BD seeks Bhutan's support to revive SAARC

Bangladesh on Friday sought Bhutan’s support for revitalising SAARC for the collective benefit of the region and its people, as Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay made a brief transit stopover in Dhaka.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir received the Bhutanese Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport during his brief stopover.

During the interaction, the Bangladesh ministers conveyed warm greetings from Bangladesh’s Prime Minister to the Bhutanese Premier.

Recalling the vision of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for a prosperous South Asia, the ministers requested Bhutan's support for revitalising the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for the collective benefit of the region and its people.

The ministers also expressed Bangladesh's keen interest in contributing to the development of Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), particularly by providing professionals and skilled and semi-skilled human resources.

They also discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest and appreciated the longstanding bonds of friendship between Bangladesh and Bhutan, which have been cemented since Bhutan became the first country to recognise Bangladesh in 1971.

The Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the meeting.

Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay stayed at the VVIP lounge for around an hour before departing for Germany.    �"BSS