Envoys of EU countries reiterate support for interim govt

Ambassadors and diplomats of European Union countries yesterday renewed their support for Bangladesh’s interim government in its democratic transition and efforts to carry out vital reforms.

The EU countries announced the support when they joined an interactive session with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office in  Tejgaon, Dhaka.

Describing the occasion as an “exciting moment” in the month of victory, the chief adviser said the session brought European diplomats based in Dhaka and New Delhi together.

“This is a very special occasion to have you together.  The fact that you assembled shows the support to Bangladesh — political support, as well as the economic support, moral support, and other support,” Yunus said.

“This is something very rejuvenating for us, emerging out of a terrible situation that we had only four months back when students were killed in large numbers,” he added.

The chief adviser explained to the EU diplomats that students mobilised people leading to the mass uprising forcing the then-autocratic ruler to flee to neighbouring India.

“European Union is committed to supporting Bangladesh’s democratic transition the best way we can,”  Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh  Michael Miller said in his opening remarks.

“As you know, the chief adviser already enjoying rather broad relations; we do see strong potential for our partnership to grow even further,” he said.

Miller ended by reiterating that the EU, the 27-nation  group, stands ‘in one voice’ in support of the interim government and the people of Bangladesh and its reform agenda.

EU is the biggest export destination of Bangladesh goods.

“We have only one message, that is, we strongly support you,” he added.

A total of 19 diplomats, including 11 ambassadors and diplomats based in  New Delhi, attended the meeting, and at least 15 of them participated in the interactive session.

Issues dominating the talks included labour rights, human rights, the Rohingya crisis, and international migration.

Chief Adviser highlighted the strong sense of unity that exists in Bangladesh despite some propaganda and misinformation campaigns against  Bangladesh.

He also presented initiatives the interim government has so far taken to reform the banking, economy and labour sectors before the European diplomats.

The Chief Adviser requested the European countries, which have visa offices in New Delhi, to relocate them to  Dhaka or any other neighbouring countries.

He made the request against the backdrop of many Bangladeshi students facing difficulties in obtaining visas for getting enrolled to universities in European countries.

Ambassadors and diplomats from, Denmark, France,  Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Bulgaria,  Estonia, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Portugal,  Slovenia and Romania joined the meeting.  Foreign Adviser Md Touhid  Hossain was also present.