Bhutanese Premier Jigme Y Thinley and his wife Aum Rinsy Dem accompany Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst a red carpet reception as she arrives at Paro Airport of Thimphu yesterday afternoon on a four-day visit to the Himalayan country. Photo: PID

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called for closer fraternity among the South Asian countries to fight poverty and tackle threats posed by climate change as she described the two as “common enemies” of the region.
The premier made the call when Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering paid a courtesy call on her at her hotel suite yesterday evening.
Hasina, who arrived in Thimphu in the afternoon on a four-day official visit, referred to the flash flood in Bhutan in last June and the earthquake in September, and said natural disasters in the region increased due to climate change.
She deeply condoled the death of Bhutanese people in the recent natural disasters.
With no fault of their own, countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives are the worst sufferers of climate change, she said.
The Bhutanese minister thanked Hasina for her statements in international conferences about the global warming impacts on Bhutan and other South Asian countries.
She said Bangladesh and Bhutan can develop land communications through India at three points--Burimari Port (Lalmonirhat), Tamabil (Sylhet) and Naoka (Sherpur)--to help increase bilateral trade between the two countries. The Indian government has given a positive response in this regard, she added.
The premier told Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering that Bhutan can use Bangladeshi ports, especially Mongla Port, for carrying out trade with any third country.
Hasina also reiterated her call to introduce package tourism among Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan for the best use of tourism prospects.
She highly praised the King of Bhutan for “voluntarily” establishing democracy in this Himalayan country.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Adviser to the Prime Minister HT Imam, Ambassador Ziauddin, Bangladesh Ambassador in Bhutan AKM Majibur Rahman Bhuiyan and Bhutanese Ambassador in Dhaka Dasho Bap Kesang were present in the meeting.
Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Nazrul Islam briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting.
Later, Speaker of the Bhutan National Assembly Jigme Tshultim and Chairman of the Bhutan National Council Namgye Penjore along with some Bhutanese MPs called on the Bangladesh prime minister at her hotel suite.
During the meetings, the prime minister and the speaker emphasised exchange of visits between the MPs of the two countries.
RED CARPET RECEPTION
Earlier, the prime minister was accorded a red carpet reception as she arrived at Paro International Airport at 1:15pm local time.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley and his spouse received Hasina and her 28-member delegation.
After the reception, Hasina was taken to the VVIP lounge where she was presented a Khaddar (traditional long scarf) by the Bhutanese prime minister.
Sheikh Hasina and the delegation were driven in a colourful motorcade to Hotel Taj Tashi in Thimphu.
Several hundred Bhutanese students standing on two sides of the streets miniature with national flags of Bangladesh and Bhutan welcomed Hasina.