Dhaka, Mar 22 – Bangladesh and Nepal on Monday signed four Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) to enhance cooperation between the two countries in tourism, sanitation, cultural exchange and railways link. The signing ceremony was held following the bilateral talks between the two sides led by Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Nepalese counterpart Bidya Devi Bhandari at Bangabhaban.
These are: MoU on Tourism Cooperation jointly signed by Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Mokammel Hossian from Bangladesh side and Nepalese 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.
MoU on Cultural Exchange Programme 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.
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 Bangladesh side, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and from Nepal side, daughter of Nepalese President Usha Kiran Bhandari, Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, among others, were present on the occasion.
Earlier, on arrival of the Nepalese President at the Bangabhaban, President Abdul Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanam received them at the Presidential Palace.
The MoU signing ceremony was followed by a cultural function and dinner.
Bangladesh President hosted the dinner at the State-Dining Hall in honor of Nepalese counterpart, who is on two-day tour here to attend the twin historic celebrations – Bangladesh’s Independence golden jubilee and birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, several ministers, civil and military high officials and other dignitaries also attended the dinner. – UNB
