Due to ongoing road blockades by students, outgoing Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Wednesday had to abandon his car on Dhaka Expressway and find alternative ways to reach the parliament building for his scheduled farewell meeting with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. Whiteley was stuck on the expressway as students protesting against quota in government jobs paralysed the city’s traffic causing huge suffering to the commuters. Read more: Dhaka-Mymensingh rail communication disrupted as BAU students continue “Bangla Blockade” He shared a video, taken by Deputy Head of Mission Dr Bernd Spanier, depicting his journey- partly by walking and a CNG ride –to the destination.    “We abandoned the car on the expressway due to protests and made it to the call on Hon Speaker by CNG - a commemorative video made by Bernd, including a death-defying high-wire sequence,” Whiteley wrote sharing the video from his Facebook account. Whiteley is due to leave Dhaka wrapping up his three-year tenure in Bangladesh. Read more: Bangla Blockade: Students block Barishal-Dhaka highway

Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, has said the opening of Dhaka Airport’s Third Terminal will transform Bangladesh's passenger and cargo handling capabilities.  "Spectacular opening by Hon. PM Hasina of the impressive new airport terminal in Dhaka — which will transform Bangladesh passenger and cargo capabilities, including the potential to handle 24 million passengers per year," the EU ambassador wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).  Read: Aligning labour law with international standards ‘essential’ to consider GSP+, EU Ambassador says He was seen taking a selfie with Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Jeremy Bruer, at the new terminal which he shared from his social media account. Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy, Jan Janowski, also shared his experience of visiting Terminal 3 which had its soft-opening today (October 07, 2023).  "Bangladesh aviation taking off soon. Stunned by the beauty of the new Terminal 3 of HSIA, Dhaka — A lot of German technology behind the scenes, can't wait for the 1st Airbus 380 landing here," he wrote. Read: Honorary Consul of Malta Shoeb Chowdhury calls on EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today soft-opened Terminal 3 of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and said that either Bangladesh's resort town Cox’s Bazar or Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka may soon become an international air transportation hub due to Bangladesh’s geographical location.

Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Wednesday said aligning labour law with international standards will be an “essential element” for the European Parliament and the Commission in considering Bangladesh’s application for market access, the GSP+. “Bangladesh has the option to accede to GSP+ which is the next most generous GSP programme after the Everything but Arms (EBA),” he said while speaking at a seminar in Dhaka. Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi attended the seminar as the chief guest while President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Md Sameer Sattar delivered welcome remarks. Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Lokman Hossain Miah, among others, spoke at the seminar. The DCCI and European Union Delegation to Bangladesh jointly hosted the seminar, titled “Unlocking Trade and Investment for European Companies in Bangladesh.” Read: EU urged to extend transition period of GSP up to 6 years for smooth graduation of Bangladesh The EU ambassador said the implementation of the National Action Plan on the labour sector, which Bangladesh agreed with the EU, will be key deciding factor for GSP+. “We are closely following the ongoing amendments of the Bangladesh Labour Act. We hope that the amendments will be effective with full transparency, in consultation with tripartite stakeholders, and with technical assistance from ILO,” he said. The envoy said Bangladesh is a rising economy with a great story of economic development and social progress. The graduation to a lower middle-income and to a developing country status are historic milestones which bring new opportunities and which call for a reinvigoration of EU-Bangladesh ties, he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government took immediate measures to cope with the flood situation. She said this while Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office. According to a press release, she explained the current flood situation in the North-Eastern part of Bangladesh, where she paid a short visit by helicopter today and held a discussion meeting with the volunteers, party activists, and government agencies who are actively working to rescue the affected people. The EU ambassador expressed his satisfaction over Bangladesh’s preparedness and resilience to combat this kind of seasonal natural disaster caused mainly by the monsoon rain. Sheikh Hasina said that the government built cyclone shelters in the south and multipurpose flood shelters in the northern part of Bangladesh as disaster preparedness. Furthermore, she stated that Bangladesh, as a riverine country, faces tremendous challenges of river erosion and the impact of climate change. Also Read: PM to police: Earn public trust as the last resort for their safety To that end, she briefly narrated her visions, including Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100. While discussing Padma Bridge, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that its inauguration will open up a new horizon for the southern districts of Bangladesh. The economic return will undoubtedly be very high as those districts will host massive industrialization, which will require more electricity generation and the construction of port facilities, she said. She spoke on Bangladesh’s massive progress during her government in the last 13 and half years. She reiterated that Bangladesh will finally graduate from LDC in 2026. She mentioned that the EU countries are Bangladesh’s largest export destination. She appreciated the EU’s continued trade preference for Bangladesh in the form of the Everything-but-Arms (EBA) Initiative. She reiterated her Government’s continued commitment to work closely with the EU on trade-related issues. In this regard, Ambassador Whiteley appreciated Bangladesh’s booming green garments industries. He wished smooth transition of Bangladesh from the LDC. He assured that the new GSP regulation of the EU has already considered Bangladesh’s bid for GSP+ facilities till 2029. However, Sheikh Hasina looks forward to receiving the EU’s continued support even beyond 2029. EU Head of Delegation appreciated Bangladesh’s success in containing the COVID-19 pandemic. He reiterated that the EU is helping to repatriate Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. In this regard, he mentioned that they are looking for some practical approaches to do so soon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that after the repatriation of the Rohingyas, the camp area would be restored to its natural state as before, and her Government has a plan to rehabilitate the region with the local people. The EU Head of Delegation lauded Bangladesh’s tax regime for attracting foreign investment compared to other countries. The meeting ended with a goodwill gesture by handing over gifts to each other. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina appreciated Ambassador Whiteley’s commitment and efforts to elevate further and diversify the Bangladesh-EU relations.

European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Rensje Teerink made a courtesy call on BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at BGMEA office on Tuesday.   They had discussion on trade issues including sustainability, ways to strengthen EU-BD partnership, and further cooperation between Bangladesh and the EU for development of the industry. Also read:BGMEA for keeping factories shut The BGMEA President thanked the Ambassador for the friendly support of the European Union for betterment of Bangladesh’s apparel industry.    BGMEA’s Vice President (Finance) Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Md. Nasir Uddin and Jeremy Opritesco, Deputy Head of Mission of the European Union to Bangladesh were also present at the meeting.  

Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Ambassador Rensje Teerink on Sunday said the demand for highly skilled, socially engaged people worldwide and in Bangladesh is increasing.

The EU Ambassador and EU Member States' Ambassadors and Heads of Mission resident in Myanmar have said they expect the government of Myanmar to fully comply with the ICJ order in the interest of justice.