The views were expressed when the outgoing Ambassador of Nepal, Bhagirath Basnet, made a farewell call on Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at the PMO yesterday. The two sides discussed ways of increasing two-way trade and business.

The Ambassador, who will join as Foreign Secretary in his country as his next assignment, apprised the PM that Bangladeshi goods have demand to the people of Nepal.

"All the Bangladeshi goods were sold during the two Bangladesh single-country trade

fairs in Nepal in the recent times," he said.

Expressing gratitude for extending all-out cooperation by her government during discharge of his duties here, Bhagirath said bilateral trade and people-to-people relations between Bangladesh and Nepal have increased during his tenure.

He, however, said many things will have to be done for further enhancing business and investment.

Praising him as a successful ambassador, Khaleda thanked the envoy for his effort to enhance bilateral and business relations and congratulated him on his new assignment and wished him success.

The envoy once again congratulated Khaleda on her election as current Saarc Chairperson and hoped under her leadership socio-economic condition and living standard of people of this region would improve.

He appreciated Bangladesh's socio-economic progress, including poverty alleviation, health, and education, particularly women education, under her leadership.

He conveyed greetings of the King and the Prime Minister of Nepal to Khaleda. The PM also reciprocated through the envoy.

The diplomat recalled that relations between Nepal and Bangladesh "took a positive turn" during the tenure of late President Ziaur Rahman and the people of Nepal have a high respect for the late President Zia.