The UK’s trade envoy to Bangladesh, Baroness Rosie Winterton of Doncaster DBE, has arrived in Dhaka on a five-day official visit aimed at deepening the longstanding trade and investment relationship between the UK and Bangladesh.
This is her second trip to Bangladesh since being appointed to the post in January 2025, the British High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement today.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. The visit comes at a critical juncture as Bangladesh prepares for national elections in February 2026 and approaches its graduation from least developed country (LDC) status in November 2026.
She will reinforce the UK’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s long-term economic reform agenda and boosting bilateral trade and investment for mutual prosperity.
During her visit, Winterton will meet with senior members of the interim government, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, Education Adviser Professor CR Abrar, and Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi.
In the meetings, they will discuss the UK-Bangladesh partnership on economic reform, trade, and investment, the statement said.
She will also meet with leaders of major political parties in Bangladesh, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, and the National Citizen Party, to discuss the UK’s commitment as a long-term growth partner.
As part of her visit to Dhaka and Chattogram, Winterton will engage with stakeholders across key sectors, including aviation, higher education, renewable energy, and defence.
These visits also underscore the importance of the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) — the UK’s trade preference programme.
Under the DCTS, Bangladeshi goods will enjoy full duty-free access to the UK market until 2029, supporting Bangladesh’s export competitiveness as it transitions from LDC status.
“I look forward to seeing UK-backed investments on the ground — investments that are creating jobs, strengthening supply chains, and delivering real economic value for both Bangladesh and the UK,” Winterton said.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke said the UK-Bangladesh trade partnership is going from strength to strength, and she looks forward to cementing it even further for mutual prosperity.
