Cut duty on jute, its products

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday requested Iran to reduce duty on import of Bangladesh jute and jute products for the Iranian market.
Hasina made the request when Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Oceania Dr Seyed Abbas Aragchi met her at the PMO to formally hand her an invitation letter from the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Ahmadinejad invited Sheikh Hasina to attend the 16th Summit of the Heads of States and Governments of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which will be held in Tehran late August this year.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad said that various issues of mutual interest featured prominently in the discussions.
The prime minister said that Bangladesh attaches special importance to the Non-Aligned Movement and her government follows the foreign policy dictum of Bangabandhu - 'Friendship towards all, malice towards none'.
During the meeting, Hasina and Aragchi also mentioned the friendly relations between the two countries and discussed bilateral matters and issues of common interest.
The Iranian minister lauded the advancement of Bangladesh in various fields under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina.
Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Sheikh Md Wahid Uz Zaman, and PMO Secretary Molla Waheeduzzaman were also present.