Shawdesh Desk:

The United Kingdom prime minister Rishi Sunak on Friday called Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina as a successful economic leader, saying, ‘You’re inspiration for us.’

‘I’m following you for many years. You’re a successful economic leader,’ Bangladesh high commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem quoted Sunak as telling the Bangladesh PM at their maiden bilateral meeting at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Bilateral Meeting Room on Friday (local time).

According to Tasneem, the UK PM said that his two daughters and wife were big fan of Sheikh Hasina as he wished his daughters to be great leader like Sheikh Hasina since he took office in October 2022.

‘You’re great inspiration for my two daughters,’ Sunak said.

The British prime minister highly lauded the leadership of Sheikh Hasina for Bangladesh’s prosperity alongside giving shelter to Rohingyas and houses to the landless and homeless Bangladesh people at government expenses and her glorious role in various international forums including climate change.

Sunak said that Bangladesh’s economic progress was remarkable referring to maintaining over six per cent economic growth during post Covid pandemic period.

He described Bangladesh PM as a ‘role model’ for development.

The two leaders discussed various issues related to mutual benefits of the two countries at their meeting lasted for 35 minutes.

‘Our relation is wonderful over 50 years,’ Sunak said and added that the UK valued relationship with Bangladesh.

At the outset of the meeting, Sheikh Hasina congratulated Rishi Sunak for becoming the prime minister of the UK.

‘You’re becoming prime minister in such a young age from the Asian heritage. I feel good by seeing such young men in leadership,’ she said.

The Bangladesh PM said that her government had already given houses to seven lakh families.

She also sought larger investment from British companies in Bangladesh.

The British PM said, ‘We have enhanced business relations between the two countries.’

He expressed his satisfaction over signing a joint communique between Dhaka and London.

Both the leaders also talked about Rohingya issue.

Sunak hailed Bangladesh PM’s humanitarian gesture for sheltering such a huge number of Rohingyas.

He said that the UK understands that Rohingyas are big burden for Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina thanked the UK for supporting Bangladesh over the Rohingya issue.

‘Rohingyas are big burden and great security threat for us,’ she said.

Sunak responded positively when Bangladesh premier invited him to Bangladesh to see the plight of Rohingyas.

Heads of the state and government from 130 countries arrived in London to attend the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey, London.

‘Of them, Sunak had meetings with only seven of them including Bangladesh prime minister which manifests Bangladesh has a wonderful relations with the UK in terms of political, diplomatic and economic,’ said the Bangladesh high commissioner while briefing newsmen after the two premiers meeting.

The envoy said Bangladesh’s bondage with the UK has reached a strategic level through economic and business relationship.

PM’s speechwriter M Nazrul Islam was present during the briefing.