Bangladesh and Bhutan signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on Saturday, aiming to deepen cooperation in health services and expand collaboration on internet connectivity.
The agreements were inked following bilateral talks between Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka.
The first MoU focuses on the recruitment of health workers. It was signed between the Health Services Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Bhutan’s Ministry of Health. Secretary of the Health Services Division Md Saidur Rahman signed the document on behalf of Bangladesh.
The second MoU paves the way for increased trade in international internet bandwidth and telecommunication services. Abdun Naser Khan, Secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division, signed the agreement for Bangladesh.
Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, confirmed the development on Saturday, November 22.
Professor Yunus and Prime Minister Tobgay witnessed the signing and exchange of the agreements.
The two leaders earlier held a private meeting at the Principal Advisor’s office in Tejgaon, followed by formal bilateral discussions.
Prime Minister Tobgay arrived in Dhaka on Friday morning for a two-day state visit.
His Druk Air flight touched down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8:15am, where he was received by Chief Adviser Yunus. The leaders also met briefly in the VIP lounge, during which Tobgay expressed condolences for the casualties and damage caused by Friday’s earthquake.
The Bhutanese premier was accorded a ceremonial welcome, including a guard of honour and a 19-gun salute. He then visited the National Martyrs ‘ Memorial in Savar to pay homage to the martyrs of the Liberation War and planted a sapling on the memorial grounds.
Later in the afternoon, Foreign Affairs Adviser M Touhid Hossain and Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin held separate meetings with the visiting Prime Minister.
In the evening, a state dinner is scheduled in honour of Prime Minister Tobgay, marking the final leg of his engagements on the first day of the visit.