BD to allocate two seats annually for Nepalese junior diplomats

Bangladesh will allocate two seats annually for Nepalese junior diplomats in Foreign Service Academy to undertake specialised diplomatic training course.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque assured his Nepalese counterpart Shanker Das Bairagi this following a request from Nepalese side at the second Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) held in Dhaka on Sunday between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and his Nepalese counterpart Shanker Das Bairagi led their respective delegation to the FOC, reports BSS citing a statement on Monday.

The meeting focused on different issues relating to bilateral trade, connectivity, power and energy cooperation, higher education and human resource development and agreed on finalising pending MoUs on promotion and protection of bilateral trade.

During the meeting, both sides recognised that ‘operationalisation’ of BBIN MVA agreement will further flourish the trade and people-to-people connectivity in the region.

They agreed on examining existing tariffs and removal of non-tariff barriers and para-tariff measures to enhance bilateral trade and to hold Commerce Secretary Level Talks in Kathmandu soon.

Both the sides put emphasis on establishing multimodal connectivity including railway and air connectivity between the two countries to promote bilateral trade, investment and tourism.

They also agreed to hold regular Joint Working Groups under sub-regional cooperation involving India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan for mutual benefits.

The two foreign secretaries also emphasized on comprehensive engagement and further cooperation between the two countries in the areas of power sector cooperation, tourism, culture and people-to-people contact to widen and deepen a more engaging and result-oriented relationship. Both the sides also discussed regional issues of mutual interest when the Nepalese side lauded Bangladesh government's role in handling the huge influx of Rohingya people, who took shelter in Bangladesh following violence in Rakhine state in Myanmar.