Dhaka, April 04 – United Kingdom (UK) wants to extend its cooperation in different areas including business and trade as well as tertiary level education here in Bangladesh to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
Besides, the UK has sought support and cooperation of Bangladesh in the upcoming COP26 conference hosted by the UK to be held in London in September 2020 as climate change issues affect both the counties.
The UK want so to enhance political relationships with Bangladesh to glean the benefits whatever happens before or after Brexit.
British Higher Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson yesterday came up with this statement at a dialogue ‘Bangladesh-UK Relations: Prognosis for the Future” organised by COSMOS Foundation at a city hotel.
About the Rohingya crisis, Dickson said the UK is closely working on the issue and holding talks with Myanmar government to get a solution
“This a problem made in Myanmar. Bangladesh has nothing to do here. But Bangladesh is unbelievably generous and effective in its response. The problem of Rohingya has been created how Myanmar treats its citizens. Myanmar regards 136 minorities but it does not recognise the Rohingyas. So it’s a clear basic injustice there which periodically flares up,” he noted.
“It’s really a problem for Bangladesh when Rohingyas are flooding near the boards of the host community and causing increasing concern for Bangladesh. We are holding talks with Myanmar to create a congenial atmosphere for the return of Rohingyas,” he said.
About UK’s role in the United Nations about the Rohingya crisis, Dickson said, “We have a prominent role in the Security Council of United Nations. But clearly, the problem at the Security Council is that Myanmar is backed by other members. So we are thinking of what can be done in another way to resolve the crisis of Rohingyas. This problem is really bad for everybody. The UK would argue with the Myanmar government to address it.”
He also promised that Uthe K would continue its humanitarian efforts for the Rohingyas and see how it has been distributed in the field level. “UK has already provided a huge amount of humanitarian aid of £130
million pounds and we would be providing more,” he said.
About the climate change cooperation, he said, “We want the support of Bangladesh in the upcoming COP6 conference in London in September 2020. Climate change is a crucial issue. It is also important for
Bangladesh. It can be a promising partnership for us. I hope Bangladesh is likely to support us.”
Regarding the post Brexit, he said, “Nobody yet knows how the BREXIT is going to be resolved, but it’s clear that we would be looking forward the first growing economies of South Asia as new partnerships
that very much include Bangladesh. We want to forge a much stronger political partnership so that UK and Bangladesh can work together to tackle global challenges and deliver global opportunities.”
He also said Britain wants to use the political partnership with Bangladesh for international trade which is critical for both countries.
“His government wants to create the awareness among the British companies to come to Bangladesh to invest here which would be beneficial for both countries. As a high commissioner here I would try to work in this area to bring British investment here,” he added.
Regarding the UK cooperation in tertiary education in Bangladesh, the High Commissioner said, “Bangladesh human capital is a strongest asset. Here is an enormous potential. But the key to unlocking the potential is education. In a competitive world, a B
here to assist the higher education of Bangladesh to help benefit Bangladesh to get world class education Britain can offer.”
Among others, chairman of Cosmos Foundation Enayetullah Khan, principal research fellow, instituted of South Asian Studies, Singapore Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and other dignitaries were
present on the occasion. – Staff Reporter
