Home Adviser Lt Gen Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd) said the agreement on exemption from visa requirement for diplomatic and official passport holders will further deepen relationship between Bangladesh and Gambia.
“We are pleased to have taken this step, which reflects our shared commitment to strengthening cooperation and collaboration,” he said while briefing journalists at the conference room of the Home Ministry at the secretariat on Thursday after signing the agreement.
Home Adviser Lt Gen Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd) and visiting Gambian Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr Mamadou Tangara signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Jahangir said Bangladesh has a high regard for Gambia for its principle stance on the Rohingya issue and its unwavering solidarity with Bangladesh in international forums.
“With the backing of the OIC, the Gambia’s leadership in seeking justice for the Rohingya at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has earned our deep appreciation,” he said.
“There is an immense potential for collaboration in readymade garments, food processing and packaging, IT and IT-enabled services, and pharmaceuticals between the two countries,” he added.
“It is essential to translate the diplomatic goodwill into increased business-to-business interactions to unlock the full potential of our economic partnership,” he said.
Addressing the function Gambian Foreign Minister said: “Gambia and Bangladesh have strong diplomatic ties. The agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders is a milestone of the relationship.”
Bangladesh now has agreement with 30 countries on visa exemption. The countries are- China, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Turkey, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile and Argentina.
