The European Union has decided to postpone negotiations with Bangladesh on a new cooperation agreement, citing concerns about Dhaka's response to deadly protests that resulted in the deaths of at least 150 individuals in July. The cooperation pact aims to strengthen trade, economic, and developmental relations between Bangladesh and the EU, which is a crucial trading partner for the South Asian nation, accounting for a significant portion of its trade volume.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed criticism over what was described as a "shoot on sight policy" in Bangladesh, attributing killings to both the authorities and law enforcement officers. Despite the Bangladeshi government's denial of live rounds being fired, hospital sources reported injuries and fatalities with bullet and shotgun pellet wounds. The postponement of the negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was confirmed by Nabila Massrali, the EU's foreign affairs spokesperson, who highlighted the need to reassess the situation before setting a new date for talks.
The delay in discussions between the EU and Bangladesh, initially scheduled for September, has now been pushed to November. However, Bangladesh clarified that this change was primarily due to the clash with the United Nations General Assembly session starting in September, a decision made prior to the recent wave of violence. The timing of the delay holds significance as Bangladesh grapples with economic challenges like high inflation, youth unemployment, and decreasing foreign reserves, potentially affecting EU support for the country during a critical period.