Dhaka: UK Foreign Secretary for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, is arriving in Dhaka on a two-day visit on Saturday (November 16). This will be the first visit by a British official after the formation of the interim government.
Sources said that the British Under-Secretary will arrive in Dhaka next week. However, the relevant parties did not give any message about the agenda of her visit.
However, during Catherine's stay in Dhaka, the Indian Ocean Strategy will be of importance in several meetings. In addition, the democratic transition of Bangladesh, politics, economy, fundamental human rights and basic issues of bilateral relations and contemporary global and regional issues will also be discussed.
Catherine West will pay a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In addition, she will meet with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain. She may also exchange views with civil society and the media.
Catherine West is the UK's Foreign Office's foreign affairs State-minister, overseeing the UK's interests in China, North-East Asia, South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. She also oversees the economic security of the Indian Ocean region; particularly export controls, economic diplomacy, and the diffusion and application of technology.
It is worth noting that this is the first visit to Bangladesh by a senior leader of the UK government since the interim government took office on August 8.