Diplomatic Desk:
Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, has expressed hope for creating new avenues of cooperation by further expanding the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.
He expressed this expectation on Thursday (September 10, 2026) during a courtesy meeting with the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Sarah Cooke, at his office in the Secretariat. State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam was also present at the meeting.
Discussions during the meeting covered various issues of mutual interest, including strengthening economic ties between Bangladesh and the UK, addressing climate change, enhancing people-to-people contact, strengthening the local government system, and cooperation in higher education and training.
Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan stated that the government is working to further strengthen democracy. Highlighting various aspects of Bangladesh’s local government system, he noted that equal importance is being given to rural development alongside urban development.
He remarked that it is possible to create new areas of cooperation with the UK, particularly for the development of the rural economy. Expanding mutual cooperation between the two nations could inject new momentum into Bangladesh’s development activities.
British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries and emphasized the importance of further strengthening people-to-people ties. She expressed interest in expanding the UK’s ongoing cooperation in urban development.
Sarah Cooke also underscored the significance of “bottom-up governance” in development planning and decision-making at the local level.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam said the government seeks to further enhance cooperation with the UK. Discussions during the meeting included topics such as job creation, the agricultural sector, and economic ties, as well as waste management.
He mentioned that Bangladesh’s fiscal year has been adjusted to align with that of the UK, a move expected to accelerate development activities.
Senior officials of the ministry, including Md. Shahidul Hasan, Secretary of the Local Government Division, were present at the meeting.
