Bangladesh is important to the United Kingdom because of Sylhet.
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Alison Blake said this while exchanging Ramadan greetings with locals at a hotel in Sylhet followed by an Iftar arranged in honour of prominent personalities on Tuesday.
"Sylheti contribution to the UK, and the British contribution to Bangladesh are unique - no other friend to Bangladesh enjoys such a privileged position. There's nowhere in Bangladesh where the ties with the UK are stronger than here in Sylhet and among this community," she said.
As people from Sylhet contribute to the British economy, the UK also has a unique contribution to the economy of Bangladesh, she said. "Bangladesh's relations with the United Kingdom are much better these days due to Sylhet," she added.
While greeting everyone on the occasion of Ramadan, Blake said an iftar mahfil gives an opportunity to families and society to sit together.
Blake said she was especially privileged to be able to share iftar in this holy month of Ramadan with many of their friends and colleagues.
The British High Commissioner announced that the own building of the British Council in the city will be opened soon.
Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury, former Mayor and Metropolitan Awami League President Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran and Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet were, among others, present at the programme.
During her visit, Alison Blake also met senior government officials, members of parliament, SCC mayor and business leaders, Sylhet Divisional Commissioner and the DIG, Sylhet Range, said a press release on Wednesday.
She visited the new British Council Sylhet Office, the VFS UK Visa Application Centre.
Alison Blake has been the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh since January 2016, and this was her third visit to Sylhet.