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Health, Disaster Management, Education

British support to continue

Says UK official in Sylhet

26 April 2010, 18:00 PM

METROPOLITAN

Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

Deputy Head of the South Asia Group in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK William Middleton yesterday said the British government will continue to support Bangladesh in health, disaster management and education. He was addressing a group of Biritsh diaspora at a hotel in the city. Deputy High Commissioner to Dhaka Duncan Norman accompanied Middleton during his two-day tour to the region. Middleton said the Bangladesh-origin community in the UK had already strengthened their presence through their laudable activities in different fields. By now they are an integral part of the British society and contributing largely to the British economy and other fields. Sylhet has an additional attachment to Britain and its people for historic reasons, he said. The official said despite the challenging economic climate, Bangladesh's economy grew well last year and current estimates point to similar growth this year. The country's flourishing democracy is also a matter of interest to others, he added. Middleton said Sylhet, famous for its good resource of gas and others, including tea, is increasingly known as an engine of economic growth and investment and one of the most dynamic corners of Bangladesh, driven largely by international trade and remittances. “Sylhet's success is a reminder for us that today's globalised world has the power to transform entire communities. Sylhet is an evidence that the global economy can create jobs, generate wealth, increase government revenues and raise standards of living throughout Bangladesh,” He said. The British official further said Bangladesh has become an important partner in global commerce and a leading advocate for the interests of least developed countries. Besides, international focus is much more for Bangladesh's successful peacekeeping missions abroad, he added. The official visited Sylhet divisional Imam Training centre run by the Islamic Foundation and talked to officials there. He also met the Sylhet mayor yesterday before flying to Dhaka.