PTA to take Bangladesh-Bhutan relations to new height: Momen
DHAKA, Dec 6, 2020 (BSS) – Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said the signing of the first ever Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Bangladesh and Bhutan will carry forward the Dhaka-Thimphu bilateral ties to a new height.
“Signing this landmark PTA does not only emphasize our common priority of economic development, but also symbolizes our mutual commitment to carry forward our bilateral relations to a new height,” he said while addressing the signing ceremony of PTA from Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering witnessed the signing ceremony joining the event virtually respectively from Dhaka and Thimphu in Bhutan.
During the ratification of the treaty, both the prime ministers unveiled a logo virtually, marking the 50-year friendship between Bangladesh and Bhutan.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Foreign Minister of Bhutan Tandi Dorji and its Economic Affairs Minister Lyonpo Loknath Sharma also spoke on the occasion while Commerce Secretary Dr Jafar Uddin gave the welcome address.
Foreign Minister Momen said that the PTA would help bilateral trade to flourish further making use of the links through waterways being provided by Bangladesh to Bhutan. “I invite the business communities of both countries to take advantages of this PTA,” he said.
Currently, he said, Bangladesh and Bhutan share a wide range of bilateral relations including exchange of high level bilateral visits, share robust trade relations, and cooperate on many areas including education, health, shipping, ICT and agriculture sector.
“We also aspire to enhance our regional and sub regional cooperation for greater connectivity in the region,” he added.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Dr Lotay Tshering the foreign minister said, Bangladesh and Bhutan have reached a level of cooperation which is admired by all.
Dr Momen said they also revived history by choosing the date of December 6 for this programme, the very day when Bhutan, as the first foreign country, recognized Bangladesh in 1971 as an Independent and sovereign country.
He recalled that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman maintained excellent relations with the then Bhutanese King Jigme Singe Wangchuk.
“On this occasion, I pay rich tribute to our great and visionary forefathers…. we connect the present to the past and thus rejuvenate our bonds of friendship,” he said.