Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah is scheduled for a state visit to Bangladesh from October 14 to 16.

"This is going to be the first state visit by the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam to Bangladesh," Bangladesh High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Nahida Rahman Shumona told UNB today. 

She said the three-day visit carries special significance. 

He will hold meetings with President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apart from other engagements during the visit. 

The two countries are planning to sign a number of bilateral cooperation documents during the visit. 

The two sides are working on the upcoming state visit of the Brunei Darussalam Sultan, said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Asked about likely MoUs to be signed during the visit, the official said, "We are still negotiating in a number of areas - labor relations, energy cooperation, seafarers training and safety and air services."

The two sides are also in discussion to have direct flights between Bangladesh and Brunei.

Bangladesh and Brunei are stressing the importance of facilitating air and shipping connectivity for giving the bilateral trade, investment and people-to-people contact a boost.

The two countries at the second Foreign Office Consultations (FOC)  held in Bandar Seri Begawan in August this year agreed to facilitate a greater collaboration and synergy between the private sectors and entrepreneurs of the two countries to fully harness the untapped potentials.

The consultations were co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Permanent Secretary of Brunei Darussalam Pengiran Norhashimah binti Pengiran Mohd Hassan.

The issue of energy cooperation prominently featured in the bilateral discussions in context of the severe supply chain disruptions owing to the volatility and uncertainties caused by the pandemic and conflicts in different parts of the world, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides acknowledged the valuable contribution made by Bangladeshi migrant workers to both the countries.