Bangladesh and the European Union on Tuesday kicked off the two-day-long first introductory meeting in Dhaka in the run up to the negotiations on a "Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement" with a view to taking the relations to a new height.

Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral), Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Bangladesh side while the EU delegation was led by chief negotiator Paola Pampaloni, Deputy Managing Director, Asia and Pacific Division, European External Action Services.

Ambassador of Bangladesh to Belgium and Permanent Representative to the EU, Mahbuub Hasan Saleh, as well as officials from the EU also joined the discussion virtually from Brussels.

Engaging discussions took place across three clustered sessions covering areas including institutional provision, international peace and security, governance and human rights, justice, and cooperation on trade and trade-related matters, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Further discussions on the remaining themes would be held on Wednesday afternoon.