2024-04-22 01:58:39
Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen has requested Bhutan to reduce the current travel fees for Bangladeshi tourists. The third Foreign Office Consultation-FOC between Bangladesh and Bhutan was held in Thimpu on Friday (April 19). The foreign secretary made this request in the meeting.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masood Bin Momen. The Bhutanese delegation was led by the country’s Foreign Secretary Pema Choden. The entire issue of bilateral relations is discussed in the FOC.
Both the Foreign Secretaries expressed satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relations existing between Bangladesh and Bhutan. They discussed all major issues of mutual interest and agreed to enhance cooperation in all sectors especially trade, health, investment, connectivity, power and energy, tourism, culture and education among others.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen urged Bhutan to take necessary steps to rejoin the BBIN framework to enhance people-to-people contact. The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh raised the issue of development fees for tourists and requested to reduce the current SDF for Bangladeshi tourists. The Bhutanese side assured positive consideration. Both sides agreed to work together to boost tourism and enhance people-to-people contacts.
Both the foreign secretaries also discussed the decisions taken during the recent visit of the King of Bhutan to Bangladesh and ways of speedy implementation of the MoUs.
Pema Choden emphasizes exploring untapped potential in the economic, cultural and educational fields and proposes establishing meaningful collaborative relationships.
He mentioned that Bhutan wants to promote more trade and investment cooperation with Bangladesh. Bhutan’s foreign secretary stressed on exchange of visits between the two countries at the public and private levels.
Both the foreign secretaries discussed regional issues of mutual interest and expressed hope that both countries will work towards revitalizing the SAARC and BIMSTEC processes.
The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh also met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Royal Government of Bhutan, Leonpo DN Dhungel.
In the meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interest including trade and investment, special economic zone in Kurigram, cooperation in power sector, cooperation in health and education, regional cooperation.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen was present as a special guest at the National Day reception organized by Bangladesh Embassy in Bhutan. He also inspected the progress of the ongoing construction work of Chancery and Residential Construction Project of Bangladesh Embassy in Thimpu.