Bangladesh High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem presents credentials to Queen Elizabeth II

Bangladesh's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Saida Muna Tasneem has presented her credentials to Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with the High Commissioner for Bangladesh Saida Muna Tasneem during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain May 1, 2019. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS Britain's Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with the High Commissioner for Bangladesh Saida Muna Tasneem during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain May 1, 2019. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS

Permanent Under Secretary and Head of the British Diplomatic Service Sir Simon McDonald, assistant marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, and a senior official of the Royal Protocol welcomed her at the Grand Entrance of the Buckingham Palace during the ceremony on Wednesday.

Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Alistair Harrison introduced the high commissioner and her spouse Tauhidul I Chaudhury to the Queen.

The high commissioner then formally presented the Letters of her Credence and the Letter of Recall of her predecessor to the Queen.

She conveyed the warm greetings of President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Queen and wished her good health and long life and prosperity of the people of the UK.

Saida Muna requested the queen to include two forests of Bangladesh including one in Sylhet in the "Queen's Commonwealth Canopy", an initiative begun in 2015 as a network of forest conservation programmes throughout the Commonwealth of Nations.

The high commissioner gave her a brief account of developments in different sectors including education, healthcare, and women empowerment in Bangladesh in recent years under the leadership of Hasina.

The queen welcomed the high commissioner to the UK and praised Bangladesh’s socio-economic development especially the women empowerment.

Assistant Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Abigail Boyle in two royal carriages escorted the high commissioner and her entourage during their return from the Palace to a post-credential reception at the St James’ Court.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, a good number of Lords, Baronesses, MPs, MEPs, heads of diplomatic missions, high officials of the Palace and Foreign Office, Home Office, DFID, Department of Transport, Secretary General of the Commonwealth and Secretary General the IMO, academics, professionals, journalists, eminent community members, social and business leaders attended the reception of over 350 guests.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with the High Commissioner for Bangladesh Saida Muna Tasneem during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain May 1, 2019. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS

Saida Muna joined the London mission on Nov 30 last year as the 20th and the first woman high commissioner to the UK, Ireland and Liberia.

She has also been appointed as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the IMO.