Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday emphasized the need for enhanced trade and economic cooperation between the two "very friendly" countries—Bangladesh and Bhutan.
"We would like to see our relations grow stronger," the chief adviser said when Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh, Rinchen Kuentsyl, paid a courtesy call on him at the State Guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to boost trade between the two countries, the establishment of a Special Economic Zone for Bhutan in Bangladesh, renewable energy, and other areas of mutual interest, as well as Bengal's influence on Buddhism in the Himalayan Kingdom, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing.
The Bhutanese envoy praised the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed between the two countries in 2020, noting that Bangladesh is the only country with which Bhutan enjoys a trade surplus.
He called for the inclusion of more products under the PTA, highlighting the significant potential for increased trade between the nations.
The Ambassador also appreciated the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing a Bhutanese Special Economic Zone in Kurigram. He noted that Bhutan has already formed a Working Group in accordance with the MoU.
Ambassador Kuentsyl further described how Bangladeshi Buddhist monks and scholars preached Buddhism in Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan.
He spoke about Shantarakshita, an eighth-century monk and ancestor of Atish Dipankar, the 10th-century monk who revived Buddhism in Tibet. Both were born in what is now Munshiganj district in Bangladesh.
He also said that as early as the 15th century, Vanaratna, another monk born in Bangladesh, visited Bhutan and set up a statue of Buddha and a monastery there. He is still revered by the people of Bhutan.
Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Principal Coordinator of SDG Affairs, and Ishrat Jahan, Director General of the Foreign Ministry, were also present during the meeting.