State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has urged the British-Bangladeshis to send remittances through the legal route. "The money sent by the expatriates in Bangladesh will be protected and there is an opportunity to earn more profits than other countries through savings and investment, including government incentives from this money,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the remittance fair organized by the Bangladesh High Commission in London for on Tuesday (March 14), according to a press release. This fair was organized for the first time. "Some quarters are spreading baseless propaganda through various means that sending money to Bangladesh is risky. Bangladesh's economy is currently not at risk,” said the junior minister. “Citing the stability of Bangladesh’s economy, various international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund, have said the country will become the 31st economy in the world by 2030. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh still maintains its position as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, facing the Covid-19 pandemic and war situation,” he said. Shahriar urged the expatriates to play a special role in building a smart Bangladesh announced by the prime minister by sending more remittances through the legal route without being misled by any kind of non-corruption and advised the charities to register in Bangladesh and send money from the UK through the legal channel, said the release. "At present, the UK is the fourth country to send remittances to Bangladesh. This position could be elevated in the future if the British-Bangladeshis send more money to the country through legal means,” he said. On the occasion, the state minister assured to consider these proposals when the representatives of various organizations sending remittances presented various proposals to take encouraging steps including special incentives for them, added the release. The delegates of various organizations sending remittances raised various proposals to take encouraging steps, including special incentives for them. The state minister assured to consider this. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem delivered the welcome address.

British Foreign and Development Office (FCDO) Minister for South Asia and Commonwealth Lord Tariq Ahmed has said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid the foundation of a strong partnership and deep friendship that Bangladesh-UK has been enjoying in the past five decades. He lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for upholding the spirit and values of Bangabandhu in building a self-reliant, secular and inclusive Bangladesh with maximal climate prosperity and resilient green future; and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to remain a critical partner of Bangladesh seeking to support peace and prosperity for its entire people. Addressing a virtual programme in London recently, the British Minister congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the people of Bangladesh and the British-Bangladeshis as Bangladesh celebrated 50 years of its Independence, according to Bangladesh High Commission in London. Bangladesh High Commission in London commenced a nine-month celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Bangladesh’s Independence and hosted a high-profile discussion and diplomatic reception held recently where ministers, leader of the opposition, members of House of Lords, Mayor of London and eminent parliamentarians from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales paid their profound homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the martyrs of 1971 War of Liberation. They highly praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the unprecedented growth and prosperity the country achieved under her visionary leadership. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland Saida Muna Tasneem chaired the event. Also read: Bangabandhu is an inspiration to many who fight for liberty, democracy: UK Minister Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, Labour Party Deputy Leader and Chair Angela Rayner, MP, Foreign Affairs Select Committee Chair at the House of Commons Tom Tugendhat, MP, Conservative Party Vice-Chair Ms Nickie Aiken, MP, International Ambassador of the Conservative Party Lord Hannan, Chair of All-party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh and the UK’s Trade Envoy for Bangladesh Rushanara Ali, MP, Apsana Begum, MP, Sarah Boyack, MSP and IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim spoke as panelists.

British Deputy High Commissioner Javed Patel has described Sylhet as one of the most beautiful cities in Bangladesh where the ties between the UK and Bangladesh are as strong as ever.