DHAKA, June 19, 2023 (BSS) - The UK's Minister of State in the Foreign,
Commonwealth and Development Office Anne-Marie Trevelyan today assured that
the British government would continue to support democratic process in
Bangladesh.

She made the assurance while state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar
Alam held a meeting with her in London, a foreign ministry press release said
here.  

During the meeting Alam expressed Bangladesh government's resolve to extend
all possible support to the Election Commission to hold free and fair general
elections.

Bangladesh State Minister expressed happiness as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
attended the historic royal coronation of their Majesties King Charles III
and Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023 in London.

He also expressed satisfaction over the fruitful meeting between Hasina and
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the Marlborough House in May on the
margins of the Commonwealth Leaders Event.

The FCDO Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) conveyed the British government's
sincere appreciation for Prime Minister Hasina's attending the royal
coronation.

She expressed that Rishi Sunak was pleased to meet Hasina during the royal
coronation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The British Minister expressed satisfaction at the signing of the Joint
Communique on Aviation Trade and Investment Partnership between Bangladesh
and the UK governments during the Prime Minister's visit to the UK last
month.

The State Minister thanked the British government for their humanitarian
support to the Rohingya camps and political support towards a safe, voluntary
and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland Myanmar.

He also underscored that the Rohingya crisis must not go out of sight of the
international community.

The British Minister of State praised Bangladesh's generosity in hosting the
Rohingyas and echoed that the issue should get due attention from the
international community.

The State Minister informed the British Minister of State that the Bangladesh
Cabinet decided last week to accede to the Hong Kong Convention on Ship
Recycling paving the way for the Convention to come into effect.

The British Minister of State thanked the Bangladesh government for its
decision and expressed the desire to work together for green shipping and
maritime security.

Both sides also shared their views on Commonwealth affairs, particularly on
trade and investment issues and hoped that the upcoming Commonwealth Trade
and Investment Forum in Dhaka will be a success.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem and Director
General (West Europe & EU) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kazi Russel
Pervez were present at the meeting.