Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday (Apr 22) said five bilateral instruments including one agreement, three Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) and one Letter of Intent are likely to be signed during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Thailand visit this week. "The visit is significant for both sides as it will open a new window of cooperation between two friendly countries (Bangladesh and Thailand)," he said. Hasan was speaking at the curtain raiser press conference at his ministry in Dhaka marking the both bilateral and multilateral visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Thailand from Apr 24 to 29. It will be the first bilateral visit for the Prime Minister after formation of this government in January last, local media reported.
The instruments are – Agreement on Visa Exemption for Official Passport Holders; MoU on Energy Cooperation; MoU on Tourism Cooperation; MoU on Customs Cooperation; and Letter of Intent for starting negotiation on Free trade agreement.
The foreign minister said the visit will create opportunity to review the potential "Free Trade Agreement" between the two countries for the expansion of trade and increase in import and export.
During the visit, Dhaka will strongly raise the issue of Bangladesh's appeal to become a 'Sectoral Dialogue Partner' of the ASEAN. He said Bangladesh will reiterate its urge to Thailand, as a member of ASEAN, to play more proactive role in the Rohingya repatriation process amid the ongoing political conflict inside Myanmar. "As Thailand and Myanmar both belong to ASEAN, the Rohingya issue will be discussed with due importance," he said.
Hasan said cooperation in the areas of investment, tourism, energy, land and sea connectivity will also be discussed during the high level visit.
Bangladesh and Thailand could utilize the immense potential of the tourism sector through joint activities and exchange of expertise in the areas of human resource development, Buddhist circuit promotion as well as making investment in the travel and leisure industry, he said.
"This cooperation in the tourism industry could create significant economic growth and employment opportunities in both countries," said the minister Besides, he said, visa exemption for official passport holders of Bangladesh and Thailand will facilitate communication between government officials of both countries.
At the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead a high-level delegation which includes a number of ministers, advisers, secretaries and other senior officials of the government.
On Apr 26, Sheikh Hasina will be formally received by the Thai premier Srettha Thavisin while a ceremonial guard of honor will be accorded to her. On the same day, the Bangladesh premier will hold bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at the Government House.
During the visit, the PM will have Royal audience of His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan, King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand, at the Palace.
Sheikh Hasina is also scheduled to attend a state lunch to be hosted by her counterpart in her honor. Besides, in her multilayer engagement Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to attend the 80th Session of the Commission for UNESCAP.
She will deliver a speech at UNESCAP on Apr 25. On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjabana will call on the PM.
