DHAKA, 15 November 2021, (TON): Bangladesh, as the incoming chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), will host the 21st IORA Council of Ministers’ meeting on November 17

A number of foreign ministers representing IORA countries, including the Minister for South Asia, the United Nations and the Commonwealth at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, will be visiting Bangladesh this week.

British Minister Tariq Ahmad will deliver a keynote speech at a program titled "Bangladesh-UK: Partners in Progress" on Monday afternoon.

The talks will be held at the Foreign Service Academy with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen in the chair.

An official said “the British minister will also have a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen during his stay in Dhaka.”

The foreign ministers of Sri Lanka, Union of Comoros, Indonesia, South Africa and a Minister of Tanzania will also be visiting Bangladesh.

Another official said that US Deputy Assistant Secretary Kelly Keiderling is likely to arrive here on Tuesday.

Keiderling is the South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.