Dhaka proposes forming new regional economic forum

BANDAR SERI BEGWAN, Brunei, Apr 22 (BSS): Bangladesh today proposed forming a regional economic forum involving five Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states of South and Southeast Asian region.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the proposal during her talks with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, here this morning.

Briefing reporters after the talks, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque said the members of the proposed Southeast Asian Cooperation Organisation (SEACO) will include Bangladesh and the Maldives from South Asia and Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei from Southeast Asia.

In response to the proposal, the Brunei Sultan assured that he would "favourably consider" the matter, the foreign secretary said.

The foreign secretary said issues related to bilateral interests and international concerns including the Rohingya crisis came up for discussions at the talks.

Mr Haque said the Prime Minister put forward a few more proposals for further strengthening the bilateral ties and cooperation between Bangladesh and Brunei.

He said the Prime Minister made a proposal for increasing interaction between the business communities of two countries and conducting a feasibility study on a preferential trade arrangement.

Sheikh Hasina also proposed for holding discussion on constitution of a joint commission between the two countries.

She put emphasis on increasing cooperation in the fields of jute and jute goods, software, agro products, ceramic and tableware, shipbuilding industry and tourism.

The Prime Minister said the government is setting up industrial parks where the Brunei entrepreneurs could make investment.

She put emphasis on avoidance of double taxation and mutual promotion and protection of investment.

Sheikh Hasina attached priority to health and agriculture sectors in the context of Brunei and said big collaboration between the two countries could be made in health professionals and pharmaceuticals.

The foreign secretary said the Bangladesh prime minister and the Brunei Sultan felt the need for establishing direct air link between Bangladesh and Brunei.

The Prime Minister proposed for military cooperation in non-weapon-related area like humanitarian operation and knowledge sharing.

About the ASEAN, the Sultan assured that Brunei will continue to help strengthen the cooperation between Bangladesh and the regional forum.

At the talks, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina invited Brunei Sultan to visit Bangladesh along with his wife, the foreign secretary said.

Earlier, the Sultan greeted the prime minister by proceeding to the stair of the Palace breaking traditional Royal protocol of Brunei, the foreign secretary said.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh and Brunei today signed seven instruments for strengthening cooperation mainly in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, livestock, culture and sports, and the supply of LNG.

The instruments were signed after the official bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, here.

The seven instruments -- six MoUs and one exchange of notes -- are the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture, the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Fisheries, the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Livestock, the MoU on Cultural and Arts Cooperation, the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Youth and Sports, the MoU on the Field of Cooperation in the Supply of LNG, and the Exchange of Notes on Exemption of Visa for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.

The ministers concerned of the two countries inked the MoUs and Exchange of Notes in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, said Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque while briefing reporters.