Online Desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday urged the European Union (EU) to extend its business facilities (GSP+) for six more years instead of three years for Bangladesh and other developing countries during the post-graduation period to sustain their advancement from LDCs.

The prime minister asked for the extension as Bangladesh like other least developed countries (LDCs) have now been under pressure economically due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine war, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told a press briefing.

Momen spoke about the outcomes of the prime minister’s engagement in Brussels, including bilateral talks with the leaders of the European Commission (EC) and European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Parliament.

The prime minister addressed the opening plenary session of the Global Gateway Forum 2023. She arrived in Brussels in Belgium on October 24 evening.

She held bilateral talks with EC President Ursula von der Leyen, European Trade Commissioner and Executive Vice President of EC Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Crisis Management of the EC Janez Lenarcic, Vice-President of the European Parliament Nicola Beer, EIB President Dr Werner Hoyer and European Commissioner for International Partnerships of the EC Jutta Urpilainen.

Momen said the Bangladesh prime minister sought larger investments from the EU countries in Bangladesh.

Besides, several issues including Rohingya and climate change came up for discussion in the meetings with the EU leaders, he said, adding Janez Lenarcic assured Bangladesh of giving additional EUR 10.5 million for the Rohingya who took shelter in Bangladesh.

But no issue regarding the upcoming national election and the human rights of Bangladesh came up for discussion, said Momen.

The foreign minister said the premier and the EU leaders vowed to elevate the 50 years bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the EU to the next level. To this end, the PM gave consent to negotiate for signing a partnership agreement with the EU, he said.

He said the PM has drawn applauses from all participants during her speech in the opening plenary session of the Global Gateway Forum.

The participants of the event appreciated with loud claps especially when she appealed to stop the wars and arms race, said Momen

In this context, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud attending the briefing said, “The focus of the plenary session was Sheikh Hasina.”

Replying to a question, Hasan said the invitation for the prime minister to join such a world forum just two months ahead of the upcoming general election has carried significance that the world and the EU leaders are beside her.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Sharifa Khan were also present at the briefing.