BD, Brunei likely to sign seven MoUs to strengthen ties

Bangladesh and Brunei are likely to sign seven MoUs during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's three-day official visit to Darussalam on April 21-23.

Six of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of agriculture, arts and culture, youth and sports, fisheries, livestock and energy sectors while another MoU is yet to be finalised.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said this while briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Prime Minister's visit to Brunei.

Secretary-Bilateral, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kamrul Ahsan and Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam were also present.

He said the visit will help expand bilateral cooperation in a number of areas including trade, investment, energy, human resource development, tourism, agriculture and technical cooperation apart from strengthening the existing friendly relations between the two countries.

The Foreign Minister said the visit will also help improve Bangladesh's relations with Southeast Asian nations through boosting effective cooperation. Brunei is one of the member states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), reports UNB.

He said the visit will help Bangladesh gain effective support from Brunei and other Southeast Asian nations on various regional and international important issues including resolving Rohingya crisis.

The Prime Minister leaves Bangladesh for Brunei Darussalam on Sunday at the invitation of Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah.

She will leave Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport by a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Sunday morning.

The Prime Minister will be received by Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah at Brunei International Airport, according to her programme schedule.

After an official welcoming ceremony, she will be escorted to Empire Hotel & Country Club where she will be staying during her visit, according to the schedule.

On Sunday, she will attend a community event and join a dinner to be hosted by High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei at the Empire Hotel.

On Monday, the Prime Minister will have a general audience with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddinWaddaulah and the Royal Family at Istana NurulIman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei.

She will then hold bilateral talks with the Sultan there before the signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs).

Sheikh Hasina will open the meeting of leaders of Bangladesh Business Community and Brunei Business Community and Brunei National Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the place of her residence on Monday afternoon.

The Prime Minister will later visit the Jame Asr Mosque and offer Asr prayers there.

She will go to the Istana NurulIman Palace again to attend official Banquet.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister will attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of new chancery building of Bangladesh High Commission at the Diplomatic Enclave in Jalankebangsaan.

Then she will visit the Royal Regalia Museum located in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei.

The Prime Minister will leave the Brunei International Airport for Dhaka by a special flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on Tuesday afternoon.