Bhutan and Bangladesh to sign PTA soon

Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh Rinchen Kuentsyl called on Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban on Thursday (26 November) to discuss improving economic cooperation between the two countries.

He informed the Bangladeshi PM about the signing of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between Bangladesh and Bhutan next month.

The PTA between Bangladesh and Bhutan will be signed in December 2020, which is expected to further boost the trade and commerce between the two countries.

“All necessary works on the PTA have been completed to sign it next month,” said Bhutanese ambassador informed Bangladeshi PM, according to Hasina’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim who briefed reporters after the meeting.

Noting that Bangladeshi garments are very popular in Bhutan, the ambassador said, “Bangladesh is not our friend only, it’s also our trade partner.”

The envoy highly appreciated the pragmatic leadership of prime minister Sheikh Hasina saying that Bangladesh’s economy is growing strongly under her leadership.

He mentioned that a good number of Bhutanese students, particularly medical students, are pursuing their studies in Bangladesh.

Rinchen Kuentsyl praised Bangladesh’s contributions to the socioeconomic development and human development of Bhutan.

Expressing satisfaction over the prevailing relations between the two countries, the envoy said he will work to take the bilateral ties forward further during his tenure in Dhaka.

In reply, the prime minister described Bhutan as a ‘friendly neighboour’ saying that Bhutan was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country in 1971.

Hasina is learnt to have offered Bhutan to use Bangladesh’s airports and seaports like Syedpur Airport, Chattogram and Mongla seaports for the mutual benefits.