Bhutan and Bangladesh are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in hydropower between the two neighbouring countries.
Ambassador of Bhutan Rinchen Kuentsyl said this during a courtesy meeting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Press Secretary to the president Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.
President Shahabuddin said signing a bilateral MoU on cooperation in hydropower will strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
The president recalled the unwavering support of the people of Bhutan during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.
He said Dhaka gives special importance to the relationship with Bhutan as it was the first country to recognise Bangladesh on December 6, 1971, even before the final victory in the war of liberation.
He said the excellent relations between the two neighbourly countries would be elevated to even newer height in the coming days and the two countries will continue to cooperate at different regional and multilateral forums to harness the existing potentials for the benefit of the entire region.
He also put emphasis on increasing the connectivity between the two countries to explore the possibilities.
Noting that Bhutan is the second-largest commercial partner of Bangladesh, he said the markets in the Himalayan kingdom display many Bangladeshi products including garments.
President asks NHRCB to play key role in protecting human rights
President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday asked the National Human Rights Commission Bangladesh (NHRCB) to play an effective role in protecting human rights in every field.
The president came up with the directive when an eight-member delegation of the NHRCB called on the president at Bangabhaban in Dhaka and submitted its Annual Report-2022 to him this afternoon, reports BSS.
During the meeting with the NHRCB delegation, he said, "An effective measure should be taken immediately after the violation of any human rights case occurred at any corner of the country."
The head of the state also put emphasis on the continuation of the follow-up activities of all human rights violations.
Chairman of the NHRCB, a statutory independent institution of the state, Kamal Uddin Ahmed led an eight-member delegation that apprised the president of the various aspects of the report in the meeting.
President Shahabuddin said everyone involved in the protection of human rights should conduct their respective tasks in such a way that the people can understand the significance of the National Human Rights Commission.
The president appreciated the overall activities of the commission.
