The new British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, His Excellency Mr Stephen Evans CMG OBE, arrived in Dhaka on 23 June 2008.

During his 28 year diplomatic career, Mr Evans has gained considerable experience of South Asia. He has previously served as

• British Ambassador to Afghanistan
• British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and
• Head of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s South Asia Department.

“I am delighted to have been appointed to serve in Bangladesh,” he said. “The relationship between the UK and Bangladesh is a special one. There is broad and positive engagement on a wide range of common interests – development, democracy, security, education, trade, migration. Our futures are inter-linked in so many ways. And there is a unique thread running through each aspect of our relationship – it is the people of our two countries, bound by deep personal and historical ties and our shared values. I look forward to extending this close friendship even further.”

Mr Evans is married to Sharon Ann Evans, with whom he has one son and two daughters.