Bangladesh Ambassador to Spain Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood requested Spain to persuade other development partners in the EU to extend the GSP+ trade preferences to Bangladesh beyond 2029.

He made the call in a meeting with the newly appointed Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation (State Minister) Eva Maria Granados Galiano at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in Madrid on Thursday, according to a press release issued on Friday. 

The Ambassador thanked the Government of Spain for the warm congratulatory message from President Pedro Sánchez addressed to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her landslide victory in the elections to the 12th National Parliament of Bangladesh. 

Both Spain and Bangladesh have newly re-elected governments in office, the two sides expressed the conviction that the cordial bilateral relations would be further strengthened and widened in the days to come. 

The Ambassador briefed Secretary Galiano about the spectacular development of Bangladesh led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He also requested the Secretary's offices to facilitate the early signing of several bilateral instruments under process. He particularly called for Spain's proactive support to Bangladesh's stance on the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals (Rohingya people), the release added. 

Secretary Galiano assured him of Spain's continued support to Bangladesh on the issue and informed him that last year Spain, under the EU's assistance framework, provided 0.8 million euros for the education of the Rohingya children. She expressed Spain's keen interest in facilitating and promoting the learning of the Spanish language in Bangladesh. 

The Ambassador called for closer engagement between Bangladesh and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).