Charles Whiteley
@CWhiteleyEU
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Head of Division South Asia, European External Action Service 🇪🇺
Brussels, Belgium
Joined May 2016
Feel very privileged on my last day in 🇧🇩 to witness the swearing-in ceremony of Professor Yunus and the other members of the interim government. Wish every success and prosperity to the new administration and to the people of 🇧🇩
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This week I have met many talented 🇧🇩students - and next week we will gather all 🇧🇩Erasmus scholars before they head to 🇪🇺 for their studies. All friends and partners of 🇧🇩want to see a quick resolution of the present situation and the avoidance of further violence and bloodshed.
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HQ colleagues delighted to ride the new elevated metro 🚇 in Dhaka - pride of 🇧🇩
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Great to be back in 🇧🇩and to catch up with the sights, sounds and tastes of Dhaka- including ডাব
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We abandoned the car on the expressway due to protests and made it to the call on Hon Speaker by CNG - a commemorative video made by Bernd, including a death-defying high-wire sequence.
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I hope that the death and destruction of the last few days, including the loss of innocent lives, will bring a renewal of the founding values of Bangladesh and justice for those who have paid such a heavy price.
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Brilliant that the beautiful rickshaws of 🇧🇩have received #UNESCO recognition. Let’s also remember the indefatigable rickshaw wallahs who power them.
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Fast, efficient and clean as a whistle - great to ride the new Dhaka metro for the first time 🇧🇩
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Wide-ranging first exchange on 🇪🇺🇧🇩relations with new 🇧🇩Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, who has close connections to 🇪🇺. Bilateral ties, Ukraine, the Middle East crisis and the Rohingya refugee situation were amongst the issues discussed.
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The Erasmus + roadshow is in Rajshahi to publicise 🇪🇺 scholarships - and sample the different modes of transport on the green and tranquil university campus, including the eco-friendly, battery powered “easy bike”.
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Happy to have a vigilant new flag car cat keeping us all safe in the 🇪🇺 Delegation.
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The stark reality of the cut in food rations in the Rohingya camps. Due to inadequate funding the monthly allowance has fallen from 12 to 10 to 8 dollars per person - with a progressive reduction in food. The international community must do more to support 🇧🇩and the Rohingya
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So happy to be back in Dhaka after the New Year break in Amsterdam - though why does 12 degrees here feel like minus 10 in Europe ❤️🇧🇩❤️
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Discussion yesterday on the 🇪🇺Election exploratory mission and 🇪🇺🇧🇩relations with Hon. Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, MP.
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Ceremony to mark Victory Day as dawn broke in Savar - especially poignant to meet veterans of the Liberation War.
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🇪🇺Heads of Mission had a wide-ranging exchange today with the Chief Election Commissioner, Kazi Habibul Awal, regarding the upcoming parliamentary polls. The 🇪🇺Election Expert Mission arrived in Dhaka today.
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The beauty of the longest sea-beach in the world, Cox’s Bazar 🇧🇩
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A much-needed deluge in Dhaka - the mango trees will be happy.
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Lovely to take a dear colleague from Brussels on their first rickshaw ride in Dhaka.
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The beauty of the breaking of the fast mingling with birdsong in the 4th most densely populated city in the world 🇧🇩
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Waiting for the break of day at the National Martyrs’ Memorial to mark Independence and National Day - congratulations to 🇧🇩on her 51st anniversary.
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On the trunk road in Bangladesh. 🇧🇩 full of surprises.
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International Mother Language Day 2023 - a time to remember those in Bangladesh who made sacrifices for the language movement.
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Great to attend the bilateral between President von der Leyen and PM Hasina and the signing of the 400 million euro agreement on renewable energy, as well as other cooperation initiatives ahead of the launch of the #GlobalGateway Forum launch today. A new chapter in 🇪🇺🇧🇩relations
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🇧🇩Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing the opening session of the #GlobalGateway forum today in Brussels.
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Exciting to see the pride of 🇧🇩 by speedboat- the imposing Padma bridge which is over 6km long and which will open this year. Delicious Hilsa 🐟 in mustard sauce was another 🇧🇩 highlight today.
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Spectacular opening by Hon. PM Hasina of the impressive new airport terminal in Dhaka - which will transform 🇧🇩passenger and cargo capabilities, including the potential to handle 24 million passengers per year.
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Exchanges today with senior opposition BNP and Jatiya party figures ahead of the arrival next week of the 🇪🇺election exploratory mission which will engage with a wide range of interlocutors in 🇧🇩
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Inspiring meeting with Hon. State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP - many opportunities to build on the existing e-governance partnership between 🇪🇺🇧🇩
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Excellent exchange with Hon. Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, MP, covering numerous aspects of 🇪🇺🇧🇩 ties and avenues for future cooperation as the 50th anniversary of relations approaches in 2023.
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Should anyone be in need of Basil, we have a lifetime’s supply that is planning an all-out assault on the apartment.
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Pleasure to pay farewell call on Hon. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the beautiful Jatiya Sangsad and to discuss 🇪🇺🇧🇩relations.
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Today we are celebrating Europe Day and 50 years of 🇪🇺🇧🇩ties, which have evolved remarkably since 1973.
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Wonderful to meet some of the younger participants at our event on the green transition today - they made a great contribution to the discussion.
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Reception at the President’s Palace বঙ্গভবন to mark Independence Day - resplendent in the colours of the 🇧🇩flag
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নববর্ষে নবরূপ রাঙিয়ে দিক প্রতিটি মুহূর্ত, বয়ে আনুক সুন্দর সমৃদ্ধ ভবিষ্যৎ। .সকলকে জানাই বাংলা নতুন বছরের শুভেচ্ছা, শুভ নববর্ষ।
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🇪🇺heads of mission are continuing their regular meetings with political parties to gain insights into the outlook in 🇧🇩. Today, together with HOMs of 🇨🇭 and 🇳🇴, we met GM Quader, Chairman of the Jatiya Party for a wide-ranging exchange.
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আন্তর্জাতিক মাতৃভাষা দিবসে ভাষা সৈনিকদের জানাই সম্মান - Profound respect to language soldiers and martyrs on International Mother Language Day.
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EU Heads of Mission met Awami League General Secretary, Hon Obaidul Quader MP, as part of 🇪🇺engagement with political parties ahead of the parliamentary elections.
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Fruitful courtesy call on Hon. State Minister for Commerce, Ahasanul Islam, MP - important to ensure smooth transition to GSP+ and to boost two-way 🇪🇺🇧🇩 trade and investment.
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🇪🇺Delegation wishes everyone in 🇧🇩 Happy Pohela Falgun.
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Festive, celebratory spirit at the opening of the Padma bridge- exciting to watch the inauguration and to make the 6.3km crossing on this impressive infrastructure.
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Double joy today: visit to the wonderful Neela Centre for children with disabilities to say goodbye to Ivon Kemper - an amazing pillar of the centre - and a gathering of 140 scholars who will go to 🇪🇺 on the Erasmus + scheme- proud that 🇧🇩 is 3rd in the 🌎for the scholarships.
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Good to have an impromptu photo shoot after an interview with Ahmed Reza of Jamuna TV.
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Pleased to join the National Dialogue to observe the World Day against Trafficking and to confirm that 🇪🇺is extending our support to a new phase of the Glo.Act initiative - 🇪🇺is proud to partner 🇧🇩, UNODC and IOM in fighting trafficking and addressing its root causes.
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Freshly arrived in Dhaka for 🇪🇺exchanges with 🇧🇩stakeholders on labour rights and human rights @PAMPALONIPAOLA and @MBylaite visited a school for children with disabilities in Badda - trying out the school bus and meeting the children and staff.
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🇪🇺Deputy Secretary General for Economic and Global Affairs, Helena König, has arrived in Dhaka for a 3-day visit with a wide-ranging agenda - beginning with a dialogue with @MdShahriarAlam on key issues including climate change, ocean governance, digitalisation and #globalgateway
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Warm and engaging exchange with Hon State Minister for Foreign Affairs @MdShahriarAlam on expanding ties between 🇪🇺🇧🇩
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Good to discuss 🇪🇺’s continuing partnership on education, including technical and vocational training, with Hon Minister @DipumoniDr
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Intense visit to Rohingya camps with @PAMPALONIPAOLA and @MBylaite incl. exchanges with women refugees, schools, Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre and food centres. Thanks to 🇧🇩authorities, Rohingya Refugee Response Centre, UN and ECHO. 🇪🇺is sustaining its support to the crisis.
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The frogs of beautiful Cox’s Bazar in vigorous croak 🇧🇩
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Looking forward to marking 50 years of 🇧🇩🇪🇺 relations next year.
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A pleasure and honour to meet the President elect of 🇧🇩H.E. Muhammad Shahabuddin Chuppu, who will assume office on 24 April. Good to discuss 🇪🇺’s relations with 🇧🇩
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Good exchange with Hon. Foreign Minister, Dr. A. K Abdul Momen, M.P., on expanding 🇪🇺🇧🇩relations, including through #globalgateway and on the proposed deployment of an EU Election Observation mission.
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Wide ranging discussion today with the Director General of #DGFI Major General Ahmed Tabrej Shams Chowdhury.
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Great to meet @ValerieHayer MEP as she begins her visit to 🇧🇩to engage with key stakeholders in the RMG industry
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Honoured to pay farewell call on Hon. Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, MP, as my time in 🇧🇩draws to a close. So much dynamism in 🇧🇩🇪🇺relations, with #GlobalGateway, transition to GSP+, support for Rohingya refugees, legal migration and many other issues at the ❤️of our ties.
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এই শুভ উপলক্ষে, সকলকে জানাই একটি আনন্দময় ঈদের শুভেচ্ছা। ঈদ মোবারাক।
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Honoured to present my credentials to the Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh H.E. Mr. Md. Abdul Hamid in a beautiful ceremony at the Bangabhaban Presidential Palace. Look forward to building on excellent EU-Bangladesh relations in the coming years.
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Congratulations to Prothom Alo - the largest circulation newspaper in 🇧🇩- on its 24th anniversary. Great to attend the celebrations in Dhaka.
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Delighted to join Bangladesh mission to 🇪🇺online event to mark 🇧🇩 #VictoryDay - congratulations to 🇧🇩 on this milestone 50th anniversary
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Great to have an exchange with new Hon. Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, MP, to learn more about the innovation and reform that is planned and to explore deeper 🇪🇺🇧🇩cooperation in this critical field.
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So great to be in The Hague to meet with 🇳🇱colleagues to discuss Indo-Pacific and India - both priorities for the new 🇪🇺 Commission.
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Good to invite for a discussion investigative reporter @IslamRozina, who has received many 🇧🇩 and international accolades over the years. Spoke about the media landscape and the importance of freedom of expression, as well as the court case she is presently facing.
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EU-Bangladesh Joint Commission underway in Brussels with high-level delegation from Dhaka and a wide-ranging agenda illustrating the depth of 🇪🇺🇧🇩 relations.
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খুব খুশি Very happy to return to Dhaka after 12 years. Look forward to advancing the rich partnership between the EU and Bangladesh. Thanks to @BDMOFA and colleagues for the warm welcome.
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Great discussion on the role of 🇪🇺and 🇧🇩 on climate change and COP 27 with parliamentarians, civil society, youth representatives and diplomatic colleagues.
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Messing about on the river at Sadarghat- the raw beauty of 🇧🇩
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Delighted to join Hon. State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, at the opening of the 🇪🇺🇧🇩Cybersecurity Symposium funded by 🇪🇺TAIEX - a valuable exercise to share expertise on tackling cyber threats.
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Farewell call on Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Hasan Mahmud, with progress towards GSP+, the Rohingya crisis, expanding 🇧🇩🇪🇺ties and the launch of the Talent Partnership for legal migration amongst the issues covered.
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In-depth discussion with the Chief Election Commissioner, Kazi Habibul Awal, about the upcoming parliamentary polls and the deployment of an 🇪🇺Election Observation Mission.
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Great to welcome EU Special Representative for Human Rights @EamonGilmore on his second visit to 🇧🇩and to meet Acting Foreign Secretary Rear Admiral Khurshed Alam. Wide-ranging agenda ahead including meetings with government, civil society and a visit to the Rohingya camps.
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Great to meet brilliant 🇧🇩women engineers engaged in the renewable energy sector and taking part in outreach under the ShoktiKonna project, financed by the World Bank, and implemented in collaboration with WePower and Devtale Partners.
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Great to join @italyinbd at the invitation of #BGMEA President Faruque Hassan to meet the Chairman of Chittagong Port Authority Rear Admiral Shahjahan and to go on board the first container 🚢 to arrive in 🇧🇩directly from 🇪🇺. Huge prospects for enhancing our trade ties.
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A lovely little tea stall has popped up in the park near the 🇪🇺office.
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A frenzy of creativity on display at 🇧🇩Fashion Week. Colour, innovation, Desh-dash.
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EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, arrived in Dhaka for a 2-day visit. She announced additional funding to UNHCR for Rohingya refugees on Bhasan Char with the Hon. State Minister for Disaster Management, Dr. Md. Enamur Rahman MP, and UNHCR.
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Eid holiday hustle and bustle in Dhaka - home to 23 million souls.
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A farewell to the fantastic 🇪🇺 Delegation team in 🇧🇩 - big thanks to all the dedicated colleagues who have made the last 3 years so special.
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Visiting beautiful Khulna Division - great to meet people who have had disputes resolved through the 🇪🇺supported Village Court project implemented by UNDP and 🇧🇩authorities. Impromptu visit to an impressive government housing scheme for families in need of shelter.
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Very interesting meeting with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda covering ongoing local elections and 🇧🇩electoral system
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Poignant wreath-laying ceremony led by Hon. President and Hon. Prime Minister at daybreak at the National Martyrs' Memorial. Congratulations to 🇧🇩on the 52nd anniversary of independence.
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Wonderful to catch up in Brussels with Amb Mahbub and to discuss the ever-growing 🇪🇺🇧🇩partnership and friendship.
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A great loss to Bangladesh and the world - Prof. Saleemul Huq will be dearly missed.
It is with heavy hearts that we inform you about the passing away of our director, Prof. Saleemul Huq, on 29 October, 2023. His unmatched legacy will remain as a shining example for years and generations to come.
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Wonderful to meet the lead actress, Azmery Haque Badhon, from the Cannes acclaimed 🇧🇩film Rehana Maryam Noor. The thought-provoking film, dealing with issues of abuse in an academic setting, was screened at the Dutch club followed by a discussion.
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Good to visit the DBC newsrooms and see first have their operations, as well as discuss 🇪🇺🇧🇩 relations in their “Meet the Envoy” programme.
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Wide-ranging exchange with Hon. Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, MP, encompassing close 🇪🇺🇧🇩cooperation on social protection and in other fields, the potential for boosting 🇪🇺investments in 🇧🇩, including under the #GlobalGateway initiative, and economic outlook for 🇧🇩
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Launch of the EU Delegation Grand Badminton tournament - rivalled only by Wimbledon in sporting prestige
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A surprise encounter through an open window with the dynamic Dhaka press pack.
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Wide-ranging exchange today between heads of mission from OECD countries and the 🇧🇩Bangladesh Election Commission on preparations for the December 2023 parliamentary polls.
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Very good exchange with Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam on 🇪🇺🇧🇩collaboration, including on social protection and e-governance.
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Diverse exchange with Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Asaduzzaman Khan MP, including migration, security, cybersecurity, Rohingya, DSA and the National Action Plan on the labour sector.
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