Dhaka: European Union (EU) Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon on Thursday hoped that the shared objective of having a ‘safer’ place for all will be achieved though it will take some time.  

‘This (safer place) is a shared objective and by mobilising all our resources, we’ll certainly reach it. But it’ll take some time,’ he said while describing his current security perception in Bangladesh.

The Ambassador acknowledged that efforts being made by police, law enforcement agencies and others to that end and mentioned that they had a very lively debate on Wednesday titled ‘Life and Business as Usual’ in the city.

Mayaudon was responding to queries at the 14th country lecture series titled ‘Bangladesh-EU Relations: A Multifaceted Partnership’ hosted by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at its conference room.  

Responding to a question on the impact of Brexit on Bangladesh, he said, ‘For Bangladesh, of course today, there’s no consequence, and it’s business as usual but obviously it’s not for a long time.’

The day the UK will quit the EU single market, Bangladesh will loose automatically the trade benefit under the Everything but Arms (EBA) regime, and Bangladesh and the UK will renegotiate trade issues ensuring zero impact on Bangladesh.

Talking about transformation in Bangladesh’s readymade garment industry through ‘sustainability compact’ the EU envoy said it is kind of preparation so that Bangladesh can face the challenges once it will become a middle-income country by 2021.

Bangladesh will loose EBA or duty-free market access once it turns into a middle-income country.

‘But this won’t happen overnight,’ Mayaudon assured saying there will be a transition period of three years during which Bangladesh can prepare to apply for GSP Plus benefit which is as good as the EBA.

He said trade is a very important dimension for the EU and the EBA has been given almost two decades ago to LDCs.

Among the 49 LDCs beneficiaries of the EBA regime, Bangladesh has taken such a huge advantage of trade facilities.

Responding to another question, the diplomat said when the UK will leave the EU, it will obviously have an impact in terms of resources that comes from the member states.

He, however, said they have their own resources and they also need to benefit from member states resources.

The EU Ambassador highlighted how the relationship between Bangladesh and the EU will be shaped in the future and how both EU and Bangladesh can be mutually benefited from that.  

BIISS Director General Maj Gen AKM Abdur Rahman also spoke at the event while its Chairman Munshi Faiz Ahmad wrapped up the session.

Officials from different ministries, representatives from national and international organizations, diplomats, and experts were present.