Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday urged the Maldivian government for regularising the undocumented Bangladeshi expatriates living in the country and recruiting more workforce from Bangladesh.

The Chief Adviser conveyed this to High Commissioner of the Maldives Shiuneen Rasheed when she met him at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

Bangladeshi expatriates are working in the Maldives, mainly in the tourism and fishing industries. A good number of Bangladeshi physicians are also working in the Maldives.

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The High Commissioner conveyed thanks to the Chief Adviser informing that Maldivian students are currently studying in different educational institutions in Bangladesh, especially in medical education.

The Chief Adviser said that Bangladesh is ready to welcome more students from the Maldives.

Dr Yunus greeted the High Commissioner, who is in her first ambassadorial role in Bangladesh.

Prof Yunus hoped that during her stay in Bangladesh, the relationship between the two countries would be strengthened further.

High Commissioner Shiuneen Rasheed mentioned that the trade relations between Bangladesh and the Maldives have been growing in recent months.

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"Our import from Bangladesh has increased, including pharmaceuticals," she said, and hoped that the development vision of Maldives would create more opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

She said that some Bangladeshi companies had set up businesses in the Maldives and that the number of Bangladeshi tourists in the Maldives grew by 17.5 percent in the last year.

The High Commissioner thanked the Chief Adviser for his role in the campaign for mitigating the impact of climate change. “We are really encouraged by your commitment to climate action, and Maldives wants to continue collaboration with Bangladesh on the issue of climate change” she added.