Bangladesh and Bhutan signed five bilateral instruments to enhance cooperation on inland waterways, health, agriculture, tourism sectors and Public Administration training centres.

The instruments were signed after official talks between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering at the Prime Minister's office (PMO) in Dhaka on Saturday, April 13. The instruments signed are expected to enhance cooperation on cargo transportation, cooperation in health, agriculture and tourism sectors and cooperation between the Public Administration training centres of the two countries for exchange of faculty members as well as training and capacity building.

The two prime ministers witnessed the signing ceremony. Shipping Secretary Md Abdus Samad and Secretary of Ministry of Economic Affairs Dasho Yeshi Wangdi signed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the operationalization of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the use of inland waterways for transportation of bilateral trade and transit cargos between the two countries.

The MoU between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh and Ministry of Health of the Royal Government of Bhutan was signed by Health Division Services Secretary Md Arshadul Islam and Bhutanese Health Secretary Dr Ugen Dophu.

The MoU between Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (Barc) and department of agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests of Bhutan was inked by Barc Executive Chairman Dr Md Kabir Ikramul Haque and Bhutanese Ambassador Sonam Tobden Rabgye.

Rector of Bangladesh Public Administration training centre and Bhutanese Ambassador Sonam Tobden Rabgye signed the MoU between BPATC and Royal Institute for Management (RIM) while Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir and Bhutanese Ambassador Sonam Tobden Rabgye signed the MoU between Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Tourism Council of Bhutan regarding tourism.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the Bhutanese prime minister, who arrived in Dhaka the previous day on a four-day official visit at her invitation.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bhutanese counterpart Dr Lotay Tshering welcomed the ongoing discussions among Bangladesh, Bhutan and India on the proposed trilateral cooperation in hydroelectric power, reported our sister newsagency UNB. Bangladesh and Bhutan think the proposed trilateral cooperation with India in hydroelectric power can further 'strengthen regional cooperation, encourage the use of renewable energy and mitigate climate change challenges'.

They noted that a trilateral meeting of the power secretaries could be held in this regard, according to a joint statement issued on Sunday night on the Bhutanese Prime Minister's four-day state visit to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and Bhutan have also agreed, in principle, to work on duty- and quota-free access of a number of goods to each other's markets, for mutual benefits. The issue was discussed at the official bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering.

Bhutan sought duty- and quota-free access of 16 products and Bangladesh sought them for 10 items, Senior Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque briefed reporters after the meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

"The prime minister has said she will consider giving duty- and quota-free access of all 16 goods to Bangladeshi markets," he said. "It can be expected it will happen."

The prime minister will negotiate the duty- and quota-free access of the 10 Bangladeshi products to Bhutanese markets, the senior foreign secretary added. "We can assume both sides have agreed on the subject - in principle. Now it has to be worked out at a technical level."

Prior to his visit, the Dr Tshering was asked to clarify his government's view on the BBIN, which the previous government had endorsed. "We are reviewing this. If it benefits our country, then we will go ahead but this government will have our own stand on this," he said.

The government would consider both short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of the BBIN. "At the end of the day Gross Domestic Product (GDP) must always be balanced by Gross National Happiness (GNH) and we are having repeated discussions on this."

While the government is open to discussions, the prime minister said after all the consultations and discussions, the government will let the nation and international fraternity knows about its decision on the BBIN.

At his Alma Mater

Bhutanese Prime Minister, Dr Lotay Tshering, who was a student of Mymensingh Medical College, says one has to be a good human being to be a good doctor."I have entered politics without discarding my uniform. I thought about the people of Bhutan and worked for them from 2013 to 2018 without doing any job and going abroad. Today, I am the prime minister of that country," he said on Sunday, reported UNB.

The Bhutanese prime minister was addressing a special reception accorded to him by Mymensingh Medical College at its auditorium.

Going down memory lane, Tshering said he and his classmates, and current Bhutanese Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Tandi Dorji, were in room No-20 of Baghmara College Hostel in the district town from 1991 to 1999. "We are now doing politics together. There has been no rift between us during this long period of time. Today, I am the prime minister because of him. He made me the prime minister."

He also underscored the need to forget all differences to take the country forward. The Bhutanese prime minister became emotional recalling various incidents of his student life at the medical college. Earlier, students of the medical college welcomed him when he arrived by helicopter. Tshering later visited the surgery ward of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH).

A 28th batch student, Tshering enrolled at Mymensingh Medical College in 1991 to pursue an MBBS degree. On completion of the MBBS, he did his FCPS in Dhaka. Tshering entered politics in 2013 and became the prime minister of Bhutan on November 7 last year after his party won the election. This was his first visit to Bangladesh after becoming the prime minister.

He came and thanked the Bangladesh government for providing opportunities to Bhutanese students to pursue higher education, especially in the field of medicine. Bangladesh government contributed to Bhutan's health vision by providing slots for Bhutanese students in government medical and dental colleges in Bangladesh, Dr Lotay said in a joint statement issued on April 14.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh has announced an additional five scholarships for Bhutanese students in government medical colleges here, taking the total number of reserved seats for Bhutanese medical students to 15.

Bhutan PM further stated that Bangladesh has made significant contribution towards achievement of Bhutan's health vision. According to the joint statement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also assured the continued support of Bangladesh to further enhance cooperation with Bhutan in education.