BRUSSELS: The European Union has said it cancelled talks with Bangladesh on a new cooperation agreement over deadly protests that killed at least 150 people this month.
The pact intends to enhance trade, economic and developmental ties between Bangladesh and the EU, which is the main trading partner for the South Asian country.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell last week denounced a reported shoot-at-sight policy in Bangladesh, killings by the authorities as well as killings of law enforcement officers, property damage and mass arrests.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina’s government has dismissed any live rounds were fired, but hospital sources said the injured as well as dead had bullet wounds.
“In light of the prevailing situation, the first round of negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement envisaged for September has been postponed with no later date fixed as yet,” Nabila Massrali, the EU’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said in an email to Western media.
Bangladesh, however, said the negotiations had been delayed to November as they clashed with the United Nations General Assembly session that started on September 10.
“This delay was due to the UN General Assembly and was decided well before the recent violence,” said Uttam Kumar Karmaker, an additional secretary at the Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh’s finance ministry.
A delay in talks could affect the support of the EU for Bangladesh when it grapples with economic issues, high youth unemployment, soaring inflation and dipping foreign exchange reserves.
The high cost of living triggered deadly demonstrations ahead of January’s national elections, in which Hasina won a fourth term in a poll boycotted by the main opposition party.
