KATHMANDU, Aug 30, 2018 (BSS) – Bangladesh and Nepal today agreed to boost
cooperation in power sector alongside trade and investment as Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina held talks with her Nepalese counterpart KP Sharma Oli on the
sidelines of the 4th BIMSTEC Summit here.
“They discussed bilateral and regional cooperation and put emphasis on
increasing trade and investment as well as enhanced cooperation for power
sector development,” Bangladesh premier’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told
reporters after the meeting at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu this
morning.
Karim said the two premiers discussed the issue of importing electricity
from Nepal and signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard.
Sheikh Hasina, he said, recalled with profound gratitude the Nepalese
support to Bangladesh’s Liberation War and said Dhaka deeply valued its
relations with Nepal as the bilateral cooperation between the two neighbours
was crucial for both the countries.
“Our main aim is to eradicate poverty from the region…we want development
not for our own country alone, we want the neighbours to develop as well,”
she said.
The premier offered Nepal to use Bangladesh’s seaports and the Syedpur
airport and added Bangladesh could also share its experience in disaster
management with Kathmandu.
The Nepalese premier, on the other hand, said the two countries needed to
“explore opportunities to boost cooperation in different sectors”.
Oli expressed his happiness as his Bangladesh counterpart joined the
BIMSTEC Summit at his invitation while Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for
further strengthening the regional connectivity for the benefit of the South
Asian nations.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH mahmood Ali, PM’s Principal Secretary Md
Nojibur Rahman, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque and Bangladesh Ambassador in
Kathmandu Mashfee Binte Shams aided the premier during the talks.
Nepalese Foreign Minister Prodip Kumar Gyawali and Foreign Secretary
Shanker Das Bairagi were present from the Nepalese side.
Later, Bhutanese Chief Adviser or head of interim government Dasho
Tshering Wangchuk called on Sheikh Hasina at the same place when they
discussed matters of mutual interest, the press secretary said.
During the meeting, the chief adviser informed the Bangladesh prime
minister of the upcoming elections in Bhutan.
“According to Bhutan’s constitution, our parliament has been dissolved and
the new government will take oath by October 31,” he said.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction over the existing friendly ties
between the two countries and hoped that the relationship would be further
strengthened in the days to come.
The Bhutanese chief adviser recalled his visit to Bikramapur of Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman
and Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque were present on the occasion.
Later, Sheikh Hasina along with other BIMSTEC leaders paid a joint call on
Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari at Sheetal Nibash, the Presidential
Palace, in the capital city.
They also attended a banquet luncheon there hosted by the Nepalese
president.
Sheikh Hasina arrived here this morning to join the two-day 4th Summit of
the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic
Cooperation (BIMSTEC) that begins today.