Talk on "Bangladesh–Nepal Relations

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a talk titled "Bangladesh–Nepal Relations: Prospect for Sub-Regional Cooperation" on 18 February 2020 at the BIISS Auditorium.

H. E. Md Shahriar Alam, MP, Honourable State Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, attended the programme as the Chief Guest, while H. E. Mr Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Government of Nepal, delivered the keynote address and graced the event as the Guest of Honour. The session was chaired by Ambassador M Fazlul Karim, Chairman of BIISS, who also delivered the welcome address.

In his keynote lecture, H. E. Mr Pradeep Kumar Gyawali described Bangladesh and Nepal as "closer friends than neighbours," emphasising that the two countries are bound together by geographical proximity, shared cultural heritage, common values, and enduring people-to-people ties. He noted that the teachings of Lord Buddha and the literary legacy of Rabindranath Tagore have strengthened the spiritual, cultural, and emotional bonds between the two nations. He further observed that the rivers originating from the Himalayas have played a vital role in nurturing the fertile plains of Bangladesh, symbolising the deep natural and civilisational linkages shared by both countries.

Highlighting the prospects for bilateral and sub-regional cooperation, the Nepalese Foreign Minister underscored the vast untapped potential for expanding trade, investment, tourism, energy cooperation, and cross-border connectivity. While acknowledging that bilateral trade remained below its potential, he stressed that enhanced transport and transit links, improved market access, and greater private sector engagement could significantly strengthen economic relations between the two countries.

The discussions also focused on the importance of sub-regional cooperation under initiatives such as the Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal (BBIN) framework. Speakers highlighted the need to accelerate cooperation in multimodal connectivity, hydropower development, renewable energy, trade facilitation, regional value chains, and sustainable tourism. They emphasised that closer collaboration among South Asian neighbours would contribute to regional integration, shared prosperity, and sustainable development.

The programme was attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, policymakers, academics, researchers, military officials, representatives of think tanks, media professionals, students from various universities, and representatives of international organisations. During the interactive discussion session, participants shared valuable questions, comments, suggestions, and observations on strengthening Bangladesh–Nepal relations and advancing sub-regional cooperation in South Asia.

The event concluded with a reaffirmation of the longstanding friendship between Bangladesh and Nepal and the shared commitment of both countries to deepening bilateral engagement and promoting greater regional connectivity, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges for mutual prosperity and regional stability.