Dhaka: British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West, will embark on a visit to Bangladesh from November 16-17. The visit aims to bolster the economic, strategic, and migration partnerships between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, as confirmed by Toufique Hasan, Director General of the Foreign Ministry’s Public Diplomacy Wing, during a weekly briefing.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the British under-secretary is slated to engage in courtesy meetings with the Chief Adviser and the Foreign Affairs Adviser of Bangladesh during her visit. This marks her inaugural visit to Bangladesh since assuming her role in July as the state minister for Indo-Pacific Affairs at the British Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
Catherine West, who was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on July 9, 2024, oversees Britain’s interests in regions including China, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. Her resp
onsibilities also extend to economic security in the Indian Ocean region, focusing on export controls, economic diplomacy, and technology expansion and usage.
West has served as the Labour MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet since 2015, bringing her extensive experience to her current role in shaping the UK’s foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region.