Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) have emphasized their commitment to a “free, open, inclusive, peaceful, secure and rules-based” Indo-Pacific region with shared prosperity for all. The EU’s Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific was discussed at the first political dialogue held in Dhaka on Thursday night and both sides agreed to advance cooperation in the areas of shared priority. The Bangladesh delegation at the dialogue was led by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam while the EU side was led by Deputy Secretary General, European External Action Service Enrique Mora. The launching of the dialogue marks a widening of cooperation between the two sides into strategic and thematic areas of mutual interest and is a landmark in Bangladesh-EU partnership which will complete 50 years in 2023, according to a joint statement. The two sides also touched upon some regional issues of mutual interest. Bangladesh sought EU’s support for continued trade preferences under the EU’s new Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) beyond 2029 in order to make its LDC graduation smooth and sustainable. The EU appreciated the transformative socio-economic development of Bangladesh and the country’s inherent resilience in the face of multi-dimensional challenges. The EU also commended Bangladesh for its continuing success as the largest beneficiary of the EU’s Everything but Arms (EBA) preferential trade scheme. Read: Bangladesh, EU willing to sign “partnership cooperation” agreement to elevate ties In this context, the EU stressed the need for comprehensive implementation of the National Action Plan on the labour sector of Bangladesh as per the stipulated timelines. Bangladesh underscored its time-bound commitment to ensuring labour rights and workplace safety and also reiterated, among others, the need for ensuring fair pricing and shared responsibility for elements of compliance, especially in view of the investments being made in the country in safer and greener factories.

Grand Film Adda, the unique online programme of the Bangladesh European Union Film Festival (BEUFF), will be held at 2pm on Tuesday in collaboration with the Daily Prothom Alo. The event will be broadcast live on the Facebook pages of Prothom Alo, the European Union in Bangladesh and their YouTube channels. Audiences can also view the show from the website beuff.org. Read: First-ever Bangladesh European Union Film Festival kicks off online  The Grand Film Adda is the primary event held in the margins of the festival, which film critic Sadia Khalid Reeti will moderate. The panellists in the event include the eight European Union Ambassadors or their representatives and representatives from the Government of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh European Union Film Festival has been organised by the EU Delegation to Bangladesh in partnership with the EU Member States, the Alliance Française and the Goethe Institute to mark 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence. The festival that began on June 9 will continue till June 30 which is seen as a step forward to enrich the diplomatic relations between the EU and Bangladesh and increase and enhance cultural exchange.