Bangladesh, Bhutan agree to activate river routes to expand trade

News Desk: Bangladesh and Bhutan today agreed to activate the river routes to expand business 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’sOffice (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 the necessary infrastructure to maximize 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 ship's anchor to facilitate trade and commerce.

During the meeting, both the Premier discussed various ranges of mutual benefits particularly 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 MoUon to set up a hydropower plant with bilateral and trilateral cooperation involving India. The Bhutanese Prime Minister requested the Bangladesh Premier to provide a 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 information Communication Technology (ICT) particularly in broadband internet. Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen, Principal Secretary to the PrimeMinister 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 Rinchen Kuentsyl and Chief of Protocol Daso Ugyen Gongphel were present among others. Earlier, the two Prime Ministers held a tête-à-tête that lasted for 45 minutesThe Bhutanese Prime Minister later signed the visitors’ book at the PMO.

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