# UK Commits to Bolstering Democracy in Bangladesh with Enhanced Support

*The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh's democratic institutions.*

July 7, 2026 · Politics

## At a glance

- UK pledges continued support to strengthen democracy in Bangladesh.
- British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke met with Minister Fakhrul to discuss key issues.
- Upcoming local government polls to begin by December.
- Call for increased British investment in Bangladesh.
- UNOPS delegation met with Minister Fakhrul to discuss sustainable development initiatives.

The United Kingdom has pledged to continue providing all necessary support to further strengthen democracy in Bangladesh. This commitment was reiterated as British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke met with LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at the Secretariat. The meeting covered a range of topics including local government elections, education, investment, climate change, migration, women's empowerment, and local governance.

## Discussions on Key Issues

During the meeting, Minister Fakhrul discussed the upcoming local government polls, which are set to begin with Union Parishad elections in phases by December. He emphasized Bangladesh's regard for the United Kingdom as a close friend and democratic nation, and highlighted his party's commitment to multi-party democracy and democratic values.

## British High Commissioner's Remarks

British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke praised Bangladesh's recent progress in democracy, women's empowerment, and the education sector. She expressed the UK's keenness to provide necessary assistance to help strengthen Bangladesh's democratic institutions and hoped for further expansion of the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries.

## Call for Increased Investment

Minister Fakhrul called upon British investors to increase their investments in Bangladesh to support the country's economic development. Cooke also mentioned initiatives to expand higher education opportunities in the United Kingdom for Bangladeshi students.

## UNOPS Delegation Meeting

In a separate meeting, a delegation led by Sudhir Muralidharan, Country Manager for Bangladesh and Bhutan at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), met with Minister Fakhrul. The discussions focused on infrastructure development, project implementation, waste management, and improvements to drainage systems. The UNOPS delegation expressed its hope to continue supporting Bangladesh's sustainable development initiatives in the future.

## Sources

- BSS

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Source: https://pulsetoday.com.bd/en/politics/uk-pledges-support-strengthen-democracy-bangladesh