Bangladesh
31-gun salute to usher in 54th Independence Day on Tuesday
Bangladesh is all set to celebrate its 54th Independence Day, also commemorated as the country's National Day, on Tuesday with a vow to build the developed, prosperous, and harmonious Smart 'Sonar Bangla' dreamt of by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.
After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people and at the cost of chastity of two lakh women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971.
The day is a public holiday.
Different sociocultural and political organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.
The day's programme will begin with a 31-gun salute before President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pay their tributes at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Tuesday morning.
They will be followed by the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.
Later, foreign diplomats, leaders of different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life will place wreaths to pay homage to the martyrs.
The national flag will be hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places will be illuminated on the auspicious occasion.
National dailies will bring out special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, private radio stations and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Special prayers will be offered at all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship across the country seeking divine blessings for the eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation, four national leaders, martyrs of the War of Liberation and all other patriotic sons of the soil.
Special meals will be served to the inmates of hospitals, jails, old homes and other public institutions to mark the day.
Different political parties as well as socio-cultural and professional organisations have drawn up elaborate programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Bangla Academy, National Museum, Liberation War Museum, Bangladesh Shishu Academy and other social and cultural organisations will organize different programmes including cultural programmes, art exhibition, sports, an exhibition of documentary films and posters based on the history and tradition of the Liberation War.
Bangladesh Postal Department will release a commemorative postage stamp marking the Independence and National Day.
All children's parks and museums will be kept open with free entry across the country.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, the head of state, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the head of government, have issued separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, the President said, "I recall with deep respect the millions of martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the War of Liberation. I recall with deep reverence our Four National Leaders, heroic freedom-fighters, organizers, supporters, foreign friends and people from all walks of life who made contributions to attain our right to self-determination and freedom movement.”
“I hope, based on the unprecedented achievements of the government in the country's overall development activities and socio-economic indicators in the past years, we will be able to face these challenges in the days to come, InshaAllah,” said the president.
“To expedite the progress of the country, let the nation embrace the spirit of the liberation war and the ideals of the Father of the Nation and move forward in building ‘Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal)’ dreamt by Bangabandhu--this is my expectation on the great Independence Day,” he said.
In her message, the Prime Minister said, “On this auspicious occasion, I extend my sincere greetings and congratulations to all the Bangladeshi citizens living in the country and abroad.
I remember with the most profound respect the Greatest Bangali of all time, Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, under whose firm and far-sighted leadership we achieved independent and sovereign Bangladesh.”
“The Awami League government believes in the philosophy of upgrading the fate of the people. We are running our government through immediate, short, medium, and long-term plans to uplift the living standard of ordinary people and develop the country. Moreover, we regularly monitor the implementation progress of our election manifesto. Due to these reasons, people's trust and strong support for Awami League continues,” she said.
“On this very occasion of Independence Day and National Day, being imbued with the spirit of our great Liberation War, let us take the oath to build developed-prosperous non-communal smart 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib,” she said.
EdUSA hosts Iftar reception for students accepted into US universities
A staggering number of 13,563 Bangladeshi students studied in the United States during the 2022–23 academic year, a 28 percent increase over the previous year (2021-2022).
The number of Bangladeshi students studying in the US is now at an all-time high, and Bangladesh ranks 13th worldwide in terms of international students heading to the United States.
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This was revealed during an iftar reception at the EMK Center in the capital’s Gulshan on Sunday.
However, a majority of general students and guardians have a common perception that students from Bangla mediums and HSC qualifiers have to hurdle through a rigorous process to get acceptance into US institutions, eventually leading them to pursue postgraduate opportunities rather than pursuing their undergraduate studies in the US.
Applications can be made to 25 US universities through GRC
“I also had that perception until I applied for my undergraduate programmeme in the US,” Sazia Kamal, who completed her HSC in 2022 from Rajuk Uttara Model College and is going to the University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) BS programme in Biochemistry, told UNB.
Bangladeshi students have the option to pursue their undergraduate degrees in the United States through some easy and specific processes, without any difficulties. However, parents and other general students, mostly those from the Bengali medium, are generally not aware of this option.
EdUSA (Education USA), the US government’s only official source of information on higher education, is actively addressing this issue, working closely with high school counsellors and assisting qualified students to achieve their goal of higher education in the United States. This includes providing guidance on the visa process and reviewing their applications.
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“The entirety of the online undergrad application process is very easy, and anyone can apply to their selected institutions based on their preference of the majors with their Bangladeshi higher secondary results and the IELTS scores,” Sazia told UNB. She is a recipient of the International Outreach Award, the primary scholarship for international undergraduate students from the university.
The information was echoed by another successful applicant, Prottoy Roy, who completed his A Level from the SFX Greenherald International School. “I applied for the undergraduate programme in molecular biology at Brown University, and resources from EduUSA and the EMK Center helped me in the process.”
Rookshana Begum and Mohammad Shahnewaz, who joined the event on Sunday from Chattogram with their daughter Afra Nawar from the Presidency International School, said the high demand for a US degree is due to the exceptional quality of the US education system and the value placed on an American degree around the world, and this has been the motivation for them to send their daughter to the University of California (UCLA),”Afra completed her A Level in 2023 and received a full scholarship to pursue her undergraduate degree in psychobiology at UCLA.
The Iftar and dinner reception on Sunday hosted 30 students who recently obtained the opportunity to pursue their undergraduate dreams in the United States this year. Students and parents from 16 institutions in Dhaka and Chattogram joined the reception, with four being Bangla medium and 12 being English medium institutions.
Sharlina Hussain-Morgan, Public Engagement Director at the US Embassy in Bangladesh, and Stephen F Ibelli, Public Diplomacy Counsellor of the US Embassy, spoke at the event.
Minor boy among 8 shot with bullets in N’ganj clash
Eight individuals, including a 9-year-old boy, sustained bullet injuries in a clash between two groups of villagers over longstanding local rivalry that boiled over on Monday at Naora in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj.
The injured were identified as Akbar, 24, Tajel, 36, Joynal, 35, Shamim, 25, Muktar Hossain, 60, Nur Hossain, 24, Arif, 9, and Roman, 20.
Quoting witnesses, Dipak Kumar Saha, inspector of Rupganj Police Station, said an altercation broke out between the supporters of former Union Parishad Chairman Rafiqul Islam and former Union Parishad member Mosharraf Hossain, over a trifling matter.
At one stage, both groups opened fire, leaving eight people shot suffering bullet injuries.
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They were first taken to the local hospital and then shifted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital for better treatment.
The situation is under control, said Inspector Dipak. However, no official complaint has been lodged as yet.
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Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble, the inspector added.
Take the country forward foiling conspiracies: PM Hasina urges in Independence Day speech
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called upon the people to take the country forward overcoming all evil tricks and conspiracies.
“On the 54th Independence Day, let’s come forward in unison and take the development and progress of Bangladesh forward,” she said.
The premier made this call at her televised address to the nation on the eve of the Independence Day.
The speech was broadcast at 7:30 pm simultaneously by Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and some private television channels, radio stations and online platforms.
The prime minister said she has tirelessly been trying to put a smile on the faces of the common people by improving their fortunes with support and cooperation from all.
On this 53rd anniversary of independence, she unequivocally said that her government has successfully been able to fulfill the expectations of the countrymen to a large extent.
“It is not a hollow rhetorical claim. Today Bangladesh is a shining example in the developing world for socio-economic development,” said Hasina.
She said her government proved that a country can be taken forward with political will and proper plans amid limited resources.
But it is an unpleasant truth that the conspiracy to undermine the independence and sovereignty of the country and to thwart the desire for economic emancipation has not stopped even today, she said.
“The conspirators are still lurking to figure out how to stop the ongoing progress of Bangladesh,” said PM Hasina, also the President of Bangladesh Awami League.
She said the forces who suffered defeat in 1971 and the killers of the 1975 massacre and also their collaborators are still hell-bent on avenging their defeat.
The prime minister alerted the people that the conspirators will strike whenever they get the chance.
“The only obstacle on their way is Awami League. If AL can be annihilated or weakened by any trick, the rise of the defeated forces is inevitable. So, be careful,” she urged.
The PM said the AL government runs the country following “Friendship to all malice towards none,’ the foreign policy dictum of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“We’ve no master rather we’ve friends,” she said, adding that the Bengali nation will never be browbeaten by any one.
Noting that AL formed the government for the fourth time in a row by gaining an absolute majority in the January 7 parliamentary elections, the AL president extended her thanks and gratitude to the people for keeping confidence in her party.
“Our goal is to establish Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous Smart Bangladesh by 2041 carrying forth the development and progress what we’ve so far attained,” she said adding that Bangladesh will be the hunger-poverty-free non-communal golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu.
She said Awami League has been governing the country for the past 15 years with the mandate of the people.
But this 15-year journey was not entirely a bed of roses, she said, citing different natural and manmade disasters and wars including Covid-19 pandemic, arson violence, Russia-Ukraine war, and high global inflation.
Focusing on the strong position of the country in different economic and socio-economic indexes and the agricultural sector, she said Bangladesh is now the 35th largest economy in the world.
She said different completed infrastructures including Padma Bridge, Dhaka Metro Rail, Elevated Expressway, Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River in Chittagong, Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and highways with four or more lanes which connected Divisional cities with Dhaka have brought a revolutionary change in the communication sector.
About the commodity prices during Ramadan, she said the government has stockpiled several goods such as sugar, chickpea, pulse, and edible oil alongside giving permission to import 50,000 metric tonnes of onion and the same amount of potatoes.
Besides, fish, meat, egg and milk are being sold at affordable prices for the marginalised people at 25 points in the capital since the beginning of Ramadan, she said.
The TCB sells rice, pulse, edible oil, sugar, and chickpea at cheaper prices among one crore cardholder families across the country, she added.
On the occasion of the Eid-ul Fitr, the government has given a special allocation of 100,628 metric tonnes of rice for one crore families and each family will get 10km rice at free of cost, she said.
At the beginning of the month of Ramadan, the prices of some commodities including dates, imported fruits, lemons, watermelons, onions were slightly higher. But the prices of these items have come down to normal and affordable levels within a few days.
“When the price of goods increases, the common man, especially the people with limited income, suffer. We’re trying our best to ease people's suffering,” said PM Hasina.
Seasoned journalists, experts stress vital role of media in creating awareness to make roads safe again
Noting that road accidents have turned into 'an epidemic worse than coronavirus', experts at a workshop stressed the very important role of the media in raising public awareness to tackle the problem.
They were speaking at a workshop on ‘Establishment of Safe Roads and Media’ arranged by the National Institute of Mass Communication, better known as Nimco, at the latter's auditorium in the capital on Monday.
Shipping and Communications Reporters Forum (SCRF) was present at the workshop.
“To ensure road safety in Bangladesh, the media will have to play a stronger role in sustainable integrated road management and proper implementation of the existing road laws,” Farid Hossain, editor of UNB, said at the workshop.
He also stressed the need for increasing the skill level of the drivers and helpers of different vehicles, stopping unfit vehicles from plying on the highways, and raising awareness among passengers and pedestrians.
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Sufi Zakir Hossain, additional director general of Nimco, said discipline has to be brought back in the public transport sector to reduce road accidents and in this regard, Nimco is working to create public awareness.
Zahirul Islam, deputy secretary of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, said the media can play a vital role by creating public awareness in this regard.
The session was presided over by Dr Maruf Newaz, deputy director of Nimco, while another deputy director of Nimco Sumona Parvin, its assistant director Tanjim Tamanna, president of SCRF Ashish Kumar Dey, and its general secretary Jahangir Alam also spoke at the programme, among others.
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Bhutanese King's visit a testament of close ties of friendship and goodwill between Bangladesh, Bhutan: Joint Statement
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will attend the celebration of Independence and National Day of Bangladesh on March 26 as the special guest.
He will pay tribute to the memory of the sacrifices of the heroic freedom fighters of Bangladesh at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at Savar, which will include the laying of a wreath, signing the visitors’ book and planting of a sapling.
Queen of Bhutan Jetsun Pema Wangchuck will also attend accompanying the King.
The King of Bhutan is paying a state visit to Bangladesh from March 25 to 28 at the invitation of President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
The visit of the King to Bangladesh is a testament of the close ties of friendship and goodwill that so happily exist between the two countries, said a joint statement issued on Monday.
The state visit of the King and Queen to Bangladesh has further strengthened the traditional ties of friendship, cooperation and goodwill between the two countries, it said.
The King and Queen will meet with the President of Bangladesh. The President will host a banquet on Tuesday in honour of the King.
The King and Queen met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
The following Memoranda of Understanding (MoMs) were signed during the visit- MoU between Bangladesh and Bhutan for Cooperation on establishment of a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu and Health Cooperation; MoU between Bangladesh and Bhutan for Cooperation on establishing Bhutanese Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, Bangladesh by Bhutan and MoU between Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection of Bangladesh and the Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority of Bhutan.
The agreement between Bangladesh and Bhutan onocultural cooperation was renewed.
Both sides expressed satisfaction that annual intake of Bhutanese students for admission in MBBS in public medical colleges of Bangladesh has been increasing gradually.
To further consolidate the existing momentum of cooperation, Bangladesh offered to increase the number of annual MBBS seats for Bhutanese students from 22 (twenty-two) to 30 (thirty).
During the official meeting, the two sides expressed happiness on the current state of relation between Bangladesh and Bhutan, which is a very special one based on common history, geographical proximity, and the shared aspiration of the people for prosperity and development.
King Jigme expressed his deep appreciation for the cordial welcome and warm hospitality extended to Him and the members of His delegation during their stay in Bangladesh.
Prime Minister of Bangladesh recalled with gratitude the invaluable support of King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the Third King of Bhutan and the people of Bhutan during Bangladesh’s War of Independence.
Prime Minister fondly recalled Bhutan being the first country to recognise Bangladesh as an independent country on 6th December 1971.
Both sides expressed happiness that Bangladesh and Bhutan signed the Agreement on the Movement of Traffic-in-Transit and its Protocol in March 2023 which will usher in new horizons for bilateral trade and connectivity.
The Agreement and its Protocol will not only be phenomenal for bilateral trade but also will work as a platform for paving the way for an interconnected South Asia, said the joint statement.
Both sides noted that regional and sub-regional connectivity are important means of economic integration and enhancing trade and commerce.
They noted with satisfaction that the collaborative efforts between the two sides in connectivity through roads, rail, and waterways will strengthen bilateral ties as well as foster regional integration and economic growth in South Asia.
A New Horizon
Bhutan conveyed its appreciation to Bangladesh for offering the ‘Special Economic Zone’ in ‘Kurigram’ in the northern part of Bangladesh, which is 190 kms from the southern city of Gelephu, Bhutan.
The economic zone will add a new horizon in the area of bilateral trade and investment between the two countries and also for achieving greater prosperity in the South Asia region.
Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening subregional cooperation in the energy sector among Bhutan, Bangladesh and India.
Both sides acknowledged that regional cooperation is very important for shared peace and prosperity in the region.
The King will visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery in Dhaka on March 26 and interact with the officials, doctors and students there.
Bangladesh is going to establish a burn and plastic surgery unit in Thimphu which will be another milestone in the bilateral cooperation between Bangladesh and Bhutan in the health sector.
Both sides expressed satisfaction that there has been exemplary people-to-people contact between Bangladesh and Bhutan for decades.
They reiterated to further strengthen the peopleto-people contact between Bangladesh and Bhutan by connecting the Himalayas in Bhutan with the longest sea beach in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
The King Jigme will visit the Padma Bridge, a monumental infrastructural feat constructed entirely through the self-financing efforts of the Bangladesh government.
This remarkable infrastructure project stands as a testament to Bangladesh's commitment to advancing connectivity and fostering economic growth.
King Jigme will also visit a Special Economic Zone in Araihazar to witness firsthand the infrastructure and facilities there.
While in Dhaka, the King will also meet and interact with the Bangladesh business leaders and potential investors to explore new avenues for economic and commercial ties between the two countries.
The King of Bhutan extended invitations to the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to visit Bhutan.
Fire at TK Group’s super board manufacturing factory brought under control after 22 hrs
The fire that broke out at a super board manufacturing factory of TK Groupat Sikirgaon in Gazaria upazila of Munshiganj was brought under control after 22 hours on Monday.
The firefighting units are still working to fully douse the flame till the filing of this report around 4 pm today.
Already, a probe body, formed to look into the fire incident, has visited the spot in the morning and is trying to unearth the reason behind the fire.
The fire broke out at the board factory around 1:10 pm on Sunday and ten firefighting units rushed to the spot to tame the flame.
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Two ships later joined the firefighting units but they failed to bring the blaze under control.
Later, the firefighters used a robotic machine to extinguish the fire.
Jashim Uddin, deputy director of Dhaka Fire Service and Civil Defense, said the fire was partially brought under control around 12 am on Sunday midnight but it was extinguished around 1 pm on Monday.
Local administration has formed a five-member probe body to look into the fire incident.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven working days, said head of the probe body Additional deputy commissioner Md Masudul Alam.
India to help Bangladesh in importing hydropower from Bhutan: Hasan Mahmud
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday said India will help Bangladesh to import hydropower from Bhutan the way India helped in importing hydropower from Nepal.
He made the remarks while talking to reporters after his meeting with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is required to bring the electricity through India.
The two sides are in discussion to that end but there is no plan to sign any agreement during the ongoing state visit of the Bhutanese King.
At the meeting with the Bhutanese King, Minister Hasan laid emphasis on people to people contact.
The Foreign Minister requested the Bhutanese King to join BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal) initiative and enhance air connectivity.
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Currently, there are only two flights on Dhaka-Thimphu route which needs to be increased, he said.
"Bhutan is a very beautiful country. Those who visited Bhutan, want to go again and again," he said, adding that they also discussed ways to allow people visit Bhutan by road.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current excellent level of cooperation between the two countries.
They agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture,education, culture, people to people contact etc.
Bangladesh will allocate 190 acres of land in Kurigram for a special economic zone for Bhutanese investors.
Bangladesh will construct a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu as a goodwill gesture which also demonstrates the country’s capacity.
Bhutan was the first country to recognise the newly independent Bangladesh on December 6 in 1971 when the 3rd King of Bhutan sent a message of recognition by telegram.
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Since then Bangladesh and Bhutan share a special multidimensional bilateral relationship. Immediately after the independence, the Bhutanese government took initiative to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh and, consequently, formal diplomatic relations was established on 12 April 1973.
President visits Military Hardware Exhibition
President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday visited the combined Military Hardware Exhibition at the National Parade Square.
The exhibition was organised on the occasion of Independence Day and National Day-2024.
Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Nazmul Hassan, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan and Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt General Mizanur Rahman Shameem received the president on his arrival at the National Parade Square.
The president went round different stalls and pavilions set up by the three forces and witnessed various light and heavy weapons being used by the army, navy and air force troops; concerned officials briefed him on the hardware.
The president and his entourage also enjoyed a cultural program by the artists of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra and later joined a photo session there as well.
Secretaries concerned to the president were also present on the occasion.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday inaugurated the combined Military Hardware Exhibition.
The exposition would be open to all from 10 am to 4 pm from March 26 to March 30.
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Dhaka, Thimphu sign 3 MoUs; agree to enhance ties in trade, connectivity, power
Bangladesh and Bhutan on Monday signed three new memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to enhance mutual cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
The two friendly South Asian countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade and commerce, connectivity, power, agriculture, education, culture, people to people contact etc, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The MoUs are: Establishment of a Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, Setting up a Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit in Thimphu, and technical cooperation on consumer rights. Another MoU on cultural exchange was renewed.
Health Minister Smanta Lal Sen, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection Director General (Additional Secretary) A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman and Cultural Affairs Secretary Khalil Ahmed signed the MoUs from Bangladesh side.
Bhutanese Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk, Bhutanese Commerce Secretary Tashi Wangmk and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Pema Choden signed the MoUs on behalf of their country.
The Bhutanese King and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the MoUs signing held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Dhaka, Thimphu sign 3 MoUs; agree to enhance ties in trade, connectivity, power
Besides, Bangladesh offered to increase the number of annual medical seats for Bhutanese students from 22 to 30 while the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh offered two seats for the Bhutanese Foreign Service officers every year for capacity building. Bangladesh will also extend necessary assistance in setting up a Diplomatic Training Institute in Bhutan.
Apart from this, Bangladesh offered special training to Bhutanese officials in Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) annually for three years.
As a special gesture of goodwill and friendship, Bangladesh handed over computers and laptops for the capacity building and skills development of the government officials of Bhutan.