Dhaka – Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Nepal, Md. Shafiqul Rahman, met with Nepal’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Shisir Khanal, on Tuesday in a courtesy call aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing economic cooperation.
At the outset of the meeting, Ambassador Md. Shafiqul Rahman conveyed warm congratulations on behalf of Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister to his Nepali counterpart. He expressed optimism that under Nepal’s new leadership, both countries would work closely on issues of mutual interest.
Highlighting Bangladesh’s commitment to regional cooperation, the Ambassador referred to the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, noting that Bangladesh remains ready to collaborate fully in promoting economic growth and maintaining regional peace.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on boosting bilateral trade and investment. Both sides emphasized the importance of expediting the finalization of a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Ambassador Rahman also proposed the development of a structured strategic cooperation framework or a long-term roadmap to fully harness the potential of bilateral engagement.
The meeting further explored new avenues of collaboration in agriculture, food security, and hydropower. Both parties engaged in constructive discussions on expanding cooperation in these key sectors.
Ambassador Rahman underscored the importance of enhancing people-to-people connectivity and promoting tourism. He highlighted the potential benefits of establishing direct air links between Pokhara and Cox’s Bazar, noting that such connectivity could mark a new milestone in tourism development between the two countries.
Both Bangladesh and Nepal agreed that transforming their longstanding friendly relations into a robust economic partnership would contribute significantly to ensuring peace and prosperity in South Asia.
By MD Abdur Rahman Dhaka
