Bangladesh and Brunei will sign three bilateral cooperation documents, including an agreement for introducing direct flights between the two countries, when Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah is scheduled to begin an official visit to Dhaka on October 15.

Two other cooperation documents will be signed on recruitment of Bangladeshi workers and recognition of certificates for two countries’ seafarers.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen briefed the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighting various aspects of the first ever visit by the Brunei Sultan to Bangladesh. 

The three-day visit was originally scheduled for October 14-16, but it has been rescheduled for October 15-17.

“We believe that the visit will be a successful and productive one,” Momen said.

President Abdul Hamid will receive the Brunei Sultan at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport amid 21-gun salute.

Responding to a question on energy cooperation with Brunei, Momen said Bangladesh is having discussion in this area and exploring all available options.

Brunei Darussalam Sultan Waddaulah, during his stay in Bangladesh, will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32 to pay homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Sultan will also visit the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar during his visit.

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

She said the three-day visit carries special significance.

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

Foreign Minister Momen will also meet him during his visit.

High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam Haji Haris Bin Othman has said he understands the importance of direct air connectivity between the two friendly Muslim countries to boost tourism and trade.

"Bangladesh tourists are most welcome to Brunei," he said ahead of the visit.

The envoy said the state visit will be a new chapter in the history of both countries, further strengthening bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries.

In April 2019, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a historic visit to Brunei Darussalam, which marked a new milestone as the countries signed several MoUs for various types of cooperation, including in sectors like gas supply, fisheries, agriculture, livestock, youth and sports, and art and culture, said Haris Bin Othman.

The High Commissioner estimated that currently there may be around 15,000 Bangladeshi workers in Brunei. 

He added that the country welcomes foreign workers to work in Brunei, including Bangladeshis, as long as the recruitment process is clean and all documents are in place.

The High Commissioner noted that Bangladeshi tourists travel to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia - Brunei's neighbours in the region -not only for leisure and adventure but also for medical treatment.

He would like to draw a portion of them to Brunei, which occupies a spot on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. 

The remainder of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

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.