Dhaka: The European Union (EU) has expressed its willingness to assist Bangladesh by providing logistic support and expert manpower to expedite the recovery of money laundered from the country. This development was revealed during a recent meeting between EU Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh Michael Miller and Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, where several key issues were discussed. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussions also touched on mutual cooperation, the implementation of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention, and strategies to retrieve laundered funds. Sheikh Bashir Uddin affirmed Bangladesh's commitment to the ILO Convention, outlining the nation's clear roadmap for its implementation. He highlighted the country's demographic advantage, emphasizing the goal of transforming its large young population into a skilled workforce to drive economic progress. The Commerce Adviser also noted ongoing efforts by the government to stabilize the supply chain of essential goods, mentioning that prices of several items have already decreased. He added that the government has reduced duties on many products to further alleviate costs for consumers. Michael Miller highlighted the potential benefits of a free trade agreement between the EU and Bangladesh, which he believes could significantly boost trade and commerce. He also expressed optimism about the prospects for increased foreign direct investment from Europe, conditional on improvements in the investment climate. The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary (Export) of the Ministry of Commerce Md Abdur Rahim Khan, who was present to witness the discussions.
