As Bangladesh sought support for bringing back billions of dollars laundered abroad during the past regime, visiting UK under- secretary for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West extended her government's full backing for repatriation of the stolen money.
West made the commitment when she called on Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh Prof Muhammad Yunus at the State Guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka on Sunday, when then two sides discussed an array of bilateral, regional and geopolitical issues.
Earlier, she met with Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry discussing major matters of common concern.
"It is important to let you know that you've got our support," Catherine West told the Chief Adviser.
Thanking her for the overtures, Yunus said the return of money laundered by corrupt politicians, oligarchs and bureaucrats is a top priority of the interim government.
He cited a recent Transparency International Bangladesh report that annually more than US$12 billion was siphoned off abroad.
During the meeting, Prof Yunus described his government's reform initiatives to mend the country's key institutions and the election commission.
He said the reforms are aimed at ensuring free and fair elections in the country to break away from the rampant vote rigging practiced by the previous regime.
Extending support to the reforms, the British government functionary said Britain would like to see vibrant debates on the key aspects of electoral, judicial and constitutional reforms.
"Debates are very important," she said.
The minister announced £10.3 million of UK grants for essential services and assistance to the Rohingya and the host communities and those affected by natural disasters in Bangladesh.
Prof Yunus reiterated his call for a "UN-overseen safe zone" for communities in Myanmar's violence-plagued Rakhine so that they don't have to flee across the border into Bangladesh and charities and aid groups can take food and assistance to the doorsteps of the displaced people.
During the meeting, they also discussed geopolitical issues, minority rights, ties with South Asian neighbours, and Bangladesh's recent 40- megawatt energy deal with Nepal.
Yunus said his government had fully backed the creation of a South Asia electricity grid to bring power from hydroelectricity-rich Nepal and Bhutan.
He said Bangladesh can ease off its reliance on fossil fuels if it can import renewable energy from the two Himalayan countries. And Bangladesh needs collaboration with India to this end.
During the meeting, Sarah Cook, the British High Commissioner in Dhaka, said a UK medical team arrived in the country this month to treat students and other demonstrators who were critically injured during the July-August mass uprising. They are conducting three surgeries a day.
Meanwhile, in his meeting with Catherine West, the foreign affairs adviser raised concerns over the illicit flow of Bangladesh's stolen wealth abroad, urging greater efforts to address the issue of asset recovery.
He called for stronger cooperation with the UK to trace and return these assets to Bangladesh, a matter that remains high on government's agenda.
Ms Catherine West assured the adviser of all possible cooperation in this regard.
The meeting featured discussion on major bilateral issues, ranging from the priorities of British and Bangladesh governments.
With regard to the Point-based Immigration System, the Foreign Adviser called for the arrangement of mutual recognition of qualifications.
Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain thanked the UK government for its continued support to Bangladesh's interim government, acknowledging the UK's role in ensuring political stability and democratic progress.
He emphasised that the interim Government of Bangladesh is a reflection of the aspirations of the people, particularly the nation's youth, and sought support from the UK for the reform initiatives.
Adviser Hossain sought the international community's support for the Rohingya and said the only solution to this crisis lies in their safe and sustainable return to their homeland in Myanmar.
Under-Secretary Catherine West reaffirmed UK's strong position on resolving the Rohingya crisis and stressed continued humanitarian assistance to them.
The British minister also reaffirmed the UK's commitment to strengthening ties with Bangladesh and underscored her government's priorities on different areas, including migration, maritime cooperation and cybersecurity.
Both sides committed to carrying forward the robust cooperation and further strengthening the bilateral relationship.
The British under-secretary, Catherine West, is in Dhaka for a two-day official visit.
Later, talking to reporters at the foreign ministry, the British minister stressed national reconciliation after the political upheavals.
Asked whether this reconciliation should include those in the previous regime, she said, "Of course, and we expect Professor Yunus to 'lay out his vision for how all that will unfold'."
She said the UK would support the government in moving forward into the next phase.
"We want to support the government, because it is in this period of transition. We want to support the interim government from the work that it's doing," she added.
"We know that the interim government in Bangladesh has committed to restoring peace and order, ensuring accountability and promoting national reconciliation, and it has the full support of the UK Government in these objectives."
She mentions that there are very strong people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and the UK. During his meeting with the Foreign Affairs Adviser, she welcomed the interim government's determination to build a better democratic future for the people of Bangladesh.
"And as we have a very strong, steadfast friendship with the people of Bangladesh, we want to build the strong partnerships and build on that important building block of strong ties, and also with moving towards that democratic future, from economics, economics and trade to security, migration and climate change, there's so much that we do together that we must continue to work on."
Catherine West conveyed warm greetings of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
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