Bangladesh and Thailand on Friday signed five bilateral documents for visa exemption, cooperation on energy, tourism and customs matters and negotiation of Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
The documents -an agreement, three Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and a Letter of Intent (LoI)- were inked in presence of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok following a bilateral meeting between the two leaders.
The documents are agreement on visa exemption for holders of official passports; MoU on energy cooperation; MoU on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters; MoU on cooperation in the field of tourism; and LOI to commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) by the year 2024.
Sheikh Hasina told at a joint press conference that the two sides agreed to commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA) by the year 2024 and the two countries have signed a letter of intent (LOI) on the issue, reports Bangladesh Sanghbad Sangstha (BSS).
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud who is accompanying the visiting PM on Thailand tour said in Bangkok that Bangladesh and Thailand have expressed willingness to work together to deal with the Rohingya issue as the two countries are sheltering the Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar.
Hasan mahmud also said Bangladesh is ready to offer a dedicated economic zone for the Thai investors if they express willingness to have that.
The Bangladesh prime minister went to Thailand on Wednesday on a six-day official visit to Thailand at the invitation of her Thai counterpart.
Navalsang Parmar (Dhaka)
