Desk Report: Bangladesh and the United Kingdom have agreed to work more closely to strengthen their longstanding friendship, with focus on parliamentary ties, trade and investment and people to people connection.The understanding was reached on Thursday, October 29, when State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Shama Obaed Islam MP, met Lord Hussain and Imran Hussain MP, members of the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh, at the Bangladesh High Commission in London.Officials said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and gave both sides a chance to exchange views on the current state of Bangladesh-UK relations and future cooperation.During the discussion, the State Minister outlined the government’s priorities in social development, healthcare, education and energy. She said the government is committed to ensuring equal rights for all, maintaining religious harmony and pursuing inclusive and sustainable development. She also explained how parliamentary diplomacy can play a useful role in bringing the two parliaments closer and in expanding trade and investment between the two countries.The British parliamentarians welcomed Bangladesh’s democratic transition and expressed hope for a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive future for the country. They noted that the British-Bangladeshi community in the UK continues to act as a strong bridge between the two nations.The Rohingya issue was also discussed in detail. Both sides stressed the need for continued international support to find a lasting solution to the crisis and to ensure safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar. Bangladesh is currently hosting more than one million Rohingya in Cox’s Bazar.At the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest and to take the historic Bangladesh-UK friendship forward.