Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Friday urged the prime minister of Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to ease visa procedures for the Bangladeshi citizens travelling to the South East Asian kingdom.
The head of the Bangladesh interim government raised the issue when he met the Thai prime minister on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Sri Lankan prime minister Harinia Amarasuriya and Bhutanese prime minister Tshering Tobgay also held meetings with Yunus on the day on the sidelines of BIMSTEC Summit.
The chief adviser said that the Thai embassy in Dhaka did not have the capacity to process more visas, resulting in a long delay and queue of the Bangladeshi people waiting to travel to Thailand.
鈥楤angladeshi people who seek treatment in Thailand face a lot of visa difficulties,鈥� Yunus said, seeking the Thai prime minister鈥檚 support in this regard.
Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra assured the Bangladesh leader that she would look into the issue.
The chief adviser also called for expanded trade, shipping and maritime relations and air connectivity between the two countries.
He said that Bangladesh and Thailand could reduce travel time if flights were launched from Chattogram.
Yunus recalled the impact made by Air Asia when it launched a flight between Chattogram and the Thai resort city of Chiang Mai more than a decade ago.
The Thai premier congratulated Yunus on assuming the chairmanship of BIMSTEC, saying the Bangladesh leader would infuse new dynamism in the regional grouping.
Yunus began his meeting by reflecting on the longstanding and excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Thailand.
He paid tribute to the late King Bhumibol, who played a key role in Thailand鈥檚 early recognition of an independent Bangladesh in 1972.
The discussion also focused on investment, with Yunus inviting Thai companies to join next week鈥檚 investment summit in Dhaka.
He also highlighted the importance of improving rail, road, maritime, and air connectivity between the two nations to facilitate increased bilateral trade. In this context, he suggested that Bangladesh would like to participate in the trilateral highway project involving Thailand, India, and Myanmar when conditions permit.
The chief adviser proposed that both countries initiate a joint feasibility study for a bilateral free trade agreement as soon as possible, with a view to starting formal negotiations.
Yunus and Sri Lankan prime minister Harinia Amarasuriya discussed issues of mutual interest and vowed to expand trade and cooperation between the two friendly South Asian countries.
The Sri Lankan premier narrated the efforts made by her country to recover stolen money.
She said that the Sri Lankan parliament had ratified a new law to expedite the recovery process.
The chief adviser sought Sri Lankan support in the interim government鈥檚 efforts to bring back billions of dollars siphoned off Bangladesh.
The two leaders also discussed various aspects of the July uprising and stressed the importance of people-to-people contacts between the two nations.
Yunus described the reform agenda of the Bangladesh interim government and his administration鈥檚 plan to hold elections between this December and June next year.
Foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain, SDG coordinator Lamiya Morshed and foreign secretary Jashim Uddin were also present in the meeting.
Bhutanese prime minister Tshering Tobgay sought a dedicated fibre optic internet connection from Bangladesh.
In response to the request, the chief adviser assured all his cooperation in this regard, chief adviser鈥檚 deputy press secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told the BSS.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest. They stressed increased trade and connectivity between the two South Asian neighbours.
Yunus urged Tshering to send a delegation of Bhutanese investors to the Investment Summit in Dhaka next week.
They also discussed the latest development regarding the dedicated economic zone Bangladesh has earmarked for Bhutan in the northern Kurigram district.
Tshering said Bhutanese investors would invest in fruit processing and other factories in the economic zone and export the products to the countries in the region.
The chief adviser said Dhaka was willing to provide more educational opportunities for Bhutanese students, especially for medical school graduates.
The Bhutanese premier congratulated the Bangladesh chief adviser on assuming the chairmanship of BIMSTEC.
He hoped the Bay of Bengal-focused regional grouping would see a new dynamism with the leadership of Bangladesh. Foreign adviser Touhid Hossain, SDG coordinator Lamiya Morshed and foreign secretary Jashim Uddin were also present in the meeting.
BIMSTEC secretary general Indra Mani Pandey called on new chairman of the body and Bangladesh chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Bangkok on Friday.
Bangladesh has received the BIMSTEC chairmanship on the day for the next two years in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand.
Yunus received the chairmanship from the Thai prime minister and then made a statement of acceptance, focusing on an inclusive and action-oriented BIMSTEC and outlining Bangladesh鈥檚 vision and priorities for the regional group.
The chief adviser reaffirmed Bangladesh鈥檚 commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development.
