BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

BANGLADESH-BHUTAN RELATIONS: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Author: Mohammad Jasim Uddin

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2007v28n2a2

ABSTRACT

With the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Bhutan, various initiatives to accelerate the bilateral relations between the two countries began. Within a few years, such initiatives resulted in a number of bilateral agreements on trade, economy, culture, air service, education and technical side. While these agreements between Bangladesh and Bhutan reflect friendliness and mutual understanding between the two, the fact remains that the push as given in the beginning for more vigorous relations has not yielded tangible results up to an expected level. In effect, the pace of relations between the two nations advanced with caution, and in few instances, with indifference. Yet, the fact remains that enormous prospects lie ahead for a more cooperative and constructive relations between them in the changed international scenario. It is in this backdrop that the paper attempts to address a set of relevant questions: What are the areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Bhutan? What are the challenges that Bangladesh and Bhutan face in various issues of mutual interest? What are the prospects for future enrichment of Bangladesh-Bhutan relations? The purpose of the paper is to seek possible answers to these questions.