Bangladesh raises concern over UK’s travel ‘red list’

The Daily Star

Unb, Dhaka
April 22, 2021

Representational image from AFP

The Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem has briefed UK's all-party parliamentary group (APPG) about the inconvenience caused by UK's travel ban that has put Bangladesh among those nations on its "red list".

She said the decision will seriously hurt bilateral trade in the apparel, food and beverage sectors and also emergency medical treatment.

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On April 2, the UK said it would put Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan and the Philippines on its travel "red list," banning entry to people arriving from those countries unless they are Britons or Irish.

The high commissioner, during a recent virtual meeting with the APPG on Bangladesh, raised two issues, including the UK's "red list," and the protracted Rohingya crisis.

Praising the British government's role on the Rohingya issue, especially as the pen-holder at the UN Security Council, Muna called upon the APPG to keep the issue of the sustainable and dignified return of the Rohingyas back to Myanmar high on its agenda at the British Parliament.

"The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina looks forward to further intensifying Bangladesh's bilateral trade, investment, climate and digital innovation partnership with a post-Brexit 'Global Britain'," Muna said.

The virtual meeting was held to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.

Chaired by Rushanara Ali MP, chairman of the APPG on Bangladesh and UK's trade envoy to Bangladesh, the meeting was also attended by the vice-chairs of the parliamentary group, including Bob Blackman MP, Rupa Huq MP, Afzal Khan MP, Khalid Mahmood MP, Tony Llyod MP, and Geraint Davies MP.

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