British State Minister commends PM’s leadership

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DHAKA, April 14, 2021 (BSS) – British State Minister for Foreign
Affairs for South Asia, the Commonwealth and the UN Lord Ahmad of
Wimbledon commended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership of the
Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) during the upcoming UNFCCC COP26,
scheduled for November 2021 in Glasgow.

He made this comment during a virtual meeting recently with the
Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam, a
foreign ministry press release said here today.

Lord Ahmad took interest in hearing about Bangladesh’s priorities
for COP26, including in its capacity as the representative for the
climate vulnerable countries.

He underscored the importance of protecting the Sundarbans, the
world’s largest mangrove forest, from the adverse impacts of climate
change.

Alam briefed his UK counterpart about the recent visit to
Bangladesh by the US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry.

He invited Lord Ahmad to visit Bangladesh during the Mujib Year,
also in connection with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the UK.

During the meeting, Alam expressed deep condolences at the demise of
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and consort of Britain’s Queen
Elizabeth II.

The two state ministers discussed the latest international travel
restrictions imposed in the wake of the renewed spike in coronavirus
infections, especially from the South African variant.

The state minister urged the UK to take Bangladesh off the red list
at the soonest based on factual evidence.

They also exchanged views on the situation of the Rohingya in
Bangladesh while Lord Ahmad assured UK’s continued support on the
question of the Rohingya’s safe and dignified return to Myanmar.

The two state ministers also discussed preparations for the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) expected to be held
physically in June 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.