BD, Bhutan to expand trade thru river routes

Bangladesh and Bhutan on Wednesday agreed to activate the river routes to expand trade and commerce between the two countries.  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart Dr. LotayTshering reached the consensus in a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in the capital.

PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the media after the meeting.  Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to take prompt measures to build necessary infrastructure to maximise the benefit of the preferential trade agreement (PTA) signed between the two countries on December 6 last. 

She also asked to build more ports of call where the ships anchor to facilitate trade and commerce. During the meeting, both the Premier discussed various range of mutual benefits particularly the trade and connectivity. 

The leaders also agreed to work in unison at the United Nations (UN) and different international forums. 

The Bangladesh Premier asked the authorities concerned to prepare a MoU on setting up a hydropower plant with bilateral and trilateral cooperation involving India. 

The Bhutanese Prime Minister requested the Bangladesh Premier to provide full-term visa to his country’s students with multiple entry facilities. 

In response, the Bangladesh Premier ordered the concerned authorities to look into the matter. 

Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh will extend cooperation to Bhutan in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) particularly in broadband internet. 

Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Bangladesh Ambassador to Bhutan AKM Shahidul Karim were present at the meeting.

Bhutan Ambassador to Bangladesh RinchenKuentsyl and Chief of Protocol DasoUgyenGongphel were present among others.

Earlier, the two Prime Ministers held a tête-à-tête that lasted for 45 minutes the Bhutanese Prime Minister later signed the visitors’ book at the PMO. 

Tshering arrived here on Tuesday morning on a three-day official visit to join the celebrations of the golden jubilee of country’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

President sees new areas of Dhaka-Thimphu ties

Dhaka and Thimphu can explore new areas of cooperation including, information and communication technology, agriculture, horticulture, tourism and fisheries to enhance trade and investment between the two friendly countries.

President M Abdul Hamid today said this when the visiting Bhutanese Prime Minister Dr. Lotay Tshering paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban this afternoon.

“Bangladesh and Bhutan have excellent cooperation in the areas of trade andcommerce, connectivity, education, cultural exchange, people-to-people contact and tourism . . . The two sides can explore new more areas of cooperation in ICT, agriculture, horticulture and fisheries,” the President told the visiting foreign guests.

Later, President’s Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin briefed the media after the meeting.

Recalling the support of Bhutan during the Liberation War in 1971, President Hamid expressed his gratitude to the Bhutanese government and its people.

“Bhutan is a very faithful friend of Bangladesh,” the head of the state mentioned, adding that Bangladesh has an excellent bilateral relations with Bhutan and the existing relation is strengthening day by day. 

Bangladesh President thanked the Bhutanese premier for attending the twin mega celebrations -Bangladesh independence’s golden jubilee and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman amid the COVID-19 outbreak.