The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay arrived in Dhaka today on a official visit to Bangladesh from 06-08 December 2014 at the invitation of Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Lyonchhen was received at the Hazarat Shaljalal International Airport by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Ministers and other senior government officials of Bangladesh with a full guard of honour. Kutshab and the officials of the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka welcomed Lyonchhen and the delegation.
Following the arrival, Lyonchhen and the entourage visited the National Martyrs’ Memorial where Lyonchhen placed a floral wreath and observed a minute of silence in respect to those who lost lives during Bangladesh’s liberation war in 1971. Lyonchhen also planted a sapling at the Memorial.
The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Mr. A.H. Mahmood Ali made a courtesy call on Lyonchhen during which they discussed the excellent relations that exist between Bhutan and Bangladesh and ways to further promote cooperation.
The official bilateral meeting was held in the afternoon at the Prime Minister’s office. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bhutan has a special place in the hearts of the people of Bangladesh, because of Bhutan’s support towards Bangladesh’s liberation war and for being the first country to recognize independent Bangladesh.
Lyonchhen conveyed the warm greetings of His Majesty the King and the people of Bhutan to the Prime Minister and the people of Bangladesh. He reaffirmed the close friendship and excellent cooperation between Bangladesh and Bhutan. He said that the two countries should continue to work together to reap the full benefits of mutual cooperation.
The two sides reflected on the exemplary relations between Bhutan and Bangladesh and reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations ranging from the shared cultural and historical heritages, and cooperation in trade, connectivity, power sharing and human resource development, and ways to further promote cooperation in these areas.
Lyonchhen handed over a letter from His Majesty the King inviting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Bhutan.
Lyonchhen also presented the text of the message sent in 1971 by His Majesty the Third Druk Gyalpo to the then President of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam formally conveying Bhutan’s recognition of the independence of Bangladesh.
Following the bilateral meeting, the two sides renewed the bilateral Trade Agreement for another ten years.
In addition, the two sides signed an agreement for the handing over of a plot of land at Baridhara diplomatic zone for the construction of the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Dhaka. The plot was presented by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a gift from the people of Bangladesh to the people of Bhutan to demonstrate the special friendship between Bhutan and Bangladesh.
