Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- The United Kingdom would ease visa procedure for Bangladesh businesspersons and proven tourists, who have good travel records to some specific western countries, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Gibson has said.
Gibson said the new first track visa service would start from July 1, with an express programme for businessmen and for visitors previously traveled to UK , USA, Australia, New Zealand,Canada and a Schengen country without difficulties in last five years.
The new visa would only be meant for these two groups, he said, adding students willing to study in the UK would remain out of the purview of the new privilege.
"The business express program (BEP) is intended to directly support those Bangladesh companies whose employees undertake a significant amount of business travel to the UK, or otherwise invest in the UK," Gibson said at a "Meet the Press' program of Jatiya Press Club (JPC) in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday.
JPC president Kamal Uddin Sabuj moderated the program, which was attended by senior journalists and diplomatic correspondents, as well as JPC general secretary Abdal Ahmed.
The British High Commissioner said his country has witnessed a robust economic and social growth in Bangladesh over the years, and the UK has decided to double assistance in four years.
The UK is the single largest bilateral donor for Bangladesh and its third single largest export destination. The annual export volume hovers around one billion Pound Sterling with a 30 percent increase last year.
BBN/SSR/AD-28June12-11:50 am (BST)
