UK PM writes Hasina mentioning growing ties with Bangladesh

British Prime Minister Theresa May has written to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina acknowledging the 'strong and growing' relationship between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.

Visiting Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the Diplomatic Service at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Sir Simon McDonald handed over the letter to Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday morning.

"I've just come from a meeting with the foreign minister and had the honor of delivering a letter from my Prime Minister to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh," McDonald told reporters at state guesthouse Meghna.

Before talking to the press briefing, he signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on regular holding of the strategic dialogue with his Bangladesh counterpart Md Shahidul Haque.

Responding to a question, McDonald said they know that Bangladesh wants to have same trade privileges that it enjoys now [under Everything but Arms (EBA)] in the European market. "We know that this is an important part of negotiation. I can assure you, looking ahead, the United Kingdom wants even better relationship with Bangladesh in the future," he said indicating that there will be no negative impact following Britain's exit from the EU.

Theresa May has informed the European council that she will trigger article 50 tomorrow. "Tomorrow is the key day in the United Kingdom," said the British under secretary mentioning that they are more 'conscious' than ever of the importance of Bangladesh-UK 'historic relations' beyond Europe.