Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to introduce its flight operation with the Maldives via Chennai, India as both the countries have agreed to enhance air connectivity, aiming to increase bilateral trade and investment.
“Our national carrier Biman Bangladesh Airlines is going to introduce flights with the Maldives via Chennai. We hope that people-to-people contacts and exchange of tourism cooperation will be increased due to the flight operation (on this route),” she said.
The Prime Minister said the direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and the Maldives has been strengthened through the commencement of direct flight operation by Bangladeshi airlines, US-Bangla.
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PM’s Press Secretary briefed reporters after a bilateral meeting held between the Bangladesh Prime Minister and President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the President's Office here.
At the meeting, they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially in health, education, human resources development, youth and sports, fisheries, and agriculture between the two countries and work together to face the challenge of climate change and the early repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar, Hasina said.
They also discussed the agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income, MoU on Recruitment of Qualified Health Professionals between Bangladesh and the Maldives, MoU between Bangladesh and the Maldives on Cooperation in the Area of Youth and Sports and renewed MoU on in the areas of Medical and Healthcare Science.
“We reviewed the progress made so far on our earlier decisions and found the outcomes satisfactory,” said the Prime Minister.
She said they talked about the regularization of undocumented expatriate Bangladeshis hosted by the Maldives as the community makes substantial contributions to the economies of Bangladesh and the Maldives.
Besides, cooperation in multilateral fora, support each other in candidature, and cooperation in countering terrorism came up for the discussion, Hasina said.
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The Prime Minister said her government would not allow any sort terrorist activity against Bangladesh and any other countries using the country’s soil.
The Maldivian President also vowed to fight together against terrorism and extremism to ensure regional and global prosperity, sustainability and peace.
President Solih said his government would continue support in early repatriation of the Rohingyas.
He also thanked the Bangladesh Prime Minister for her support during the Covid-19 pandemic period and sought initiatives to issue on-arrival visas for the Maldivians.
Describing Bangladesh as a desired destination for Maldivian students particularly for the medical students, President Solih urged the Prime Minister to issue full-term visas for the Maldivians students.
From Bangladesh side, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Health Minister Zahid Maleque, Chief of Army Staff Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, PMO Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem were, among others, present.
From the Maldives side, Vice President Faisal Naseem, Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem, Education Minister Athiya Naseer, Economic Development Minister Uz. Fayyaz Ismail and Minister of Environment and Energy Thoriq Ibrahim were present.