“Bhutan’s PM Tshering Tobgay to Boost Ties with Bangladesh”

Bangladesh is gearing up to host Bhutan’s Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, who is set to embark on a three-day state visit to strengthen bilateral ties through increased connectivity, trade, and investment. The Bhutanese leader is expected to touch down at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday morning, as confirmed by a senior official. A series of engagements, including discussions with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, are on the agenda during his visit. Prime Minister Tobgay is slated to wrap up his visit on Monday before departing Dhaka. Providing insights into the Bhutanese leader’s state visit, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam will address the media later today. The invitation for this visit was extended by Yunus to Prime Minister Tobgay during a meeting at the UN General Assembly in September. The Bhutanese leader, who holds Yunus in high regard and affectionately calls him “My Professor,” expressed keen interest in establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh and connecting their economic zones to boost trade and investment. Specifically, linking Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) Special Economic Zone with the one in Kurigram, allocated for Bhutanese investors by Bangladesh, was emphasized. Yunus embraced the proposals, emphasizing the significance of exploring avenues for expanding trade and investment between the two nations. Prime Minister Tobgay also highlighted Bhutan’s focus on promoting religious tourism and its willingness to collaborate with Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Bhutan seeks support from Bangladesh in setting up fiber optic connectivity within its borders, while also expressing interest in sharing its hydroelectric potential with Bangladesh.