I'm now back in the UK after an incredibly busy but wonderful trip to Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.
On the last day of my trip - last Friday - I flew to Sylhet to visit the region where a large part of the Bangladeshi community in the UK comes from. I had a series of meetings with members of the community there as well as Bangladeshis from the UK who are investing in Sylhet. I was struck by the strong links between the two countries and people's willingness to give something back to their community.
I then visited two primary schools where the children were enthusiastic and engaged. The lessons focussed on active learning and the children took part in games, and singing to help them learn the basics. We then went to a women's empowerment project for the employees of a tea estate in the area. The young women spoke passionately about their desire for more vocational training and access to skills. Listening to them and seeing the children at the school gave me great hope about the future of Bangladesh and reinforced to me the importance of giving people a voice and the ability to influence their own lives.
After returning to Dhaka, I took part in a call in programme on Radio Today. I had a very warm welcome from staff at the station - including a delicious cake - and had a chance to chat everyone working there. The radio interview covered subjects ranging from Preventing Violent Extremism, climate change, and even healthy eating. I really enjoyed interacting with the calls and text messages from listeners and was impressed with the radio station's breadth of coverage and energy.
I had a brief chance to reflect on the trip with my colleagues on Friday evening in the Dhaka airport departure lounge and we all agreed that it had been a very worthwhile and moving trip. There were several messages that came through from all the countries that we visited and I have been inspired to take these back and ensure that they inform the department's work. This trip has reinforced to me that there is more that we all have in common than that divides us no matter what our religion or nationality and that it is absolutely crucial to keep working to give people a real stake and voice in their future.