Dipu Moni, Naseem satisfied over Dhaka-Male ties

ADDU CITY, Maldives, Nov 10 (BSS): Foreign Minister (FM) Dipu Moni held a bilateral meeting Wednesday with her Maldivian counterpart Ahmed Naseem on the sidelines of 17th SAARC summit that kicks off today (Thursday). During the meeting, the two FMs discussed the entire range of bilateral issues between Bangladesh and Maldives, and expressed satisfaction at the excellent ties existing between the two countries. The ministers particularly discussed the potential to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries. They also discussed the possibility of setting up a Bangladesh product display centre in Male where potential exportables from Bangladesh would be displayed. The Maldives FM particularly expressed interest in jute products, tableware and handicrafts. Supplies for tourist resorts in Maldives were also discussed. They discussed possibilities of cooperation in agriculture sector extensively. Mr Naseem suggested the dispatch of a delegation from Maldives to explore possibilities of cooperation to establish linkages with agriculture related research organisations. He also discussed the possibilities of extending the ongoing Indian Ocean Cargo and Passenger Ferry Service under SAARC framework to Bangladesh, in order to establish Chittagong-Chennai-Male route, involving private sector. Dipu Moni after the meeting told journalists that both Bangladesh and Maldives have been looking for new areas of cooperation in the days ahead. She said both countries are going to focus on cultural exchange programmes soon. A senior foreign ministry official said that Bangladesh would be eager to help Maldives transfer cattle rearing expertise and export cattle at a reasonable rate. His comment came after the BSS ran a report on that Maldivian Muslims observed Eid- ul-Azha without 'Korbani' as the country lacks in live cattle. Cows and goats are not reared in the island state and Muslims consume imported frozen beef, mutton and chicken during Eid day. The 100 per cent Muslim country has a population of nearly 400,000 and they live mostly on 200 islands out of nearly 1,200 islands of it.