Bangladesh’s Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Dr. Abdul Moin Khan, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humayun Kabir, paid a courtesy call on Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Shering Tobgay. During the meeting, the two Bangladeshi ministers sought Bhutan’s cooperation in the initiative to revive SAARC, the South Asian regional cooperation organization.
The meeting took place on Friday (September 18) during the Bhutanese Prime Minister’s brief stopover at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. During this time, the two ministers conveyed warm greetings to the Bhutanese Prime Minister on behalf of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
This information was conveyed in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, the long-standing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan were highlighted, and emphasis was placed on further strengthening ties between the two countries. Bhutan’s recognition of Bangladesh as the first country after its independence in 1971 was also recalled.
Various bilateral issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting. Bangladesh expressed its interest in cooperating with Bhutan’s ‘Gelephu Mindfulness City’ development initiative. Specifically, interest was conveyed regarding providing professionals, skilled, and semi-skilled manpower from Bangladesh for this project.
Referring to the late President Ziaur Rahman’s vision for regional cooperation aimed at South Asia’s prosperity, the two Bangladeshi ministers sought Bhutan’s cooperation in the initiative to revive SAARC.
Bhutan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh and senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the meeting.
Earlier, Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Shering Tobgay stayed at the VVIP lounge in Dhaka for about an hour before departing for Germany.
