Bangladesh, Maldives eye stronger ties
High Commissioner of the Maldives to Bangladesh, Shiuneen Rasheed, paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Wednesday, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation across key sectors.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, marked a diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries.
The Maldivian envoy congratulated the State Minister on assuming office, while the Bangladeshi side expressed appreciation for the Maldives’ high-level participation in recent state events.
State Minister Islam thanked the Maldivian leadership for attending the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new government, as well as the presence of a Maldivian minister at the state funeral of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia.
Both sides highlighted the importance of expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, healthcare, education, and connectivity.
They underscored the need to unlock untapped potential in bilateral relations, particularly through enhanced economic engagement and people-to-people contact. Emphasizing economic collaboration, the State Minister called for increased exchanges of business delegations between the two countries.
She also welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Malé and Dhaka by Maldivian, which resumed operations on March 12, 2026, describing it as a significant step toward improving connectivity and boosting tourism and trade.
The Maldivian High Commissioner acknowledged the vital contributions of Bangladeshi migrant workers to the Maldives’ socio-economic development.
In response, the State Minister expressed gratitude to the Maldivian government for continuing to provide employment opportunities to Bangladeshi nationals and urged the recruitment of more skilled and semi-skilled workers.
Rasheed also conveyed her country’s interest in hiring healthcare professionals from Bangladesh, signaling potential growth in labor cooperation between the two nations.
On regional and humanitarian issues, the State Minister thanked the Maldives for its continued support on the Rohingya crisis and reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to revitalizing the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Both sides agreed on the importance of strengthening regional cooperation to address shared challenges and promote sustainable development.
The meeting concluded with a shared understanding to further consolidate the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and the Maldives through closer collaboration in multiple sectors.
