Dhaka, Oct 6 (UNI) Bangladesh and Bhutan have agreed to take their decades of friendship forward through new commitments on trade, connectivity and regional cooperation, concluding the Fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Dhaka. The talks reflect a partnership that is expanding beyond its traditional roots.
A friendly and productive meeting
The consultations were co-chaired by Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Asad Alam Siam and his Bhutanese counterpart, Foreign Secretary Pema Lektup Dorji. Officials said the atmosphere was warm, cordial and constructive, with talks covering almost all aspects of the bilateral relationship as well as regional and multilateral issues of common concern. The tone of the meeting is reflective of a relationship that has long been one of the steadiest in South Asia, with Bhutan having early recognised Bangladesh’s independence, and both countries continuing to find common ground on economic and diplomatic priorities.
Trade Expansion and the Possibility of a Free Trade Agreement
Trade was a key topic of the talks. Both sides committed to enhance bilateral commerce and encourage more private sector participation and to work toward expanding the list of products covered under their existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The two countries also agreed to explore moving eventually toward a full Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which could provide a major expansion of market access for businesses on both sides. No timeline was announced, but the willingness to even discuss an FTA is a sign of growing confidence in the economic relationship.
Mindfulness City Gelephu, Bhutan Support
Bangladesh also reiterated its steadfast support for Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City, an ambitious project for a special administrative region that seeks to combine sustainable development and economic development near the Indian border. Dhaka welcomed the initiative’s potential to boost regional connectivity and shared prosperity, and said it was interested in exploring ways in which Bangladesh could participate in or benefit from the project as it evolves. Gelephu Mindfulness City is one of the biggest development projects in Bhutan in recent years and has drawn attention across the region. Bangladesh’s support for the project has added another layer of regional interest.
Kurigram Economic Zone in focus again
Closer to home, Bangladesh renewed its commitment to speeding up the operationalisation of the Bhutanese Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, a project which has been on the agenda of the two countries for some time. The zone is likely to open up new opportunities for Bhutanese investment and trade access through Bangladesh, reinforcing the tangible, on-the-ground element of the relationship along with the broader diplomatic commitments made during the talks.
Wider cooperation across sectors
In addition to trade and infrastructure, the two sides agreed to expand cooperation in culture, tourism, agriculture, human resource development, academic exchange and youth engagement. These softer areas of cooperation often pave the way for stronger people-to-people ties, and their presence in the talks signals that both governments recognise the value of developing relationships beyond government offices and trade ministries.
Strengthening the regional framework
The two countries also used the consultations to discuss ways to enhance cooperation within SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). Both regional blocs have seen periods of stagnation in recent years, and renewed bilateral push from member states like Bangladesh and Bhutan could help inject fresh momentum into regional integration efforts. Officials from both delegations said they were pleased with the outcome of the talks, calling it a positive step for the relationship.
Looking forward to Thimphu
The next round of Foreign Office Consultations will be held in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, as the biannual dialogue continues to be a fixture on the diplomatic calendar of the two countries.
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Building on a long-established partnership
The latest round of talks builds on decades of close cooperation between Bangladesh and Bhutan in hydropower, transport and trade. That history of friction-free cooperation adds weight to the new commitments made in Dhaka, suggesting the relationship is entering a period less about establishing trust and more about turning goodwill into tangible economic and regional gains.
Summary
Bangladesh and Bhutan have agreed to enhance bilateral relations after the Fourth Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka, with both sides agreeing to broaden trade, explore a future free trade agreement and increase cooperation on regional connectivity projects.
