Ireland keen to support Bangladesh in democratic transition

Ireland Ambassador to Bangladesh and India Kevin Kelly has said his country will fully support Bangladesh's interim government and its reform agenda to restore democracy in the country.

Kelly, who is based in New Delhi, said Ireland is also keen to send a team to help Bangladesh in its democratic transition.

"Count our full support for you," Kelly said as he called on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his Tejgaon office yesterday.

Kelly said Ireland would like to increase trade ties with Dhaka, with major Irish brands seeking to import more goods from Bangladesh.

During the meeting, they also talked about recent political developments in the region, the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, which brought peace after centuries, and the Rohingya crisis.

The Irish ambassador said his government would continue to support more than one million Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh.

Senior Secretary and Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed was, among others, present.

The Irish ambassador also met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

They discussed trade and development cooperation, GSP+, reform initiatives of the interim government, Rohingya crisis, and visas for Bangladeshi students, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also met Information and Broadcasting Adviser Nahid Islam.

Honorary Consul of Ireland in Bangladesh Masud Khan accompanied the Irish Ambassador in the three separate meetings.

The ambassador also visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar today.