State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has urged the UK “to take Bangladesh off the red list at the soonest based on factual evidence”.
He discussed the latest international travel restrictions imposed in the wake of the renewed spike in coronavirus infections, especially from the South African variant, with his British counterpart Lord Ahmad, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
From 4am on 9 April visitors who have been in or transited through Bangladesh in the previous 10 days cannot enter the UK.
British and Irish nationals and third country nationals with residence rights in the UK arriving in England from Bangladesh will be required to quarantine in a hotel. Different rules apply for arrivals into Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to the latest travel restrictions imposed by London.
The two state ministers also discussed climate change issue as London will host the next climate conference, COP 26, in November in Glasgow.
Bangladesh is the current chair of the developing countries Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF). The British Minister lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s role in this regard.
He also took interest in hearing about Bangladesh’s priorities for COP26, including in its capacity as the representative for the climate vulnerable countries.
He underscored the importance of protecting the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, from the adverse impacts of climate change.
State Minister Alam briefed his UK counterpart about the recent visit to Bangladesh by the US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry.
He invited Lord Ahmad to visit Bangladesh during the Mujib Year, also in connection with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and the UK.
The two State Ministers exchanged views on the situation of the Rohingya in Bangladesh.
They discussed the current impasse over their voluntary repatriation to Myanmar and their partial relocation to Bhashan Char.
Lord Ahmad assured his Bangladesh counterpart of the UK’s continued support on the question of the Rohingya’s safe and dignified return to Myanmar.
The two Ministers also discussed preparations for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) expected to be held physically in June 2021 in Kigali, Rwanda.