Visiting Duke of Gloucester Richard Alexander Walter George today paid a curtsey call on President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed at Bangabhaban here today.

Welcoming the Duke, the President said Bangladesh attaches great importance to her relations with Britain and considers it to be a dependable trade, development and strategic partner.

Referring to the historic and intellectual links between the two countries as Commonwealth nations, he hoped that the relations between Bangladesh and Britain would be strengthened further in the days to come.

The President also laid emphasis on enhancing educational linkage between Dhaka and London further and reopening of the British Council Centre at Rajshahi.

He said the British Council in Bangladesh has been playing a vital role in strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two countries.

Professor Iajuddin Ahmed apprised the Duke of the present government efforts towards strengthening democracy in the country and hoped that the next general elections would be held by December this year. He also recalled the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Bangladesh in 1983 and invited her to visit Bangladesh again.

The Duke expressed his satisfaction over the prevailing relations in different fields between Bangladesh and Britain. He also apprised the President of his visit to various development projects funded by DFID in different areas of Bangladesh including Majerchar in Pirojpur district and Commonwealth War Cemetery in Comilla district.

Richard Alexander Walter George also expressed his satisfaction over the progress of implementation of the DFID-
funded projects.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Anwar Choudhury was present. Military Secretary to the President Major General Mohd Aminul Karim, Secretary of the President's Office Md Sirajul Islam and President's Press Secretary Abdul Awal Howlader were also present.