He said this when Prime Minister of Nepal and Chairman of ruling Nepal Communist Party met him at the meeting room of Marriott Kathmandu hotel.
At the beginning of the meeting, the President recalled with gratitude and appreciation the moral and material support extended by the people and political leadership of Nepal to the people of Bangladesh during the War of Liberation in 1971.
He said, “Nepal is the seventh country which recognised Bangladesh after the War of Liberation in 1971. Since then, the diplomatic relationship is increasing day by day in the multiple sectors.”
Abdul Hamid expressed happiness at the expanding trade volume between the two countries as exports from Bangladesh witnessed a five-fold increase over the last five years to around US$ 45 million after stagnating at only around US$ 10 million from 1972 to 2014.
He said the exports from Bangladesh, however, declined this year after introduction of heavy import duties on products.
About the trade deficit between the two countries, the President said, “Bangladesh is a big market. If Nepalese producers can export their products to Bangladesh, this trade deficit will decline and reach a balanced position.”
He said Bangladesh is interested to import hydroelectricity from Nepal. A memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the power sector between Bangladesh and Nepal was signed, hoping that the two countries will work together for this.
About the high prospect for tourism in the two neighbouring countries, Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh is one of the largest tourist sending countries to Nepal, sending around 37,000 tourists in 2018 alone and hoped that Nepal will reciprocate with more Nepalese tourists to Bangladesh to enjoy the beaches of Cox’s Bazar and the Sundarbans.
He also said the Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA) will particularly boost tourism in eastern Nepal and the beautiful mountain regions of the eastern Himalayas which is virtually unknown to people of Bangladesh.
The President added that it would also help boost tourism to Lumbini, where Bangladesh is constructing a Buddhist Monastery, by encouraging pilgrimage and tourists from Bangladesh through budget package offers.
He also expressed optimism that both the countries will be benefitted from harnessing the available synergies in this sector.
Abdul Hamid said Bangladesh has unilaterally offered Nepal the use of Chattogram, Mongla and newly built Payra ports for third country transit and access to the sea. Along with infrastructure of the rest of the country, facilities of both the ports have been tremendously developed with enhanced capacity for handling increased traffic.
“Nepal can boost their trade by using these ports easily and Bangladeshi is ready to provide the all-out support to Nepal,” also said.
He also emphasised on the need to operationalise the BBIN Motor Vehicle Agreement, which envisages smooth and seamless passage of traffic between Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India. Since Bhutan is not able to participate in the MVA at present, it is urgent that the rest three countries go ahead with the MVA.
Hamid also stated that taking into consideration the request of the government of Nepal, from June 2019, Bangladesh is granting long-term multiple entry visas to for a period of four years or for the duration of the course to Nepalese students.
He expressed his belief that Nepal would continue to cooperate with Bangladesh in resolving the longstanding Rohingya crisis and put meaningful pressure on Myanmar so that Myanmar takes back its nationals in a speedy, safe, sustainable and dignified manner.
President said Bangladesh expects the participation of a high-level Nepali delegation to the programmes of the Mujib Year.
Besides, President Hamid also said Bangladesh is ready to support the government of Nepal in implementing the policies for socioeconomic development of the country and fulfilling their vision of “Samridhdha Nepal, Sukhi Nepali”.
Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma said, “We’re very friendly countries. The relationship which started with the diplomatic relationship in 1972 is increasing day by day.”
He also lauded Bangladesh for the development trend and congratulated it as Bangladesh is going to graduate from the LDC group to a developing country. “Nepal is also working to graduate from the LCD to a developing country in 2030. We want to work together in this issue,” he said.
KP Sharma said Nepal is keen to increase trade, investment and people-to-people contact with Bangladesh. Both countries are working together for this.
Welcoming the investment in the hydroelectricity sector of Nepal, he said, “Bangladeshi investors can invest more in this sector. Both countries will be benefitted with the investment.”
Describing the Rohingya problem as a serious one, KP Sharma said the problem should be resolved as soon as possible. “The support from Nepal will continue in the coming days.”
He informed that they will organise a dialogue series on climate change and they want the active participation of Bangladesh in the dialogue.
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque, Bangladesh Ambassador to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary of the President's Office Sampad Barua and Military Secretary Major General SM Shamim-Uz-Zaman were present at the meeting.