Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has expressed his country’s willingness to help Bangladesh in the energy sector.
The visiting monarch made the offer during a courtesy meeting with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital on February 16.
Central BNP Vice-Chairman and former Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told reporters after the meeting,
“Bhutan has made significant progress in hydro-electric power generation. The Bhutanese King has assured the Opposition Leader of helping Bangladesh in this sector,” he said.
But before importing hydro-electricity from Bhutan, the King said the Bangladesh government would have to develop its overall infrastructure.
Wangchuck said that the Bangladesh embassy was opened in Bhutan during late President Ziaur Rahman’s rule. Bhutan was the second country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent state, doing so on the 6th of Dec 1971, ten days before Bangladesh officially declared its independence.
The King also expressed his gratitude to the Bangladesh government and its people for according him a warm hospitality.
The monarch underscored the need for regional cooperation for development of the region. He invited the BNP chief to visit Bhutan. They also discussed Khaleda’s recent visits to China and India.
Acting BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Chairperson’s Advisors Riaz Rahman, Sabih Uddin Ahmed and Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury were present during the meeting.
The King and Queen of Bhutan arrived on a five-day private visit to Dhaka on February 14. This is Wangchuck’s second visit to Bangladesh in less than two years. His first visit was in March 2011. However, this is the first visit of Queen Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck.
