Dhaka, Dec 09 (V7N) – Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is currently holding a meeting with diplomats from all 27 European Union (EU) member states, including representatives based in Dhaka and New Delhi.

The delegation, led by Michael Miller, EU Ambassador to Bangladesh and head of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, convened at the Chief Adviser’s Office at noon. The meeting is expected to last approximately an hour.

During the discussions, the chief adviser is anticipated to advocate for increased EU investment to address Bangladesh's ongoing challenges.

Earlier, on December 5, Rafiqul Alam, director general of the Public Diplomacy Wing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the significance of this dialogue during a weekly briefing. He stated that the meeting aims to strengthen trade and economic ties as Bangladesh moves beyond its least developed country (LDC) status.

“This will be an important opportunity to address issues such as enhanced economic cooperation, the Rohingya crisis, post-LDC Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) benefits, and the potential for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Bangladesh,” Alam remarked.

Since 2001, the EU has maintained a robust trade relationship with Bangladesh through the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative, offering duty-free and quota-free market access to LDCs.

This joint meeting marks the first instance of ambassadors from all 27 EU nations engaging with the Bangladeshi government collectively, signaling the EU’s strong commitment to expanding relations.

While ambassadors of seven EU states are stationed in Dhaka, the remaining 20 operate from New Delhi. The meeting underscores a unified EU effort to enhance cooperation across strategic sectors with Bangladesh.

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