SEZ to be built in BD for Bhutan

A special economic zone (SEZ) for Bhutan will be established in Bangladesh under one of three cooperation deals ready for signing during Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck's tour beginning today.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin would receive the monarch of the Himalayan country on his arrival at the airport in Dhaka, Foreign Minister Dr Hassan Mahmud told a press briefing Sunday.

This happens to be the first highest-level visit by a foreign dignitary to Bangladesh after the assumption of this government last January.

Under another memorandum of understanding (MoU) a burn unit will be established in Bhutan's capital and largest city, Thimphu, in replication of Dhaka's hospice dedicated to treatment of burn patients.

And the third MoU between the two South Asian neighbours provides for technological cooperation and consumer protection.

Besides, an agreement on cultural cooperation will be renewed during the king's stay in Dhaka.

As per his itinerary, the king would pay homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at 32 Dhanmondi on the first day of his visit.

Also, he will pay homage to the martyrs of Bangladesh liberation war at the Liberation War Memorial at Savar tomorrow (March 26) and attend the programme of the Independence Day.

The king would hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

The Bhutanese leader is scheduled to see for himself the special economic in Araihazar Upazila of Narayanganj, the Padma Bridge and Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute.

Responding to a question, the foreign minister said expansion of bilateral trade, cooperation in tourism and IT sector, energy import from Bhutan, regional energy cooperation among Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India, scope of PTA and transit cooperation between the two countries will feature the bilateral talks between the two countries.

The government will announce increasing admission quota for Bhutanese students from 22 to 30 in the government medical colleges during the king's visit.

Bhutan will also get the opportunity to send two officials for training in the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

"The king will visit the proposed place for the establishment of special economic zone for Bhutan entrepreneurs on March 29, and the same day, he will depart for his country through Sonahat land port," the FM said.

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