Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between the two countries for mutual benefits.

They reached the consensus at a bilateral meeting held between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum here on Tuesday.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Sheikh Mohammed, also the ruler of Dubai, stressed the need for increasing the frequency of Emirates flights between the two countries.

Hasina in reply said her government was constructing the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. "We're trying to enhance our capacity to this end."

She said the UAE has plenty of scope to trade with and invest in Bangladesh.

The premier lauded the UAE government for successfully tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sheikh Mohammed appreciated the Bangladesh government. "You've done well [in Covid-19 management]," he was quoted as saying.

The UAE vice president thanked Hasina for visiting his country during the celebration of the International Women's Day.

The two leaders led their respective teams to the meeting at the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Saima Wazed, Foreign Minister Momen, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, PM's Private Industry and Investment Affairs Adviser Salman F Rahman and State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira, among others, were present at the meeting.

FOUR MOUS SIGNED

Following the meeting, Bangladesh and the UAE signed four MoUs, aiming to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The signed instruments were exchanged between the two sides in presence of the two leaders.

The instruments are: MoU on Cooperation in Higher Education and Scientific Research between Bangladesh and UAE, MoU on Cooperation between Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), MoU on cooperation between the foreign services academies of the two countries, and MoU on cooperation between the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Dubai International Chamber.

Hasina arrived at the Gulf country on Monday on a five-day official visit at the invitation of UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed.