Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie on a 3-day visit to Bangladesh

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and a prominent senior member of the British Royal Family, will arrive in Bangladesh next week on a three-day official visit from November 9 to November 11. The visit aims to underscore the depth and multifaceted nature of UK-Bangladesh bilateral relations. Upon her arrival in the capital city of Dhaka, the Duchess will be received by the Honorable President of Bangladesh, with Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of PM Tarique Rahman, also present.

During her engagements in Dhaka, Duchess Sophie will place the utmost emphasis on the welfare, protection, and empowerment of women and girls. She will visit the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) to gain insight into Bangladesh’s role in UN peacekeeping missions and highlight women’s participation in peace and security. She will also visit the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP) to meet with female hockey players and emerging young athletes, and attend a youth celebration marking the British Council’s 75th anniversary in Bangladesh.

Following her engagements in Dhaka, the Duchess will travel to Cox’s Bazar to inspect on-site operations of international and local agencies working with Rohingya refugees. Her visit to the refugee camps will focus on learning about ongoing protection and support services for forcibly displaced women, children, and affected families. She will also closely observe field-level initiatives that foster leadership among women and children in the camps and strengthen their resilience to overcome the ongoing crisis.