Bangladesh assures UK of ‘practical steps’ to take back illegal citizens

Bangladesh has given assurance to the UK that it will take “practical steps” to expedite the return of the illegal citizens.

“The UK welcomed Bangladesh’s commitment to take back its citizens who no longer have the right to remain in the UK,” said a joint press statement issued after the first strategic dialogue between the countries on Tuesday in Dhaka.

It is not clear how many illegal Bangladeshis are living in the UK, but the issue came to the fore in recent years after the worst-ever migration crisis in the European Countries.

Both sides valued the “deep historical ties”, and the UK highlighted the “valuable contribution” made by the large British-Bangladeshi community to British society and the economy.

Both countries noted the election of three members of the community to the British Parliament and the appointment of one member as the UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Bangladesh.

Both Bangladesh and the UK agreed to strengthen bilateral trade and to work together to encourage more foreign direct investment at the dialogue.

Permanent under-secretary for foreign affairs Simon McDonald led the UK side while Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh side at the dialogue.

Both sides also signed a MoU to continue the annual dialogue in which a whole range of bilateral issues is being discussed. Next year the dialogue will take place in London.