B Mirror Report: Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) are set to sign a framework agreement under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), marking a significant step toward strengthening bilateral ties.

The initial framework agreement will be signed on April 20 in Brussels, Belgium, with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman representing Bangladesh, while EU High Representative Kaja Kallas will sign on behalf of the European Commission.

Diplomats in Dhaka and Brussels say the signing of the framework agreement will pave the way for finalizing the comprehensive PCA, potentially by 2026. The final agreement may be signed during a high-level visit either in Dhaka or Brussels, subject to mutual consent.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Bangladeshi delegation led by Foreign Minister Rahman will travel to Brussels from Turkey on April 19 at the invitation of the EU. The delegation includes the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.

Officials familiar with the process said negotiations on the PCA have already been concluded, and the upcoming signing reflects political consensus from both sides. Over the past year, multiple rounds of discussions and text exchanges were held, culminating in the finalization of the draft agreement in January this year.

However, a diplomat noted that while progress has been positive, additional procedural steps particularly within the EU, which requires approval from its 27 member states remain before the final agreement can be signed.

During his visit, the foreign minister is also expected to hold courtesy meetings with Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister Vincent Van Peteghem, European Commissioner for Research Ekaterina Zaharieva, and Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee David McAllister.

Efforts to enhance Bangladesh-EU relations gained momentum on October 25, 2023, when both sides agreed to initiate discussions on a new PCA. The decision was made in Brussels in the presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Although initial talks were scheduled for September 2024, they were delayed due to the situation arising from anti-discrimination protests in Bangladesh. Informal discussions resumed in Dhaka in November, followed by the first formal high-level meeting in Brussels in April 2025. The latest round of talks took place in Dhaka and Sylhet in January 2026, where the draft agreement was finalized.

Senior officials said Bangladesh’s relationship with the EU has evolved from a development partnership to a broader political and economic engagement since the signing of a cooperation agreement in 2001, which covered areas such as governance, human rights, and economic development.

The PCA is a legally binding agreement that establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the EU and partner countries, covering political dialogue, peace and security, governance, human rights, trade, economy, and financial collaboration.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Md Kamrul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed that the foreign minister has already left Dhaka for Turkey to attend the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and will proceed to Brussels afterward to attend the signing ceremony.