Proposal for visa exemption accord with Brazil okayed

The cabinet approved a proposal Monday for visa exemption agreement with Brazil for diplomats and official/service passport holders that will allow them to visit the country (Brazil) for 30 days without visa. It also ratified a similar agreement signed with Cambodia.
"The proposal was approved in pursuit of the Article-7 of the 'Technical Cooperation Agreement' between Bangladesh and Brazil," cabinet secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the media after a meeting at the conference room of the cabinet division on the day.  
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat.
Earlier, Dhaka and Rio de Janeiro agreed in principle to sign an agreement for exemption of visa requirement for officials and diplomats.
"Under the agreement investment cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil will be increased and bilateral relations strengthened," the cabinet secretary said.
He said people of three categories could visit Brazil and Cambodia for 30 days without visa. They could also visit another third country from Brazil and Cambodia by taking transit visa.
The facility will be available using these countries as transit points to go to other countries. The facility will be reciprocated for Brazilian and Cambodian diplomatic and official passport holders when they come to Bangladesh.
"Initially people of three categories will get benefit and in future businessmen of the countries will also enjoy such benefit," the cabinet secretary said.
Dhaka now has visa waiving agreement with 12 countries and discussion is going on with 11 other counties for such agreement, he added.
The cabinet was also apprised about Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed's participation in the 5th SAARC Business Leaders Conclave (SBLC) held in New Delhi from 16-17 January, 2014.