Mahmood for duty, quota free facilities after Brexit

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood today hoped that Bangladesh would continue to enjoy the same or better facilities for duty free-quota free (DFQF) market access to the UK market after Brexit comes into force.

He expressed his expectation when UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Bangladesh Rushanara Ali met him at the foreign ministry.

The minister thanked the UK envoy for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Bangladesh Railway and British company DP Rail Ltd for setting up a 240-kilometre rail line between Dhaka and Payra seaport in Patuakhali's Kuakata in her presence yesterday.

Mentioning it as "the biggest ever foreign direct investment", the foreign minister observed that this would be the major breakthrough in the public-private partnership area in Bangladesh.

Referring the UK as the third largest country for Bangladeshi export, the minister requested her to exchange trade delegations between the two countries for tapping into the huge business and investment potential that Bangladesh delivers.

Minister urges UK to lift ban on cargo flights

The foreign minister called upon the UK's representative for lifting the temporary ban on direct cargo flights from Dhaka to London.

He also expected a strong pursuance from the British trade envoy to her government for lifting the temporary ban on direct cargo flights.

In March, the UK banned air cargo directly from Dhaka until further notice as Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport failed to meet some international security requirements.

During the call on, the Foreign Minister congratulated Rushanara Ali on her being appointed as the British Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Bangladesh.

Besides, bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and the UK, regional connectivity and other international and regional issues were discussed in the meeting.