The new government is planning to have robust political engagement with Europe to increase economic and development cooperation, technology transfer and investment.
The date for third Bangladesh-UK strategic dialogue has already been fixed in the last week of April while the government is trying to hold the fourth EU-Bangladesh Diplomatic Consultations by March.
The government also has plan to hold foreign secretary level talks with Germany, Sweden, Denmark and other European countries as soon as possible.
“Europe is a very important partner of Bangladesh and we always maintain warm and good relations with them,” Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque told Bangla Tribune.
We will pursue the existing policy and walk a extra mile to boost the relationship, he said.
About the strategic dialogue between Dhaka and London, he said, “Political and bilateral issues, economic and development cooperation, security and defence cooperation and global issues will be discussed.”
Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, who will lead Bangladesh at the dialogue, had a meeting Thursday with British High Commissioner Alison Blake at the ministry.
Another official seeking anonymity said Bangladesh is going to form its new government by next week while Britain is executing Brexit plan and the upcoming dialogue is important as it will set the tone of the relationship for the next five years.
Bangladesh has recently graduated to middle income country and in the last meeting it urged Britain to continue the benefit it enjoyed while it was least developed country, he said.
EU-Bangladesh consultations
In the last consultation Brexit, trade and investment, Strategy for Post-LDC Bangladesh relations with the EU and other issues were discussed.
As Dhaka has graduated to middle income country, it is very important for Bangladesh to negotiate with the EU bloc to retain duty-free and quota free benefits for Bangladeshi products, said another official.
The European Union is the largest export destination of Bangladeshi goods.