Bangladesh and Myanmar have agreed to amend the existing air services deal as soon as possible to establish a direct link between the two countries.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and her Myanmar counterpart U Nyan Win made the agreement in a meeting at Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, on Friday.
Dipu Moni is currently in Myanmar to attend the 13th BIMSTEC (Bangladesh India Myanmar Sri Lanka Thailand Economic Cooperation) Ministerial Meeting.
At the bilateral meeting, Dipu Moni emphasised the importance of direct road, waterways and railway links between the two neighbouring countries, according to a message received here yesterday.
As per a foreign ministry press release, Myanmar and Bangladesh foreign ministers reckoned that some progress has been made in the maritime demarcation.
Dipu Moni at the meeting broached the issue of Myanmar refugees’ repatriation from Bangladesh.
She also urged Myanmar to find a way so undocumented Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh can also go back to their country.
The press release, however, did not mention Myanmar’s response to the repatriation issue.
Dipu Moni noted that a power purchase agreement under which Bangladesh will import electricity from Myanmar is underway.
Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes and Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Anup Kumar Chakma accompanied the foreign minister at the meeting.
Earlier, Mijarul led the Bangladesh delegation at the 15th BIMSTEC senior officials’ meeting in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.
The meeting, preparatory to the BIMSTEC meeting, sketched out ways and means to strengthen cooperation between member countries of BIMSTEC.
Enhancing people-to-people contact, culture, security issues, connectivity, tourism, energy, technologies, fisheries, poverty alleviation, agriculture, environment, disaster management, public health and climate change figured in the discussion.
Bangladesh stressed the need for enhancing trade cooperation by removing trade barriers, reducing tariff and making signing process of agreements faster.
The BIMSTEC meeting welcomed the offer of Bangladesh to host the next meeting of BIMSTEC Trade/Economic Ministers.
