BD, Uzbekistan discuss air connectivity, trade opportunities

FT ONLINE

Bangladesh has sought initiative to introduce Uzbek Air flight to Dhaka, facilitate issuance of visa and opening of the Uzbek Mission in Bangladesh.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam raised the issues during his official meeting with Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov Khafizovich on Wednesday in Tashkent.

The Uzbek Foreign Minister assured the State Minister of considering the issues actively, said the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka.

The State Minister also briefed him of the development and the actions taken by Bangladesh for the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar and thanked him for the Uzbek support.

Welcoming the State Minister to Uzbekistan after 18 years of last bilateral visit, he hoped that this visit would reinvigorate the current bilateral relations and facilitate our efforts into new avenues and sectors for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

The State Minister mentioned that the relations between the two countries started with the historic visit of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Tashkent in 1973 and further developed through the years.

However, both of them opined that there were ample of scopes to expand the current relations encompassing more mutually beneficial issues.

They discussed various agreements, both future and under consideration, which could be concluded between the two countries.

The State Minister briefed him about the recent development achievements and activities of the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the attaining graduation criteria from the LDC status.

Uzbek Foreign Minister praised the leadership role of Bangladesh in various international fora and requested for the continued support of Bangladesh in various efforts of Uzbekistan including the multilateral initiative on Afghanistan and its future.

The State Minister assured him of help to Uzbekistan in all regional and global fora. He also invited the minister to participate in the forthcoming OIC CFM to be held in Dhaka in May.