Diplomatic Correspondent :
Bangladesh has welcomed Nepal’s proposal to use Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari district as part of strengthening connectivity between the two countries.
“Nepal has proposed to use the airport to expedite trade and connectivity between Dhaka and Kathmandu. We said yes,” Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen told journalists after a bilateral meeting with his Nepalese counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali at the state guest house Meghna on Tuesday.
The airport, situated on 136.59 acres of land, started its journey as a domestic airport in 1979. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is supervising the Saidpur Airport.
This Airport is located at 2 kms off Saidpur town and 350 kms off Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Novoair and US-Bangla Airlines are presently operating their passenger flights from and to Saidpur Airport.
Talking to reporters, Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar said they discussed how the two countries could develop connectivity, transit, transport and power sector cooperation.
He said Bangladesh has recently permitted Indian company GMR to invest in hydro-power in Nepal that will provide 500 MW of power from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian company.
“It will open a new chapter in power sector cooperation,” said Pradeep Kumar.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen said, they have discussed connectivity, tourism, climate and Rohingya issues and ways to remove trade barriers, especially non-tariff barriers.
Later, the Nepal Foreign Minister attended a discussion on “Bangladesh-Nepal Relations: Prospects for Sub-regional Cooperation” at BIISS auditorium in the city where he delivered the keynote speech.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam spoke as the chief guest at the event organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).
