BD, Bhutan to enjoy duty-free export of 90 items, deal signed

Bangladesh and Bhutan on Saturday signed two agreements, including one on trade that will allow the two neighbouring countries to enjoy duty-free export of 90 items to each other. Another agreement is on allocation of a land at Dhaka city’s Baridhara diplomatic enclave to Bhutan for the construction of its embassy. Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Bhutan’s Economic Affairs Minister Norbu Wangchuk signed the agreement on trade for their respective counties, while Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and his Bhutanese counterpart Rinzin Dorje inked the deal on the land allocation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay witnessed the agreement signing ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office. The signing ceremony over, Tofail Ahmed said the two countries would now enjoy duty-free export of 90 items from each country with the signing of the trade agreement. He said Bhutan had earlier enjoyed duty-free export of 74 items from their country. The Commerce Minister also mentioned that both countries are moving forward to allow all items from both countries, according to a news agency. Tofail said Bangladesh and Bhutan would also sign a preferential trade agreement so that both countries could export items from their countries without any hindrance. He said Bangladesh would allow duty-free import of bolder that will be used for the construction of Padma Bridge, a mega infrastructure project of Bangladesh.