Diplomats from 27 European nations, stationed in Dhaka and New Delhi, are set to meet Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus on December 9, marking an unprecedented collective engagement between the European Union (EU) and the Bangladeshi government.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mohammad Rafiqul Alam, confirmed the meeting during a weekly briefing on Thursday. He highlighted that the agenda would include exploring new areas of cooperation and addressing pressing issues like the Rohingya crisis, the post-LDC era's Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) facilities, and a partnership and cooperation agreement with the EU.
This is the first instance of all 27 EU member states collectively participating in such high-level discussions with Bangladesh. According to the spokesperson, the meeting underscores the EU’s intent to strengthen its support for Bangladesh while advancing bilateral economic and diplomatic ties.
The EU has maintained a robust trade relationship with Bangladesh, primarily through its Everything but Arms (EBA) initiative, which has provided duty-free and quota-free market access for Least Developed Countries since 2001. As Bangladesh transitions out of LDC status, the continuation of such preferences under GSP+ remains a critical topic of discussion.
The delegation comprises ambassadors from seven EU nations based in Dhaka and 20 others operating from New Delhi. Their unified presence signals the EU's commitment to fostering deeper engagement with Bangladesh.
(Source: UNB)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
