Outgoing Head of the European Union delegation in Dhaka Charles Whiteley has said that Bangladesh and the EU relationship is maturing and that he will be following the country’s development from Brussels.
“Aside from my personal attachment to the country, which is very strong, I've really been happy to see the growth in our collaboration. It's maturing as a relationship,” he told reporters after his farewell call on Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.
The ambassador will leave Bangladesh this month, ending his three-year tenure.
With the foreign minister, he said he had discussed what “we really need to have a larger focus on graduation that's coming from LDC status.”
“We're looking ahead at that five years’ time when our transition period will end. So we're all focusing on that. We all want a smooth transition,” he said, as a graduated Bangladesh would require a new deal to have duty free market access to the EU countries.
“So I've been happy in the last three years that we've built together as EU Bangladesh a strong foundation for that transition, whether that's progress on the National Action Plan, on the labour sector, or the work that's being done extensively in Bangladesh on environmental compliance.
“But, you know, relationships matter and this relationship really matters a lot, and that's reflected in the decision to negotiate a new partnership agreement,” he said, adding that he had talked about that with the foreign minister.
“I'll be following with a very close eye still from Brussels, because I'm extremely interested in how all this evolves. And I'll be covering Indo Pacific affairs. Of course, Bangladesh is a key country in that context,” he said.
“What I want to see also in the coming years is much more of an understanding of the strategic position and role of Bangladesh in foreign policy, where we can meet with Bangladesh and discuss foreign policy issues as well, including in the context of the Indo Pacific.”
He said he would leave a message to his successor about “keep building EU Bangladesh relations, and invest in those relations”.
“And I know that he's coming with great enthusiasm, so I think he'll be a good friend of Bangladesh,” he said.
Asked about the diplomatic challenges of Bangladesh ahead given the Russia, Ukraine war and the crisis in Myanmar, “every day is a challenge for every country”.
“I think in the region, Bangladesh as a stable country has to deal with many issues, including the Rohingya, 1.2/1.3 million Rohingya. Of course, on the other side of the border (in Myanmar), a very uncertain situation, a very volatile situation. We are having to grapple with the Russian aggression in Ukraine, and that's no sign of that ending.”
“And we have to deal with our own security in the European neighborhood. So we will have new leadership in Europe, as you know, including a new high representative. But we look to friends like Bangladesh to work on those issues with us as far as possible. And that's certainly been the case in my tenure, that we have been able to work on some key foreign policy issues.”
Asked about his experiences in Bangladesh, he said, “I don't have any bitter experiences.”
“I'll be very sad to leave Bangladesh. I've had so many great experiences traveling around Bangladesh.”
