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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday emphasized increasing cooperation in trade and investment between Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam as the visit of the Sultan ushered in a new chapter in the bilateral relations, reports BSS.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Moment said this while briefing reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office after the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.
Mentioning that the Prime Minister had a wide-ranging discussion with the Sultan of Brunei, Momen said that in the meeting, Sheikh Hasina proposed to increase Brunei’s business and investment in Bangladesh.
To this end, the foreign ministers of the two countries will work together, he said.
Sheikh Hasina invited businessmen of Brunei to come up with investments in Bangladesh as the country has set up 100 special economic zones.
Besides, the Prime Minister mentioned that by forming a joint consultation commission, measures could be taken to solve problems, if there is any.
In response, the Sultan of Brunei has expressed interest in getting experts in information technology, agriculture and fisheries, and halal meat from Bangladesh.
Assuring cooperation on energy, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said that Brunei will support Bangladesh in this regard according to their needs.
About the recruitment of manpower from Bangladesh, Hasina said Bangladesh has highly talented workers in various fields, including agriculture and fisheries, service sector, and information and technology and they can play an important role in meeting Brunei's manpower needs, adding that the joint commission can take effective steps in this regard.
Mentioning that Bangladesh and Brunei work together in various international forums, Dr Momen said the two countries are also interested in working together in the field of defense cooperation.
He said Brunei has supported Bangladesh in the UN Human Rights Council in particular.
The Sultan appreciated Sheikh Hasina's leadership in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the discussion, Sheikh Hasina said instead of looking only at the Western countries, cooperation should be increased within the Eastern and neighboring countries too.
In this context, she mentioned that if the countries of the region work together with the spirit of cooperation in various fields, everyone will improve their position.
Referring to the Rohingya issue during the bilateral talks, Sheikh Hasina said not a single Rohingya has returned to their country so far.
To this end, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah mentioned that ASEAN is looking at the five-point proposal raised by Sheikh Hasina at the United Nations to solve the Rohingya crisis.
The foreign minister said that the Sultan of Brunei agreed to the Prime Minister's proposal to support Bangladesh to become a partner of the ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue.
About the Sultan’s visit to the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi, the foreign minister said Prime Minister herself and on behalf of her younger sister Sheikh Rehana expressed sincere gratitude to the Sultan.
Senior Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim were present at the media briefing.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
