Bilateral Consultations
Bangladesh, Nepal sign MoU
Bangladesh and Nepal yesterday signed a deal on holding bilateral consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries for further strengthening of the ties.
Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes and his Nepalese counterpart Durga Prasad Bhattarai signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on behalf of their respective governments at the foreign ministry in Dhaka.
The MoU envisages the foreign offices of Bangladesh and Nepal to meet annually and consult on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of common interest.
Earlier on the day, the two foreign secretaries, leading delegations of their respective countries, held talks on the full range of bilateral issues.
Noting that bilateral trade was far below potential, they stressed the need to encourage private sectors of the two countries to meet and explore synergies to mutual benefit.
They noted that Nepalese exports to Bangladesh would be greatly facilitated with the initiation of the Standard Operating Procedure permitting Nepalese trucks carrying bilateral cargo to enter 200 metres beyond the zero point of Bangladesh.
They noted that a rail transit route through Rohanpur in Bangladesh to Singabad in India was currently opened to Nepal following the signing of another MoU between Bangladesh and India.
Bhattarai conveyed his government's appreciation for the opportunities offered by the Bangladesh government on the use of Chittagong and Mongla ports by Nepal.
The first round of foreign office consultations under the aegis of the MoU signed yesterday is expected to be held in Kathmandu.
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