Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the interim government, is scheduled to meet ambassadors from the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) today, December 9. The meeting will be held at noon in Dhaka, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and the EU. This was confirmed by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam during a weekly briefing on Thursday, December 5.

The meeting will include 28 participants in total, comprising ambassadors from all EU member countries, including 20 non-resident ambassadors, along with the EU Ambassador to Bangladesh. This is the first instance of ambassadors from all EU member states collectively engaging in a dialogue with the head of government in Bangladesh.

The discussions aim to further enhance Bangladesh-EU relations, reflecting mutual interests and commitments. Topics expected to be addressed include a comprehensive review of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and EU member states, exploration of new areas of cooperation, and opportunities stemming from Bangladesh’s graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. The continuation of the GSP+ trade benefits post-LDC graduation, tackling existential threats posed by climate change, the swift repatriation of Rohingya refugees, and building a sustainable future will also be central to the discussions.

Spokesperson Rafiqul Alam expressed optimism about the outcomes of this meeting, emphasizing the significance of collective EU engagement in strengthening ties with Bangladesh. The dialogue is anticipated to open up new avenues of cooperation and reaffirm commitments to mutual priorities.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has also been addressing challenges faced by Bangladeshi students seeking visas for Bulgaria and Romania due to the limited availability of Indian visa services in Bangladesh. In response to the complications, the ministry requested Bulgarian and Romanian authorities to process visas for Bangladeshi students through their embassies in third countries. Following the request, Bulgaria has agreed to issue visas for 86 Bangladeshi students through its embassies in Vietnam and Indonesia. Similarly, Romanian visas are being processed for Bangladeshi students through their embassies in Vietnam and Thailand.

These developments underline Bangladesh's ongoing diplomatic efforts to address critical issues and expand its global partnerships.