Bhutan, Nepal move to expand co-op
The ambassadors of Bhutan and Nepal to Bangladesh on Sunday signaled renewed interest from all sides in strengthening cooperation and regional engagement with the new government of Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Bhutan’s Ambassador Dasho Karma Hamu Dorjee, and Nepal’s Ambassador, Ghanshyam Bhandari, separately came up with the remarks when calling on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed at the Foreign Ministry, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Both envoys congratulated her on assuming office and conveyed their governments’ interest in working closely with the newly formed government of Bangladesh.
During the meetings, the state minister underlined the priority placed by the government on building strong, mutually beneficial and forward-looking relations with neighbouring countries.
She said Bangladesh is keen to deepen partnerships that contribute to regional peace, stability and shared prosperity.
In her discussion with the Bhutanese envoy, the two sides reviewed the overall state of Bangladesh-Bhutan relations and explored ways to broaden cooperation in several areas.
These included trade and commerce, energy collaboration, connectivity, education and people-to-people contacts.
Both sides expressed interest in further expanding bilateral engagement in the days to come.
The state minister recalled with appreciation Bhutan’s historic recognition of Bangladesh in 1971, describing it as a milestone that laid the foundation for enduring ties between the two countries.
They also discussed ongoing initiatives aimed at strengthening economic cooperation, particularly efforts to expand existing trade links.
Another key issue raised during the meeting was the proposed establishment of a Bhutanese Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, which both sides believe could boost investment and deepen economic connectivity.
The meeting with the Nepalese ambassador also focused on expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors.
The state minister congratulated Nepal, through Ambassador Bhandari, on the successful conduct of its recent parliamentary election and conveyed Bangladesh’s best wishes to the government and people of Nepal.
Discussions covered trade and commerce, energy cooperation, connectivity, education, tourism, cultural exchange and people-to-people relations.
Both sides agreed that there is significant potential to strengthen collaboration in these areas.
The state minister and the Nepalese envoy reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral ties and building on the longstanding friendly relationship between Bangladesh and Nepal.
Officials said both meetings reflected a shared willingness to move relations forward through practical cooperation and greater economic engagement.
Regional cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions. The state minister recalled the vision of Bangladesh’s late president Ziaur Rahman in initiating the South Asian regional integration process that eventually led to the establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
She emphasised the importance of revitalising the regional platform to strengthen collaboration among South Asian nations, particularly at a time when economic connectivity, trade and shared development goals remain critical for the region.
Bangladesh maintains friendly diplomatic relations with both Bhutan and Nepal, and the three countries have been working in recent years to enhance cooperation in energy, trade, cross-border connectivity and regional economic integration.
The latest meetings reflect Dhaka’s renewed focus under the BNP government on strengthening ties with neighbouring countries while also encouraging greater regional collaboration across South Asia.
