President calls for stronger Bangladesh-UK investment, parliamentary ties

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on visiting British lawmakers to help strengthen parliamentary cooperation between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom and encourage greater UK investment in Bangladesh.
He made the call when a delegation of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban on Thursday.
The delegation was led by APPG Chair Apsana Begum MP and included Shockat Adam MP and Lord Qurban Hussain, a member of the House of Lords.
Welcoming the delegation, the President said the people of Bangladesh would remember the contribution made by members of the APPG during the country’s democratic movement.
Describing the UK as an important economic and development partner and a major export market for Bangladesh, he said Dhaka attaches great importance to its longstanding relationship with London.
The President praised the UK’s democratic and governance traditions and called for stronger cooperation between the two parliaments through reciprocal visits, exchanges between parliamentary committees and training programmes for officials.
He also expressed hope that a Bangladesh-UK Parliamentary Friendship Group would be formed in the Jatiya Sangsad.
At the beginning of the meeting, Apsana Begum congratulated Mirza Fakhrul on his election as President.
The delegation also congratulated Bangladesh on holding what it described as a free and fair national election in 2026.
The President said the 2026 parliamentary election had been accepted both at home and abroad.
He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to strengthen Bangladesh’s institutions.
The President’s military secretary, secretary and press secretary were also present at the meeting.