Bhutan hails PM's proposal for cross border road link
Sunday, 8 November 2009
THIMPHU, Nov 7 (UNB): Prime Minister of Bhutan Jigme Y Thinley welcomed Bangladesh premier Sheikh Hasina's suggestion for introducing bilateral road communications between the two neighbouring countries as Dhaka and Thimphu moved to enhance the two-way trade under a renewed deal.
"We will be happy if we can set up land communications with Bangladesh," the host Prime Minister said when Sheikh Hasina met him at his office Gyalong Tshokhang in the Bhutanese capital on Saturday afternoon and the two sides held extensive talks on cooperation.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh renewed its bilateral trade agreement with Bhutan Saturday for the next five years under which Bhutan will get duty-free access of 18 new products
to Bangladesh, mainly fruits and vegetables.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and Bhutanese Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk signed the agreement in the presence of the two premiers at the Bhutanese Prime Minister's Office.
Sheikh Hasina in her meeting with her Bhutanese counterpart proposed that Bangladesh and Bhutan introduce cross-border road communications through three points-Burimari Port (Lalmonirhat), Tamabil (Sylhet) and Naoka (Sherpur) -- to enhance bilateral trade and people-to-people contact between the two close neighbours.
Briefing reporters after the meeting Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Nazrul Islam said Sheikh Hasina also told the Bhutanese Prime Minister that her government is modernising Mongla seaport and other ports of the country which Bhutan could use for the landlocked country's external trade.
"Bhutan can use the Mongla port, which will help in boosting bilateral trade and economy of the two countries," Prime Minister Hasina said.
She declared at the meeting that the planned Rangamati University will be built in the light of Bhutanese architectures.
The two Prime Ministers also discussed a wide range of other issues, including ways of enhancing the bilateral trade and business and jointly facing the risks of climate change.
At the very outset of the talks, Thinley Wangchuk congratulated Hasina on the Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance's landslide victory at the last parliamentary polls.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister thanked Hasina for her strong role in the international forums regarding arranging funds for the climate-victim countries, including Bangladesh and Bhutan, to tackle the daunting challenges stemming from the global climate change.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Bhutan both are now at serious risk of natural disasters following the climate-change impacts on the globe.
She said, "The gradual melting of the Himalayan glaciers will first harm Bhutan and then Bangladesh as sea level is rising at an alarming rate."
The two heads of government agreed that all the South Asian countries need to work in unison for poverty alleviation and protecting people from the climate threats.
Sheikh Hasina, during the meeting, invited the Bhutanese Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh. The Bhutanese PM accepted the invitation.
Later at the trade agreement-signing ceremony, the Bhutanese Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the government of Bangladesh for allowing tariff-free access of more Bhutanese products to Bangladesh.
He said, "The farmers of Bhutan will be significantly benefited by the tariff-free access of 18 more products to Bangladesh market."
The Bhutanese Prime Minister recognized that Bangladesh has been making outstanding contribution to the development progress of Bhutan for years.
Under the renewed trade agreement, Tamabil of Bangladesh has been introduced as a new entry and exit point for Bhutan in the protocol to the trade agreement.
Besides, the number of products has been increased to 90 from the previous 74 for trading between Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The trade agreement was first signed in 1980 for ten years and extended for another 10 years automatically as per provision of the deal that means the validity was up to 2000. The trade agreement was signed again in 2003 for five years.
"We will be happy if we can set up land communications with Bangladesh," the host Prime Minister said when Sheikh Hasina met him at his office Gyalong Tshokhang in the Bhutanese capital on Saturday afternoon and the two sides held extensive talks on cooperation.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh renewed its bilateral trade agreement with Bhutan Saturday for the next five years under which Bhutan will get duty-free access of 18 new products
to Bangladesh, mainly fruits and vegetables.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan and Bhutanese Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk signed the agreement in the presence of the two premiers at the Bhutanese Prime Minister's Office.
Sheikh Hasina in her meeting with her Bhutanese counterpart proposed that Bangladesh and Bhutan introduce cross-border road communications through three points-Burimari Port (Lalmonirhat), Tamabil (Sylhet) and Naoka (Sherpur) -- to enhance bilateral trade and people-to-people contact between the two close neighbours.
Briefing reporters after the meeting Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Nazrul Islam said Sheikh Hasina also told the Bhutanese Prime Minister that her government is modernising Mongla seaport and other ports of the country which Bhutan could use for the landlocked country's external trade.
"Bhutan can use the Mongla port, which will help in boosting bilateral trade and economy of the two countries," Prime Minister Hasina said.
She declared at the meeting that the planned Rangamati University will be built in the light of Bhutanese architectures.
The two Prime Ministers also discussed a wide range of other issues, including ways of enhancing the bilateral trade and business and jointly facing the risks of climate change.
At the very outset of the talks, Thinley Wangchuk congratulated Hasina on the Bangladesh Awami League-led Grand Alliance's landslide victory at the last parliamentary polls.
The Bhutanese Prime Minister thanked Hasina for her strong role in the international forums regarding arranging funds for the climate-victim countries, including Bangladesh and Bhutan, to tackle the daunting challenges stemming from the global climate change.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and Bhutan both are now at serious risk of natural disasters following the climate-change impacts on the globe.
She said, "The gradual melting of the Himalayan glaciers will first harm Bhutan and then Bangladesh as sea level is rising at an alarming rate."
The two heads of government agreed that all the South Asian countries need to work in unison for poverty alleviation and protecting people from the climate threats.
Sheikh Hasina, during the meeting, invited the Bhutanese Prime Minister to visit Bangladesh. The Bhutanese PM accepted the invitation.
Later at the trade agreement-signing ceremony, the Bhutanese Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the government of Bangladesh for allowing tariff-free access of more Bhutanese products to Bangladesh.
He said, "The farmers of Bhutan will be significantly benefited by the tariff-free access of 18 more products to Bangladesh market."
The Bhutanese Prime Minister recognized that Bangladesh has been making outstanding contribution to the development progress of Bhutan for years.
Under the renewed trade agreement, Tamabil of Bangladesh has been introduced as a new entry and exit point for Bhutan in the protocol to the trade agreement.
Besides, the number of products has been increased to 90 from the previous 74 for trading between Bangladesh and Bhutan.
The trade agreement was first signed in 1980 for ten years and extended for another 10 years automatically as per provision of the deal that means the validity was up to 2000. The trade agreement was signed again in 2003 for five years.