The Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Bangladesh has called for action to promote educational links between Scotland and Bangladesh.

The CPG met last week and received updates from Convener Foysol Choudhury MSP and Deputy Convener Miles Briggs MSP, Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the UK, Peter Brown, Director of British Council Scotland, Dr Ibrahim Rashid, PhD Fellow from Stirling University and members of the Scottish Bangladeshi diaspora. 

The High Commissioner was also joined by Mohammad Hazrat Ali Khan, Deputy High Commissioner, Tanvir Mohammad Azim, Commercial Counsellor, Wing Commander Md Saifur Rahman, Assistant Defence Adviser and Moumita Zeenat, Counsellor (Political).

The CPG meeting focused on education and followed on from a CPG visit to Dhaka last November 2023, where the CPG met with H.E. Sheikh Hasina and the Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen to discuss the importance of generating shared links between education institutions in Bangladesh and Scotland.

MSP Foysol Choudhury and MSP Mikes Briggs updated the CPG on Wednesday night on how they have already met with Scottish Universities to start the conversation and discuss how to move forward with opportunities for education and research collaboration, specifically around agriculture, climate change and fishing. 

MSP Foysol Choudhury noted: “The CPG is all about building the relationship between Scotland and Bangladesh in areas of shared importance.

There is a definite need to bridge a gap and reinforce educational collaboration with Scottish and Bangladeshi universities, such as via creating Scottish University campuses in Dhaka and beyond.

We have already written to H.E. Sheikh Hasina, had discussions with High Commissioner, Saida Muna Tasneem, contacted Universities Scotland’s Connected Scotland Partnership and the British Council.”

He added: “It was fantastic to hear the update from the High Commissioner and British Council at the CPG meeting this week to hear their commitment to building educational links and opportunities between Scotland and Bangladesh-as well as from some students to learn why educational collaboration is so beneficial!

We look forward to continuing this collaboration between Scotland and Bangladesh on education and other areas such as climate change, and seeing our global partnership go from strength to strength.”

The CPG also got an update on many more areas of development between Scotland and Bangladesh, including cultural endeavours via the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The Scottish Parliament CPG on Bangladesh says it will continue to build these links and shared endeavours between Scotland and Bangladesh, exploring matters on the world stage and also for the domestic Bangladeshi diaspora in Scotland.

Saida Muna Tasneem, The high commissioner of Bangladesh to the Republic of United Kingdom said: “Before I embark on Bangladesh- Scotland relations  under the broader context of Bangladesh-UK relations, I pay my profound tribute to Bangladesh’s founding  father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman whose  historie 8 January 1972 visit to the UK and special  friendships with Conservative Prime Minister Sir  Edward Heath and two-times Labour Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson laid the foundation of today’s vibrant  Bangladesh-UK relations founded on our commons  values of democracy, secularism, inclusive and  progressive aspirations. 

I thank Mr. Foysol Choudhury MSP for moving a motion at the Scottish parliament in 2022 on the National Mourning Day of Bangladesh on the brutal assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. “

She added: “Friends at the Scottish parliament, You may all be aware that following our last meeting in  December 2023, in the 07 January 2024 Bangladesh national elections, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s party Bangladesh Awami League won with an overwhelming  majority through which the people of Bangladesh gave HPM Hasina the mandate to continue her globally  acclaimed  leadership to sustain  Bangladesh’s extraordinary growth and prosperity trajectories and  our leadership in climate resilience, disaster management, Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 with innovation at its centre and socio-economic progress of  the Bengali nations.  

I want to express my gratitude to CPG specially Foysol Choudhury MSP, Miles Briggs MSP and Evelyn Tweed MSP for the congratulatory letter to Hon’ble Prime Minister after securing her fifth term.”

She concluded: “I also want to  place on record our deep gratitude to PM Rishi Sunak for his very warm congratulatory letter to HPM Sheikh  Hasina as she embarked on her historic fifth term if I may quote from his congratulatory message In her new term, HPM Sheikh Hasina looks forward to working closely with the UK government regardless of who forms the government after 4th July as well as with  the Scottish government under the leadership of First Minister John Swinney MSP also take Bangladesh-UK  and BD-Scotland relations to greater heights.”