Bangladesh has suggested exploring the possibilities of signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Nepal to increase bilateral trade.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the proposal while addressing a seminar titled "Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity" on Sunday.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the seminar.
The foreign minister said there is a lot of potential for mutual cooperation between the two countries in the fields such as energy, tourism, education, migration, and connectivity.
He pointed out that both Nepal and Bangladesh are graduating from LDC in 2026.
Thus, both countries have enormous opportunities to work together for a smooth LDC graduation.
Ghanshyam Bhandari, ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh, Swarnim Wagle, chair at the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), Kathmandu, Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, Rector, Foreign Service Academy, Bangladesh, and Maj Gen Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, director general, BIISS, also spoke on the occasion.
Ghanshyam Bhandari highlighted that Nepal and Bangladesh share a common commitment to global peace and have avenues for further expansion of trade and investment opportunities.
They also have scope for exploring hydropower potential and a great potential for tourism prospects together.
The Nepalese ambassador also emphasized the need for sharing mutual experiences, lessons and best practices for planning a better future.
Maj Gen Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin said the two countries have a vast scope of cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, connectivity, energy cooperation, education, and tourism.
"Bangladesh and Nepal have enormous scope to work and enhance cooperation under the sub-regional and regional platforms", he said, adding that Bangladesh and Nepal can also work together to take the bilateral relationship forward and enhance collaboration in hydropower and infrastructure development.
