Pakistan envoy meets Fakhrul, discusses regional cooperation

Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Syed Ahmed Maroof on Friday met with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Bilateral issues, including trade and business between the two countries, and regional cooperation came up for discussion in the hour-long meeting held at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office.

BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Special Assistant to the BNP Chairperson's Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee Member Shama Obaid were present at the meeting.

Briefing reporters about the outcomes of the meeting, Khasru said they discussed bilateral issues between the two countries. 

“Everything between the two countries, including trade and business, and economic relations have come up for discussion,” he said

Khasru said there was discussion about taking the bilateral ties forward, protecting the two countries’ independence and sovereignty, and upholding mutual respect and dignity. 

“The issue of our regional cooperation in the entire South Asia was also discussed. The potentials between the two countries, particularly trade and business, economic prospects, were discussed,” he said.

The BNP leader said business based on comparative advantage, which was missing in Bangladesh for a long time, was discussed.

He said there was a business of patronage here, which benefited some particular individuals in terms of the bilateral trade and business.

“There was no level playing field. We have discussed that there is going to be a level playing field in Bangladesh and we will cooperate with each other on the basis of comparative advantage, maintaining the level playing field between the two countries,” he said.

He said the issue of strengthening regional cooperation within South Asia was also discussed.

Noting that the South Asian region is the least integrative area, Khasru said it needs to enhance the integration in this South Asian region not just in case of economic issues but in all aspects. “It has been discussed in detail how we can move forward,” he said.

“We want to move forward on the basis of BNP's foreign policy –friendship with all.  We want to move forward with all kinds of economic cooperation amid good relations between the two countries,” he added 

“We will take forward the bilateral and regional cooperation by maintaining the level playing field,” said Amir Khasru.

Source: UNB