The European Union expressed concern over the Digital Security Act during a diplomatic consultation with Bangladesh while the latter requested a raise in apparel prices, as some major issues dominated the dialogue.
Officials concerned Wednesday revealed outcome of the fourth Bangladesh-EU Diplomatic Consulta-tions held Tuesday in Brussels-at an important juncture of time when the world is reopening with many matters unsettled by the coronavirus pandemic.
During the meet, the European bloc also raised issues related to human rights, labour rights, Rohingya refugee situation, trade cooperation, migration and and post-covid recovery.
A joint press statement issued Wednesday on the talks says democracy and human rights are shared values between Bangladesh and the EU.
"The EU raised the issue of the Digital Security Act (DSA), expressing concerns that some of its provisions risk going beyond the stated purpose of fighting digital crime and also inquired about certain ongoing trials in this context."
At the meeting the European Union encouraged Bangladesh to implement the recommendations made during the last Universal Periodic Review.
The Bangladesh side provided updates and shared its perspectives in this regard.
Both sides welcomed that the EU-Bangladesh relations have deepened over more than four decades and thus aimed at broadening the engagement beyond the current priority areas of trade, migration, human rights, Rohingya humanitarian crisis and development cooperation, the statement says.
The EU delegation was led by European External Action Service Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Gunnar Wiegand and the Bangladesh delegation headed by Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Ambassador Masud Bin Momen.
The two sides agreed to step up cooperation on climate action, digitisation, connectivity and security, taking into account the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific realm.
In this regard, both sides discussed initiating a regular political dialogue for providing strategic guidance and intensifying foreign and security-policy cooperation.
Covid response and post-Covid recovery were also discussed.
Team Europe mobilized EUR 334m for Covid-19 response and recovery in Bangladesh aiming notably at safeguarding the livelihoods of workers in export-oriented industries.
Bangladesh appreciated EU support for direct Covid response in the form of medical and personal protective equipment, and the supply of vaccines through the global COVAX facility.
The EU commended Bangladesh's leadership of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and of the V20 Climate Vulnerables Finance Summit.
The EU invited Bangladesh to consider a Green Partnership with the EU, which both sides will discuss in detail at the climate dialogue in Dhaka in early 2022.
Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen democratic governance in post-COVID recovery and condemned communal or sectarian violence and discrimination in any form or manifestation, anywhere, the statement added.
"The EU commended Bangladesh for its continuing success as the by-far largest beneficiary of the EU's Everything But Arms (EBA) unilateral preferential trade scheme."
In this context, the EU welcomed the finalisation and publication by Bangladesh of its National Action Plan on the Labour Sector and stressed the need for its comprehensive implementation as per the stipulated timelines.
Bangladesh reiterated the need for ensuring fair prices, especially in view of the investments being made in safer and greener factories.
"The EU reiterated its appreciation for the generous role and action of the people and Government of Bangladesh for continuing to temporarily host a million forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar for more than four years," the joint communiqué says.
Both sides stressed the need for voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas to Myanmar and welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Bangladesh and the UNHCR relating to Bhasan Char.
The EU raised the importance of providing perspectives to the largely young population of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas, especially in terms of education, improved livelihoods and of ensuring safety and security.
"In the context of the ongoing implementation of the mechanism under Article 25a of the Visa Code, the EU welcomed the progress that Bangladesh has demonstrated in implementing the Standard Operating Procedures for the Identification and Return of Persons without an Authorization to Stay."
The EU urged Bangladesh to continue its commitment and demonstrate further concrete results, including on clearing the backlog of cases, and meeting the commitments set out in the Standard Operating Procedures.
Bangladesh proposed that the EU look at opportunities to widen legal pathways for migration by creating employment for skilled and semi-skilled workforce from Bangladesh.
The EU presented its new strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Both sides discussed the political and security situation in the region, including in Myanmar and Afghanistan, maritime security, as well as counterterrorism and cooperation within the UN fora, said the statement.
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