Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, was in Bangladesh today following his weeklong trade mission to neighbouring India.

In his first visit to the independent South Asian nation, the Mayor is meeting with local business, academic and political figures to reflect on the existing close ties between the West Midlands and Bangladesh and explore new trade, diplomatic and cultural opportunities.

More than one in ten of the West Midlands population is of Bangladeshi heritage and the UK is the country’s third biggest trading partner behind only the United States and Germany.

A very reflective and poignant visit to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay respects to the Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Mayor flew into the capital city Dhaka from Dehli in India yesterday (Sunday November 13) where he has spent the last week spearheading a trade mission made up of West Midlands business and political leaders to promote opportunities for bilateral trade and investment.

The Mayor said: “After a packed agenda in India, I’m pleased to be making my first ever visit to Bangladesh.

“Given the size of the Bangladeshi community living in the West Midlands, I’m really looking forward to an exciting cultural, commercial and diplomatic itinerary that will unlock new opportunities for us in the months and years ahead.

“I was particularly pleased to have been able to visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum today to pay tribute to the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”

The Mayor’s itinerary today also saw him visit Central Shaheed Minar, a national monument in Dhaka commemorating those killed during the Bengali Language Movement demonstrations of 1952 in what was then East Pakistan.

During the three-day visit the Mayor, whose role involves serving as a global ambassador for the West Midlands, will meet with key business leaders from many of the big corporations who have a presence in Bangladesh as well as senior politicians including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Mayors of Dhaka.

He will also be meeting various business organisations and their members and take part in a panel discussion on developing smart cities.

The Mayor will move on to the north-eastern city of Sylhet tomorrow (Tuesday November 15) where he will visit a tea plantation and meet the Mayor of Sylhet.