PM Hasina extends greetings to EU on Europe Day, lauds bilateral relations

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina extended greetings to the European Union and all its institutions on the occasion of Europe day.

The Prime Minister in separate messages addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Charles Michel, lauded the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the EU.

She also sought their personal support in working towards realising the shared priority of ensuring the safe, dignified and voluntary repatriation of the 1.1 million Rohingya temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh to Myanmar at an early date.

"The people of Bangladesh appreciate the European Union's role in championing our shared values of peace, democracy, rule of law, gender equality and sustainable development," said the Prime Minister.

She said the EU has been a steady partner in Bangladesh's development endeavours and humanitarian emergencies, as also manifested during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

PM Hasina said it was encouraging to see that the excellent bilateral partnership between Bangladesh and the European Union is advancing beyond the scope of traditional trade and development cooperation. 

"I believe that our time-tested relations have the potential and relevance to be elevated to the level of strategic engagements," she added. 

Hasina said she looked forward to working with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to further widen and diversify their partnership.

Moreover, in a letter to the President of the European Council Charles Michel, Prime Minister Hasina said Bangladesh's vision of a people-centric peaceful, just, healthy and sustainable world resonates with the "United in Diversity" motto of the European Union. 

"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, we recall the valued contributions of the European Union in sustaining our inclusive and equitable development trajectory," she added. 

PM Hasina said Bangladesh and the EU were committed to collaborating to solve global issues such as climate change, hunger, terrorism, and unsafe human mobility.

"Bangladesh, as the current Chair of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), underscores the importance of a leadership-level engagement between CVF and the EU in the coming months towards greater convergence of views regarding adaptation, mitigation, climate justice and climate security," she added. 

The Prime Minister wished for their personal well-being and continued progress and prosperity for the EU.