UK trade envoy arrives in Bangladesh to deepen bilateral trade ties
The United Kingdom's Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, Baroness Winterton, has arrived in Dhaka for a five-day visit to strengthen trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The visit coincides with Bangladesh's preparations for national elections in February 2026 and the country's anticipated graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November 2026. The mission underscores the United Kingdom's commitment to supporting Bangladesh's economic reform agenda and promoting bilateral trade and investment for shared prosperity.
During her visit, Baroness Winterton will meet senior members of the Interim Government, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, Education Adviser Professor Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar, and Special Envoy for International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, to discuss trade, investment, and reform partnerships. She will also meet leaders of major political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizens Party.
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The Trade Envoy's itinerary includes engagements in Dhaka and Chattogram with stakeholders from the aviation, higher education, renewable energy, and defence sectors. In Chattogram, she will visit United Kingdom-linked investments that generate employment, strengthen supply chains, and drive growth.
Her visit also highlights the United Kingdom's Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which grants Bangladeshi goods full duty-free access to the UK market until 2029, supporting export competitiveness following the country's graduation from LDC status.
Baroness Winterton remarked, "The United Kingdom and Bangladesh enjoy a dynamic, growing economic partnership. I am here to champion Bangladesh's extraordinary development journey and to seek exciting new opportunities that benefit both our nations."
British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke added, "The Trade Envoy's return within six months is testament to our firm commitment to Bangladesh's flourishing economy. Our trade partnership continues to strengthen, and we are keen to develop it further for the mutual benefit of both countries."
