Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government was keen to build vibrant relations with neighbouring Myanmar in the backdrop of its changing political situation.
She said Dhaka greatly gave value the importance of strengthening relations with Yangon as the country was the first stepping stone for Bangladesh to build bridge with South East Asia.
She said Dhaka greatly gave value the importance of strengthening relations with Yangon as the country was the first stepping stone for Bangladesh to build bridge with South East Asia.
Hasina said this when outgoing Ambassador of Myanmar in Bangladesh U Min Lwin paid a farewell call on her at Gono Bhaban in the capital.
PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said Hasina congratulated the envoy for his valuable contribution during his stay in Dhaka to improving the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Expressing satisfaction over the settlement of long-standing demarcation of the maritime boundary issue, the premier said Bangladesh was willing to forge stronger relations with Myanmar for greater interests and welfare of the people of two countries.
She referred to the excellent historic relation, bondage, cultural traditions and people-to-people interactions and common aspirations saying direct road and rail connectivity would give a tremendous boost to trade opportunities between the two countries, Azad said.
Stressing the need for putting in place a multi- modal regional connectivity, Hasina said easy communication would facilitate boosting regional trade and strengthening cooperation in other areas of economy to alleviate poverty from South Asia.
Expressing happiness on recent revision of Air Service Agreement and inclusion of private sector airlines between Bangladesh and Myanmar, she hoped that direct flight between Dhaka/Chittagong and Yangon would resume soon.
She appreciated the assurance of Myanmar president to resume repatriation of his country's Rohingya refugees living in two camps in Bangladesh for the last two decades and called for expeditious action in this regard.
Hasina also expressed her government's interest to enhance cooperation with Myanmar in energy sector saying Bangladesh was keen to import surplus hydro-electric power from Rakhine and Chin states of Myanmar at mutually convenient rate.
She urged the Myanmar government to remove policy barriers to import more Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals and consider importing Bangladeshi products including RMG, electronic equipment, jute and jute products and leather goods.
Hasina renewed her invitation to Myanmar President Thein Sein and Madam Khin Khin Win to visit Bangladesh and hoped that the visit would take place shortly at a mutually convenient time.
The envoy praised the role and dynamic leadership of Hasina for overall development of Bangladesh and regional cooperation.
Ambassador at-Large M Ziauddin, PM's Special Assistant Abdus Sobhan Golap and Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present on the occasion.
U Min Lwin has been assigned as Ambassador and Permanent representative of Myanmar to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
source dailystar
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