BSS :
Dhaka and Kathmandu on Monday signed four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to enhance cooperation between the two countries in different areas including tourism, sanitation, cultural exchange and railways link.
President Abdul Hamid and his Nepali counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari witnessed the MoUs signing ceremony.
The MoUs were inked after the bilateral talks between Bangladesh and Nepal at the Credential Hall of Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Monday evening.
MoU on Tourism Cooperation was signed by Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Md Mokammel Hossian from the Bangladesh side and Nepal’s Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Secretary Yadav Prasad Koirala.
MoU on Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Cooperation was signed by Bangladesh’s Agriculture Ministry’s Senior Secretary Md Mesbaul Islam and Secretary of the Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Ministry of Nepal Dinesh Bhattarai on behalf of their respective countries.
MoU on Cultural Exchange Program for the year of 2022-2025 was signed by Bangladesh’s Cultural Affairs Secretary Badrul Arefin and Nepalese Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Secretary Yadav Prasad Koirala.
And Bangladesh’s Commerce Ministry Secretary Dr Md Jafar Uddin and Nepal government’s Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ministry Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai signed the MoU on Letter of Exchange on Rohanpur-Sighbad Railway Route amendment to Nepal-Bangladesh Transit Agreement on behalf of their respective countries.
From the Bangladesh side, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque, and from the Nepal side, daughter of Nepali President, Usha Kiran Bhandari, and Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, among others, were present on the occasion.
Earlier, on arrival of the Nepali President at the Bangabhaban, she was received by President Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanam at the Octagonal of the Presidential palace.
The MoU signing ceremony was followed by a cultural function and dinner.
The Bangladesh President hosted the dinner at the State-Dining Hall in honour of his Nepali counterpart, who is on a two-day tour in Dhaka to attend the twin historic celebrations – Bangladesh’s Independence golden jubilee and birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, President’s wife Rashida Khanam, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hessian, several ministers, senior civil and military officials and other dignitaries also attended the dinner.
