BD, Pakistan sign six agreements including visa free travel for govt officials

Dhaka : Bangladesh and Pakistan signed one bilateral agreement and five Memoranda of Under-standings (MoUs) during a signing ceremony at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka on August 24, in the presence of Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Earlier, a bilateral meeting at the foreign minister level was held between the two countries.

During the meeting, the two sides stressed strengthening trade relations and expanding investment, as yearly turnover between the countries is below USD 1 billion, he said.

Bangladesh was represented by Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain, while Pakistan was represented by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

The one bilateral agreement includes the waiver of visas for holders of government and diplomatic passports from both countries.

The MoUs signed cover the following areas: Formation of a joint working group on trade between the two countries, cultural exchange, cooperation between the foreign service academies, collaboration between the state news agencies (BSS and APPIC) and cooperation between the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and Pakistan's Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI).

A "Cultural Exchange Program" (CEP) between Bangladesh and Pakistan was also signed.