He expressed this expectation during a courtesy meeting with British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke at his office at the Secretariat on Thursday. State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam was present at the time.

During the meeting, various issues were discussed, including increasing economic relations between the two countries, tackling climate change, strengthening people-to-people ties, strengthening the local government system, and higher education and training.

The minister said the government is giving equal importance to urban and rural development alongside strengthening democracy. In particular, it is possible to create new areas of cooperation with the United Kingdom for the development of the rural economy.

British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke emphasized further strengthening the long-standing relations between the two countries. While expressing interest in expanding UK cooperation in urban development, she highlighted the importance of development planning and decision-making from the local level.

After the meeting, State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said that the two countries also discussed employment generation, agriculture and increasing economic relations, as well as waste management. The government wants to further increase cooperation with the United Kingdom.

Secretary of the Local Government Division Md. Shahidul Hasan and senior officials of the ministry were present at the meeting.