Bangladesh and Bhutan on Saturday signed two memorandums of understanding鈥攐ne on health-sector cooperation and the other on internet connectivity鈥攆ollowing a bilateral meeting between the leaders of the two countries at the chief adviser鈥檚 Tejgaon office in Dhaka city.
Visiting Bhutanese prime minister Tshering Tobgay and interim government chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus witnessed the signing ceremony and the exchange of documents, said a press release from the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office.
Recalling the contribution of Buddhist monks from Bengal, Professor Yunus expressed his hope to see more Bhutanese tourists exploring Bangladesh鈥檚 Buddhist heritage.
The chief adviser invited Bhutanese nationals to avail themselves of healthcare services and medical education at the upcoming facility, saying that Bangladesh was building a 1,000-bed hospital and a medical college in the northern district of Nilphamari. T
Professor Yunus expressed hope that more Bangladeshi doctors and healthcare workers would now be able to work in Bhutan, particularly in the forthcoming new economic city of Gelephu, now under development in the Himalayan kingdom.
Under the internet bandwidth agreement, Bhutan would import bandwidth from Bangladesh with foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain, who attended the meeting, stating that Dhaka hoped the export would 鈥榮trengthen Bhutan鈥檚 digital connectivity, and reduce the digital divide鈥�.
The first MoU was signed on the recruitment of health workforce from Bangladesh by the Bhutan health ministry through the Health Services Division Bangladesh health and family welfare ministry.聽
The second MoU was signed on the trade of international internet bandwidth and other telecommunication services between the two countries.
The two countries also agreed to establish a joint working group to promote two-way tourism.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of Bangladesh-Bhutan bilateral relations, including trade, energy, education, tourism, internet cooperation, transport, healthcare, environment, water resources, investment, and aviation.
The leaders first held a 30-minute t锚te-脿-t锚te, followed by nearly an hour-long formal bilateral meeting, according to the release.
Describing Bhutan as 鈥榓 very important friend of Bangladesh,鈥� Professor Yunus said that Bhutan was a key part of Dhaka鈥檚 vision for a regional trade and economic cooperation.
鈥極ur future is to build together. Geography and nature have brought us together. Our destiny is to build the future together,鈥� the chief adviser said.
In response, prime minister Tshering Tobgay said that Bhutan and Bangladesh enjoyed warm and excellent relations.
He described Bangladesh as the source of Bhutan鈥檚 鈥榮piritual heritage鈥�, recalling that monks from Bengal carried Buddhism to the Himalayan region during the Middle Ages.
The Bhutanese prime minister stressed deeper trade and economic cooperation: 鈥業f we have to prosper, we must prosper together.鈥�
Both sides discussed a plan to formally launch discussions on a bilateral free trade agreement.
Bangladesh and Bhutan previously concluded a preferential trade agreement in 2020.
The Bhutanese prime minister wanted to sign the FTA 鈥榓s quickly as possible鈥�, hoping that Bhutan would become the first country to conclude a free trade deal with Bangladesh.
The chief adviser emphasised Bangladesh鈥檚 high priority on facilitating the movement of goods between the two countries, saying that he had instructed officials to clear Bhutanese containers as quickly as possible.
Bangladesh also announced an increased number of seats for Bhutanese students in Bangladeshi medical colleges and earmarked seats in the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
Prime minister Tshering Tobgay shared that many of Bhutan鈥檚 top doctors were alumni of Bangladeshi medical colleges.
He also said that Bhutan was developing a major economic hub, the Gelephu Mindfulness City and sought Bangladesh鈥檚 cooperation, including space in Narayanganj, for loading and unloading Bhutanese cargo.
The two leaders also discussed prospects for Bangladesh to import hydropower from Bhutan, including the possibility of a trilateral agreement involving India to facilitate electricity trade.
The chief adviser reiterated that building a foundation for a shared, long-term future with all neighbours was a key priority of the interim government.
鈥榊our visit will be a building block for this shared future,鈥� Professor Yunus said.聽
Prime Minister Tobgay congratulated the interim government for 鈥榤eeting high objectives鈥� and ensuring 鈥榩eace and stability鈥� during a transition period of Bangladesh, the release from the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office mentioned.
Finance adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, energy adviser Fouzul Kabir Khan, home adviser retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, health adviser Nurjahan Begum, commerce adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin, the chief adviser鈥檚 special assistant on health Saidur Rahman, and the chief adviser鈥檚 special assistant on post, telecommunications and ICT Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, also attended the bilateral talks.
Prime minister Tshering Tobgay arrived in Dhaka earlier in the day on a three-day state visit at the invitation of chief adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Professor Yunus received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at around 8:15am.聽聽
The two leaders held a brief meeting at the airport鈥檚 VIP lounge, during which the Bhutanese prime minister expressed condolences to the families of the victims of Friday鈥檚 earthquake.
In the afternoon, foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain and commerce adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin called on the Bhutanese prime minister.
The Bhutanese prime minister will depart Dhaka for Thimphu on Monday morning.