BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Press Release

Seminar on

Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity

Sunday, 12 March 2023

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Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised a seminar titled “Celebrating 50 Years of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship: Shared Vision of Peace, Progress and Prosperity” on Sunday, 12 March 2023 at the BIISS auditorium. H E Dr A K Abdul Momen, MP, Honourable Foreign Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the programme as Chief Guest. Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin, OSP, SGP, BAMS, afwc, psc, Director General, BIISS, delivered the Welcome Address. H E Mr Ghanshyam Bhandari, Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh made his remarks. Dr Swarnim Wagle, Chair, The Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS), Kathmandu and Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, Rector, Foreign Service Academy, Bangladesh, made presentations. These were followed by an open discussion session. Afterward, the Chief Guest, H E Dr A K Abdul Momen, MP, delivered his valuable remarks. Finally, the Director General of BIISS concluded the session with a vote of thanks.

H E Dr A K Abdul Momen, MP 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. He mentioned that energy, tourism, education, migration, and connectivity between the two countries have many untapped potentials for mutual cooperation. He emphasised exploring Free Trade Agreement possibility and increasing two-way trade for shared prosperity.

H E Mr Ghanshyam Bhandari highlighted that Nepal and Bangladesh share a common commitment to global peace, have avenues for further expansion of trade and investment opportunities, have scope for exploring hydropower potential, and a great potential for tourism together. Ambassador also emphasised on 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. Bangladesh and Nepal can also work 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, participated in the seminar and enriched it with their valuable opinions, comments, suggestions, and observations during the open discussion session.