President M Abdul Hamid today stressed the need for establishing direct connectivity and air and waterways link between Bangladesh and the Maldives to further bolster trade and investment ties between the two friendly countries. The President said this while his Maldivian counterpart Ibrahim Mohamed Solih paid a courtesy call on the former at Bangabhaban here this evening. Terming the tourism a potential sector of both Bangladesh and the Maldives a very bright, the President called upon the investors and businessmen to work together to avail the existing potentials of the two countries. President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the meeting followed by a dinner and a cultural function attended also by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, President’s wife Rashida Khanam and Maldivian First lady Fazna Ahmed. Bangladesh President hosted the dinner in honor of the Maldivian President, who is on a three-day tour in Dhaka to attend the celebrations of golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence and birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Praising the Maldivian government’s decision to provide free COVID-19 vaccination to Bangladeshi expatriates in the Maldives, President Hamid said, “Bangladesh is ready to send more skilled manpower to the Maldives in various professions.” Welcoming the Maldivian students to choose Bangladesh for education in field of medical and technology, the President said, “Bangladesh has the potential to provide educational opportunities to more students.” Referring to various memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on bilateral issues between Bangladesh and the Maldives singed today at Prime Minister’s Office, Hamid said the visit of the Maldivian President would be a unique milestone to strengthen the existing ties between the two countries. The head of the state urged the Maldives to import international standard Bangladeshi products, including medicine, readymade garments (RMG) and ceramics, from Bangladesh. Both the countries would be benefited with this, Abdul Hamid observed. President Solih also agreed to establish the air-and-water-connectivity between Bangladesh and the Maldives saying, it would help expand the trade and investment between Dhaka and male in days to come. Solih highly appreciated the ongoing tremendous progress of the Bangladesh Government led Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in transforming the country into a developed one by 2041. Later, the Maldivian President signed the visitor’s book of Bangabhaban. He also enjoyed the 25-minute long cultural programme, presented by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, his Maldivian Counterpart Abdulla Shahid and secretaries concerned, among others, were present there. Earlier, on their arrival, the Maldivian President and his wife Sazna Ahmed were received by President Hamid and his wife Rashida Khanam at Octagonal of the Presidential palace. Meanwhile, the first lady of the Maldives Fazna Ahmed paid a course call on the Bangladesh President’s wife Rashida Kanam on the sidelines of the meeting. They exchanged views and enquired about the health of each others.
