Bangladesh and the Maldives on Saturday held the first-ever bilateral consultations reaffirming their commitment to work together in regional and multilateral fora, especially on issues of climate change and regional security.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the delegation at the bilateral consultations held in Male’ between Bangladesh and the Maldives. Foreign Secretary of the Maldives Abdul Ghafoor led the Maldives delegation.

The Maldivian sides sought support from Bangladesh for the recruitment of skilled human resources, including specialized doctors and nurses.

They also sought support from Bangladesh for specialized courses in higher education, especially the medical one.

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Both the Foreign Secretaries noted the excellent relations that exist between the two countries and reaffirmed to further strengthen that in the days to come.

Foreign Secretary Masud reiterated that Bangladesh attaches high importance towards promoting relations with neighboring countries following its foreign policy.

The entire spectrum of relations and deepening cooperation, conclusion of bilateral instruments, trade and connectivity, protection of migrant workers, human resource development, agriculture, fisheries, cultural exchange programme, protection of the environment and tourism for enhancing people-to-people to contact came up for discussions.

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Earlier in the day, Ambassador Masud met the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Maldives Ahmed Khaleel.

During the meeting, the Maldives assured Bangladesh of extending their support in an early solution to the Rohingya crisis through repatriation of Rohingyas to their country of origin.