PM flies to Bhutan today
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave for Bhutan today on a three-day visit when the two countries are expected to make moves towards establishing hydroelectricity generation, waterways connectivity and sub-regional cooperation.
Invited by Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Hasina is likely to sign six agreements and make a decision on 1,125-megawatt Dorjilung Hydropower Project in Lhuentse.
The hydropower project is trilateral cooperation between Bhutan, Bangladesh and India, in which Bangladesh will invest $1 billon to import electricity.
Among other deals, Dhaka will allow Bhutan to use its inland river routes to transport goods imported through Chittagong and Mongla seaports.
During the visit, Hasina will also attend the inaugural session of the International Conference on Autism and Nuerodevelopmental Disorders as the chief guest on April 19.
She will be leading a 60-member delegation including Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, her International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi and Chairperson of Shuchona Foundation Saima Wazed Hossain Putul, also the premier's daughter.
Diplomatic sources say India has already agreed to invest in the hydropower project and provide Bangladesh with transit for transmission of electricity from Bhutan.
A draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the trilateral collaboration has already been finalised and is expected to be signed at the fourth Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation in Kathmandu at the end of this year.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the foreign minister said the PMs of Bangladesh and Bhutan would hold a meeting where issues like management of common river basins, hydropower generation, sub-regional cooperation, connectivity, simplification of agriculture and trade would dominate the talks.
He confirmed that six agreements/MoUs would be signed for the avoidance of double taxation between Bangladesh and Bhutan, standardisation of agriculture and agro-products, cultural cooperation, use of river routes by Bhutan and allocation of land for a permanent Bangladesh mission in Bhutan.
The inland river route is Khulna-Mongla-Kawkhali-Barisal-Hizla-Chandpur-Narayanganj-Aricha-Sirajganj-Bahadurabad-Chilmari.
Moreover, Hasina will lay the foundation stone of the permanent building of Bangladesh Embassy there in presence of Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Foreign ministry officials say Bangladesh will also persuade Bhutan to help implement the much-talked-about Motor Vehicles Agreement between Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) as the country has yet to ratify the deal.
The motor vehicle agreement was rejected by the National Council, the upper house of Bhutanese Parliament, in November last year, which apparently halted the implementation of the agreement.
The deal aims to have seamless movement of cargo containers, trucks and passenger vehicles within these four countries across the international borders.
AUTISM CONFERENCE
Saima Wazed Hossain Putul, member of World Health Organization's expert advisory panel on mental health and chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism, took the initiative to hold the conference in Thimphu at WHO's request.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Bhutan's Ministry of Health with technical support from Shuchona Foundation (previously known as Global Autism), Ability Bhutan Society, and WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office are organising the conference.
A number of technical sessions will be held at the conference. Government leaders, policymakers, experts and activists from 31 countries will discuss strategic viewpoints to raise awareness about autism.
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