BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

New Age March 13, 2023 FM for visa-free movement for sub-regional cooperation Staff Correspondent Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen attends a seminar titled ‘Celebrating 50 years of Bangladesh-Nepal friendship: Shared vision of peace, progress and prosperity’ organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies in the capital on Sunday. — New Age photo Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said that a visa-free movement of peoples from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh was necessary for strengthening sub-regional cooperation for both peace and prosperity of all these countries. He expressed frustration over slow pace in the execution of the subregional initiatives like the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) Motor Vehicles Agreement signed in 2015 and import of hydropower from Nepal. Addressing a seminar titled ‘Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity’ in the city as chief guest, the minister said that the two nations had many similarities and wider scopes of cooperation for mutual benefits. The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies organised the seminar at its auditorium.  Momen said that as both Nepal and Bangladesh were graduating from the Least Developed Countries, the two counties should take a stand so that they were not punished on their graduation. He said that Bangladesh had a deal with Nepal to import 50 megawatt hydroelectricity through India. The minister stressed the need for a positive mentality for further cooperation among the countries in the subregion for the maximum benefits of their potentials. Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari said that Bangladesh and Nepal shared similar challenges and opportunities. He said that bilateral trade between the two countries was increasing, but not up to the potentials. Supply of the 50MW hydroelectricity from Nepal to Bangladesh under a deal was at the final stage, he mentioned.  He said about 3000 Nepali students were now studying at universities and medical colleges in Bangladesh while 25,000 tourists from Bangladesh visited Nepal in the past year. Momen pointed out that energy, tourism, education, migration, and connectivity between the two countries had many untapped potentials for mutual cooperation. He emphasised exploring Free Trade Agreement possibility and increasing two-way trade for shared prosperity. The Nepali ambassador also emphasised sharing mutual experiences, lessons, and best practices for planning a better future. Swarnim Wagle, chair of the Institute for Integrated Development Studies, Kathmandu-based independent think-tank, said that India, being a big nation in the subregion was important for both Nepal and Bangladesh. He stressed the need for more educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation among civil societies as Track-2 diplomacy.  BIISS director general Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin gave the welcome speech at the event.  Senior officials from different ministries, former an serving diplomats, senior military officials, media personalities, researchers, business people, teachers, and students from various universities, and representatives from different think tanks, and international organisations, attended the seminar. Source: https://www.newagebd.net/print/article/196693   Dhaka Tribune March 12, 2023 Momen: Bangladesh, Nepal have enormous opportunities to work together The foreign minister emphasized exploring possibilities of a free trade agreement and increasing two-way trade for shared prosperity  ile photo UNB Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen Sunday said as Bangladesh and Nepal will graduate from the LDC in 2026, both countries have enormous opportunities to work together for a smooth LDC graduation. He said energy, tourism, education, migration, and connectivity between these countries have many untapped potentials for cooperation. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, Momen emphasized exploring possibilities of a free trade agreement and increasing two-way trade for shared prosperity. The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the seminar Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity in Dhaka. Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, director general of BIISS, delivered the welcome remarks. Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari Swarnim Wagle, chair of the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) Kathmandu, and Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, rector of the Foreign Service Academy, Bangladesh, made presentations. Ghanshyam highlighted that Nepal and Bangladesh share a common commitment to global peace, have avenues for further expansion of trade and investment opportunities, the scope for exploring hydropower potential, and a great tourism potential. The ambassador also emphasized sharing mutual experiences, lessons, and best practices for planning a better future. Major General Pasha said the two countries have a vast scope for cooperation in 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 added. The countries can also work to take the bilateral relationship forward and enhance collaboration in hydropower and infrastructure development, Pasha said. Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors, high commissioners, former diplomats, senior military officials, media personalities, researchers, business people, teachers, students from various universities, representatives from different think tanks, and international organizations joined the event. Source: https://www.dhakatribune.com/foreign-affairs/2023/03/12/momen-bangladesh-nepal-have-enormous-opportunities-to-work-together   The Financial Express March 13, 2023 Push for Free Trade Agreement between Bangladesh, Nepal FE REPORT Bangladesh has suggested exploring the possibilities of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Nepal to increase two-way trade. Foreign Minister Dr A K 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) organised the seminar. The foreign minister mentioned that the two countries have a lot of potentials for mutual cooperation in the fields of 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, Dr Swarnim Wagle, Chair, The Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), Kathmandu, Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, Rector, Foreign Service Academy, Bangladesh, and Major General 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 emphasised the need for sharing mutual experiences, lessons and best practices for planning a better future. Major General 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. Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors, high commissioners, former diplomats, senior military officials, media personalities, researchers, business people, teachers and students from various universities, and representatives from different think tanks, and international organisations attended the programme. Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/push-for-free-trade-agreement-between-bangladesh-nepal The Business Standard March 12, 2023 Momen stresses FTA with Nepal to boost trade cooperation     Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday underscored the need for signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Nepal to boost bilateral trade between the two countries. Meanwhile, the two countries have progressed a lot in energy cooperation, he said while addressing, as the chief guest, a seminar titled "Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity", organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the capital. "Nepal and Bangladesh are graduating from the status of LDC (least developed country) in 2026 and thus, both countries have enormous opportunities to work together for a smooth LDC graduation. Energy, tourism, education and migration sectors and connectivity between the two countries have many untapped potentials for mutual cooperation," added Momen at the seminar celebrating the golden jubilee of the Bangladesh-Nepal bilateral ties. The foreign minister further said that Bangladesh is interested in importing 50MW of electricity from Nepal, which is already getting late. Momen also emphasised introducing visa-free travel between the neighbouring countries in South Asia to ease communication, saying, "If we can do this, the communication between the countries in this region will increase". Nepalese Ambassador in Dhaka Ghanshyam Bhandari said that Nepal and Bangladesh share a common commitment to global peace, having avenues for further expansion of trade and investment opportunities, scope for potential hydropower exploration and a great potential for tourism together. Mentioning that Nepal's bilateral ties with Bangladesh that started during the 1971 Liberation War is strengthening day by day, Bhandari said, "Meanwhile, 3,000 Nepali medical students are studying in Bangladesh and Nepal is one of the [tourist] destinations of Bangladeshis. In 2022, 25,000 Bangladeshi citizens travelled to Nepal". The ambassador also emphasised sharing mutual experiences, lessons and best practices for planning a better future. Rector of the Foreign Service Academy, Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams said that a preferential trade agreement (PTA) is being discussed to increase trade between Bangladesh and Nepal, adding that tariff barriers should be identified and removed. "Air connectivity between the two countries could be further enhanced … not only from Dhaka, but also from Saidpur [airport]," she added, further emphasising strengthening defense cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal. BIISS Director General Maj Gen Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin said that the two countries have a huge scope for cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, connectivity, energy, education and tourism. "Bangladesh and Nepal have enormous scope to work jointly and enhance cooperation under the sub-regional and regional platforms," he said, adding that the two friendly nations can also work to take the bilateral relationship forward and enhance collaboration in hydropower and infrastructure development. Dr Swarnim Wagle, chair of the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors, high commissioners, former diplomats, senior military officials, media personalities, researchers, business people, teachers and students from various universities, and representatives from different think tanks and international organisations participated in the seminar. Source: https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/momen-stresses-fta-nepal-boost-trade-cooperation-598594 UNB March 12, 2023 Bangladesh, Nepal have enormous opportunities to work together for smooth LDC graduation: Momen   Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen Sunday said Bangladesh and Nepal will graduate from LDC in 2026; so, both countries have enormous opportunities to work together for a smooth LDC graduation. He said energy, tourism, education, migration, and connectivity between these countries have many untapped potentials for cooperation. Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar, Momen emphasised exploring possibilities of a free trade agreement and increasing two-way trade for shared prosperity. The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the seminar "Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity" in the capital. Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, director general of BIISS, delivered the welcome remarks. Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari, Swarnim Wagle, chair of the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) Kathmandu, and Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, rector of the Foreign Service Academy, Bangladesh, made presentations. Ghanshyam highlighted that Nepal and Bangladesh share a common commitment to global peace, have avenues for further expansion of trade and investment opportunities, the scope for exploring hydropower potential, and a great tourism potential. The ambassador also emphasised sharing mutual experiences, lessons, and best practices for planning a better future. Major General Pasha said the two countries have a vast scope for cooperation in 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 added. The countries can also work to take the bilateral relationship forward and enhance collaboration in hydropower and infrastructure development, Pasha said. Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors, high commissioners, former diplomats, senior military officials, media personalities, researchers, business people, teachers, students from various universities, representatives from different think tanks, and international organisations joined the event. Source: https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/bangladesh-nepal-have-enormous-opportunities-to-work-together-for-smooth-ldc-graduation-momen/111744