DHAKA, Feb 11, 2021 (BSS) – Bangladesh and the Maldives have agreed
to establish a direct shipping line, under a Shipping Agreement, to
expand further trade between the two south Asian nations.
The decision was taken during bilateral talks between foreign
minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla
Shahid on Tuesday in the capital, according to the Joint Communiqu,
regarding the meeting released by the foreign ministry here today.
During the talks, the two foreign ministers called for establishing
robust connectivity between Bangladesh and the Maldives as a means to
promote the exchange of goods and services, culture and people. They
also agreed on the need to boost private sector involvement.
Momen expressed Dhaka’s interest to enter into a Preferential Trade
Agreement (PTA) with the Maldives within the purview of WTO
provisions, with a view to harnessing the trade potentials.
He also encouraged Maldivian investment in joint package tourism
and suggested collaboration for market development, sharing of best
practices and innovative ideas, and the exchange of expert tour
operators between the Maldives and Bangladesh.
Momen suggested promotion of coastal and river cruise tourism
between Male and Chattogram.
He also proposed to regularly hold Commerce Secretary Level Meeting
(CSLM) between Bangladesh and the Maldives, annually, to address trade
issues in detail, comprising representatives from various line
ministries while the Maldives side welcomed the proposal.
Appreciating the regularization program launched by the Ministry of
Economic Development of the Maldives in 2019 to legalize undocumented
workers, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen requested the Maldivian government
to regularize the remaining undocumented Bangladeshi expatriates at an
accelerated pace.
Shahid explained that the goal of regularization programme is to
legalise and provide job opportunities for those who wish to stay on
in the Maldives and assist those who wish to return home voluntarily.
Thanking the government of Bangladesh for all cooperation, he
requested facilitation for repatriation of Bangladeshi workers who
wish to return Bangladesh voluntarily.
The Maldivian foreign minister stated that a moratorium on
recruitment of new unskilled human resources is expected to remain
until the regularization of existing undocumented expatriates was
completed.
However, he also clarified that the Maldives would continue to
welcome skilled workforce from Bangladesh as before.
In order to conduct the programme more efficiently, Maldivian
foreign minister proposed to sign a MoU to resolve the challenges of
migrant workers between the two countries, on which the Bangladesh
side agreed to hold internal stakeholder consultations.
To ensure the expatriates so they do not fall victim to
unscrupulous brokers at either end, Momen suggested that future
recruitments would be made through agencies nominated by Bangladesh
government endorsed by the Bangladesh High Commission in Mal.
The Maldives side took positive note of the suggestion, said the
joint statement.
The two foreign ministers discussed the forthcoming visit of the
Hon’ble President of the Maldives H. E. Mr. Ibrahim Solih to Dhaka in
March 2021 to join the celebrations of the Birth Centenary of the
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden
Jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh.
The foreign minister of Bangladesh stated that President Solih’s
presence in the Mujib Year celebrations would be an important
testament to the enduring friendship between the two nations.
At the invitation of Dr Momen, Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla
Shahid made an official visit to Bangladesh on 8-11 February 2021.
Shahid was accompanied by the Maldivian foreign secretary Abdul
Ghafoor Mohamed and Joint Secretary Fathimath Ghina.
The two foreign ministers held the bilateral meeting in a warm and
friendly atmosphere, reflective of the renewed dynamism and
historically close relationship between the two countries.
They reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and agreed to
extend cooperation to a number of novel areas, with increased focus on
exploring commerce and trade.
During the visit, the Maldivian foreign minister also called on
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.