Bangladesh, Sri Lanka keen on deeper ties on all fronts

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have agreed to deepen ties on all fronts during President Maithripala Sirisena’s visit.

He left Dhaka on Saturday, capping his three-day first state visit to Bangladesh. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali saw him off at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

In a joint statement, Sirisena and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed their “deep satisfaction” at the signing of 14 instruments of cooperation, in trade and investment, agriculture, information and communication technology, higher education, finance and people-to-people connectivity.

To reap the benefits of wider economic partnership, the leaders directed the authorities for early finalisation of the agreements on customs cooperation, avoidance of double taxation and promotion and protection of investment between the countries.

They also underlined the need for a peaceful, stable, inclusive and sustainable South Asian region.

In this regard, they agreed to deepen cooperation in various sub-regional and regional cooperation mechanisms; and to work toward focused and result-oriented regional economic cooperation in BIMSTEC and SAARC.

Recognising the threats arising out of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation on any religious or societal pretext, the leaders pledged to work together to counteract all such challenges in both countries and beyond.

In countering the challenges in the region and beyond, according to the joint statement, they agreed to work to convene a broad-based dialogue on tolerance, inclusion and pluralism in 2018.

Sirisena and Hasina also welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding on economic partnership between the countries which they believed “should pave way for conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement by end-2017”.

If done, that would be the first FTA of Bangladesh with any country.

They underlined that investments from both countries could profit through increased joint ventures, public-private partnerships.

The two leaders recalled the atrocities that took place during Bangladesh’s War of Liberation in 1971.

Noting the resolution adopted by Bangladesh Parliament declaring 25 March as Genocide Day in Bangladesh, they acknowledged the necessity of recognition of the unforgettable sufferings borne by the innocent, freedom-loving people of Bangladesh in 1971.

Sirisena visited Bangladesh at the invitation of the prime minister. He extended an invitation to Hasina to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time in 2018.