British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson expressed the hope Wednesday his country's 'important' relations in the field of trade and investment with Bangladesh would continue in future.
The United Kingdom (UK) is the largest export market for Bangladeshi items and the second in terms of investment here, the envoy told newsmen after a view exchange meeting with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at the latter's ministry office.
He said: "We want to continue our partnership and friendship with Bangladesh and work together to prosper."
Echoing almost the same view Tofail Ahmed said: "We discussed different issues relating to trade and investment between the two countries. The UK wants to increase investment in trade and many other sectors."
"UK is a trusted friend of Bangladesh. Trade relation between UK and Bangladesh is excellent. Our export volume to UK is now about US$ 3.0 billion every year," he said.
Tofail said: "Presently, shipbuilding, information technology, pharmaceuticals and leather are very important sectors in the country. The government is turning attention to the sectors which will be provided necessary support like garment in future".
The government is relentlessly working to diversify its export items and explore new export markets, he said.
Meanwhile, the commerce minister heavily criticised BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman and its acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for their comments on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Awami League's contribution to the Liberation War.
Tarique Rahman said at a programme marking the Victory Day in London on Tuesday that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a 'Razakar' and claimed that the nation's founding father had accepted Yahya Khan as Pakistan president by striking a deal with him just before the proclamation of independence.
On the other hand, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said recently that killings and abductions like those of 1971 are still taking place in the country.
Replying to a query he said: "He (Tarique Rahman) is immature. I do not want to pronounce his name in my mouth. But I am totally astonished at the speech of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as he (Fakhrul Islam) is a senior politician."
The commerce minister also condemned the attack by Taliban militants on a school in Pakistan's Peshawar that has left at least 130 people, most of them children, dead.
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BD-UK trade ties to continue : Gibson
FE Report | Published: December 18, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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