UK High Commissioner meets with Home Minister

Photo: Collected

​News Desk: The British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, paid a courtesy call on Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed in his office room at the ministry today.

​During the meeting, which was held in a very cordial atmosphere, various issues of mutual interest were discussed, including law and order and security between the two countries, the Rohingya issue, prevention of illegal migration, combating organized migration crime, and the upcoming Joint Working Group meeting.

​Highlighting the existing deep relationship between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, the Minister stated that the UK is a close ally and one of the key development partners of Bangladesh. He expressed hope that this existing bilateral relationship between the two countries would become even stronger in the near future.

​The High Commissioner announced that the second Bangladesh-UK Joint Working Group meeting will be held in London on July 7 and 8, 2026, where two agreements will be signed. She expressed optimism that the meeting would be highly fruitful.

​The Minister reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to the systematic repatriation of Bangladeshi citizens from the UK under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) signed in 2024, and mentioned that the proposal of the 'UK Letter' sent by the United Kingdom is being positively reviewed.

​During the meeting, the UK's cooperation was sought in preventing migration crimes, the 'Police Referral Program', and identifying as well as recovering illegally laundered money and assets. The Minister extended his sincere thanks to the UK for its humanitarian assistance during the Rohingya crisis.

​Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Monjur Moreshed Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of the Political Wing Dr. Ziauddin Ahmed, Joint Secretary of the Political-2 Branch Mohammad Abdul Kader, and Deputy Secretary of the Political-1 Branch Minara Nazmeen, among others, were present at the meeting.