Staff Reporter :
Dhaka is set to welcome Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who will arrive here today (Monday) on a four-day visit to strengthen bilateral relations.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the First Lady, Dr. Rebeka Sultana, will receive the Bhutanese King at the Shahjalal International Airport on Monday.
This will be the first visit of a top leader from Bhutan to Bangladesh since the Awami League government came into power in January, bagging an overwhelming majority in the 12th parliamentary election, which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the major opposition party, boycotted.
With the arrival of the king, three new agreements would be signed in various fields, including technological cooperation.
Speaking at a press conference in the Foreign Ministry on Sunday regarding the King’s visit, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud stated, “During the King’s visit, three new agreements will be signed.
These include the establishment of a burn and plastic surgery unit in Thimphu, a specially designated economic zone in Kurigram for Bhutan, and technological cooperation in consumer protection. Additionally, a cultural cooperation agreement with us will be renewed.”
Furthermore, the Foreign Minister elaborated that on the first day of the visit, the king would pay homage to the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, at the Dhanmondi 32 memorial and hold discussions with the President and Prime Minister.
The Foreign Minister himself will accompany the king on the first day, participating in courtesy meetings.
On March 26, the King will lay wreaths at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar, located just outside the capital.
Security measures have also been beefed up across the capital and elsewhere. The roads and streets have been decorated with colourful flags and portraits of the king to welcome him.
About the other schedule of the king, the foreign minister further said, “The king will visit the Padma Bridge. He will visit the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery and the special economic zone in Narayanganj.”
After visiting the special economic zone, the king will depart Bangladesh through Sonahat Port. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will provide him with a guard of honor. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury will bid farewell to him there.
The foreign minister said, “There will be cooperation in the health sector, more robust cooperation in information and communication technology, and collaboration in tourism.”
“Additionally, through various regional and sub-regional initiatives for joint cooperation, especially through the establishment of a special economic zone in Kurigram, business, trade, investment, and employment opportunities will be created in our country, especially in the northern region of South Asia. Significant progress will be made in development,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of the King’s visit, he said, “This is the first visit of a top-level national leader to Bangladesh since the new government came to power.
Through the initiative of establishing a burn and plastic surgery unit in Thimphu, people of South Asia will benefit.”
He also said bilateral trade growth with Bhutan will be facilitated through the Transit and Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
Through the tripartite cooperation agreement in the electricity sector, opportunities for electricity supply and exchange will be created, he highlighted.
During the king’s visit, the government of Bangladesh will extend its cooperation to Bhutan and its people.
