PM urges UK to lift ban on cargo flights

Dhaka desk: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called upon the British government to lift an existing ban on Dhaka-London direct cargo flights as British premier's Trade Envoy for Bangladesh Rushanara Ali called on her at Gono Bhaban, reports BSS.

“In response, Rushanara Ali told the prime minister that she would discuss the issue with the UK government,” PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after her British counterpart's envoy and lawmaker made the call yesterday evening.

On March 8 last, the UK banned air cargo directly from Dhaka until further notice citing “security concerns”.

The press secretary said the premier and the UK House of Commons member also discussed matters relating to boosting economic cooperation between the two countries.

Hasina expressed satisfaction over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between a British firm and Bangladesh Railway for construction of a railway track in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Railway and British company DP Rail Ltd on Tuesday signed the MoU for setting up a 240km rail line between Dhaka and Payra seaport in Patuakhali's Kuakata.

She also sought more UK investment in different potential sectors.

While talking about election of three Bangladeshi-origin MPs in the British House of

Commons, the prime minister said: “She is proud to see three Bangladeshi daughters in UK parliament”.

Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, a granddaughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a niece of the premier, Rushnara Ali, who hails from Biswanath of Sylhet, and Dr Rupa Huq, who hails from Pabna, were elected MPs from Labour Party in the May 7, 2015 UK general elections.

British High Commissioner in Dhaka Alison Blake was present.

Meanwhile, Rushanara called on Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at the foreign ministry yesterday, reports our diplomatic correspondent.

She also met BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office and discussed bilateral issues, said Khaleda's press wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan, reports UNB.