The European Union (EU) has postponed talks with the Bangladesh government, scheduled in September, to sign a new cooperation and foreign assistance deal amid growing concerns over the recent violence, diplomatic sources confirmed on Wednesday.

Sources said no new date has been fixed for the dialogue.

As per an EU spokesperson, the decision to halt talks is consistent with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell’s claims on 27 July that the 27-member bloc was gravely concerned at the killings by law enforcers during the recent student movement to reform quotas in government jobs.

The bloc would monitor government responses to the crisis closely, Borrell said.

On 25 October last year, a Bangladesh government delegation that included Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and EU representatives including the bloc’s chief Ursula von der Leyen had agreed to launch discussions in September this year for further expanding bilateral cooperation and bolstering EU assistance for Bangladesh.

In the October event, several agreements were signed including the EU’s 40 billion euro fund for helping Bangladesh develop its power sector as climate-friendly and sustainable.

The fund also aimed to help Bangladesh meet climate resiliency goals.

On 27 July, Borrell had conveyed to Bangladeshi lawmaker Dr AK Abdul Momen on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum Ministerial Meeting in Laos that the implementation of “shoot on sight policy” and “unlawful killings” by law enforcers during the quota reform movement were gravely concerning.

BDST: 1944 HRS, JULY 31, 2024
MSK