UK’s Indo-Pacific Minister in Dhaka for talks to strengthen ties

British Minister for Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan arrived in Dhaka on Friday (March 10) to discuss security, democracy, human rights, trade and the Rohingya crisis with top government leaders and will also sign the UK-Bangladesh Climate Accord which aims to enhance cooperation on climate action.

This is her first visit to Bangladesh, said the British High Commission in Dhaka on Friday.

During her visit, Minister Trevelyan will meet Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen as well as hold talks with civil society organisations, humanitarian actors, climate experts, and business groups.

As Bangladesh continues its development trajectory, the visit aims to celebrate the success and solidify the close links between the two countries for the years ahead, including through Bangladesh’s crucial election year.

The Minister will also sign the UK-Bangladesh Climate Accord which aims to enhance cooperation in climate action bilaterally and multilaterally, to help deliver the outcomes of COP26 and COP27.

 “I’m delighted to visit Bangladesh, a country that has strong cultural, and economic ties with the UK,” said Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan.

“The UK has been proud to stand as a close partner of Bangladesh for more than 51 years. From trade and investment to defence, climate action, and humanitarian collaboration, our relationship is rooted in our shared principles. Through my visit, I look forward to strengthening our close and valued partnership even further.”

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Robert Chatterton Dickson, said: “I’m pleased to welcome Anne-Marie Trevelyan in her role as the UK’s Minister for the Indo-Pacific to Bangladesh.

“The UK's historic partnership with Bangladesh is a unique and valued relationship. This visit reaffirms the UK’s commitment to Bangladesh and our shared ambitions for the future of our partnership. We will be working even more closely together on issues including trade and investment, climate, security, education and equality for women and girls, and the Rohingya crisis.

“I am delighted to be discussing these issues with the Honourable Prime Minister and other senior members of the Government, and to be meeting a wide range of people including in civil society and the media,” Robert said.

Minister Trevelyan will also visit Cox’s Bazar to see first-hand UK humanitarian support for Rohingya people in the camps. During her visit, she set out how the UK is supplying food for 449,000 people living in the camps this month through the World Food Programme. #

In addition, UK support will go to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for pressure cookers that can help reduce the consumption of cooking gas.

While in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, the Minister will also meet representatives of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) to hear what GCA is doing with UK support in Bangladesh.  GCA is working to help local communities take the lead in building their resilience to climate change impacts. They are also helping source more finance for climate adaptation projects. 

Notes to editors:

The new package of funding to support Rohingya refugees totals £5.26 million. £4.26 million will be distributed through the World Food Programme and £1 million will go through the UNHCR for pressure cookers.

Since 2017, the UK has now provided £350 million to support Rohingya, and Bangladeshi host communities. This has included food, shelter, water and sanitation, healthcare - and protection services that are vital for women and girls in the camps.

The new partnership agreement on climate action is not a new programme but sets out how UK and Bangladesh will share expertise and use our leadership and experience in taking forward the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact.