. So, the vaccine doses received from the two countries will strengthen us to fight Covid-19.” So far, three cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus have been detected in the country and all of them have been put under quarantine, he said adding “They are doing well and undergoing treatment.” He also urged the people to abide by the health guidelines and get Covid jabs. On Sunday, the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 recommended booster shots to the citizens above 60 and frontliners. The senior citizens and frontliners who got the two doses of vaccine six months ago will get the booster dose, the NTAC recommended at a meeting. It also suggested all to take steps to limit public gatherings, meetings and rallies to contain the spread of Omicron. On December 9, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Omicron is now present in 57 countries and asked all countries to stay alert about the new variant. Read: Booster dose in Bangladesh: Authorities asked to work on a precise guideline A WHO panel named the Coronavirus variant ‘Omicron’ and classified it as a highly transmissible virus of concern, the same category that includes the predominant delta variant, which is still a scourge driving higher cases of sickness and death in Europe and parts of the USA. Amid the growing concern over the new ‘Omicron’ variant of coronavirus, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) suggested the implementation of 15 instructions to prevent the spread of the new variant and urged all concerned to take measures to enforce the instructions. After Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Bangladesh on January 27, the health ministry rolled out the inoculation drive at five government hospitals in Dhaka on January 28.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Wednesday said anything related to election should be a Bangladesh-driven and Bangladesh-led process, noting that it is not foreigners to say how the election should be held here. “It’s not for the foreigners to say how the election should be carried out,” he said, adding that it is a matter for the Bangladeshi people to decide. The High Commissioner said there is plenty of expertise and talent in Bangladesh to make the election a Bangladesh-driven process reflecting the values of the country’s constitution. The British envoy made the remarks while responding to a question at “DCAB Talk” held at Jatiya Press Club. Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event. DCAB President Pantho Rahaman and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the event. High Commissioner Dickson said it would be good to have an election that is transparent and openly contested. Read: Dickson lauds Bangladesh's efforts on climate front He thinks it is important that all the voices and all political parties are able to participate in the elections and are able to have confidence in the electoral process. The High Commissioner referred to the Bangladesh constitution and laid emphasis on fulfilling the constitutional ambition.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Monday assured British citizens in Dhaka and Sylhet of adequate stocks of required medicines which they can get locally.

British High Commission in Dhaka on Friday said two more chartered flights will help British citizens return home from Bangladesh on Saturday and Sunday.

Another group of 177 British travellers left Dhaka for London on Thursday afternoon in the second chartered flight. 

British Foreign Office Minister of State Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon on Saturday said their staff will continue to support those Britons who remain in Bangladesh throughout this crisis and beyond.

British and Australian governments have taken initiatives to take their citizens from Bangladesh who are willing to return to their respective countries by chartered flights from Dhaka.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson on Sunday said they are doing everything so that British citizens in Bangladesh can return to the UK reminding them a longer stay here.