President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has commended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the “outstanding” socio-economic progress achieved in Bangladesh under her leadership. He also congratulated her as Bangladesh qualified for graduating from Least Developed Country (LDC) category to a developing country status. President Solih attributed this “milestone achievement” to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s "foresight and exemplary" leadership, coupled with the hard work of Bangladeshi people, according to a joint communiqué issued on Thursday night. Both leaders noted the untapped scope for economic cooperation between the Maldives and Bangladesh. They agreed to expedite the work in translating this potential into tangible outcomes through trade and investment initiatives. In the context of graduation from LDC status, and the need to maintain benefits enjoyed under the South Asian Free Trade Area, Hasina reiterated Bangladesh’s offer to conclude a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with the Maldives. Solih welcomed Hasina’s initiative for PTA and to hold Commerce Secretary-level meetings to discuss trade related issues in detail at the earliest. Read: Bangladesh-Maldives ties must grow further: Hasina Both leaders reviewed the progress made on the commitments announced during the state visit of President Solih and the official visits of Vice President Faisal Naseem and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid to Dhaka earlier this year. They expressed satisfaction on timely holding of the first bilateral consultations at Foreign Secretary level, between the two countries in November 2021 in Malé. The two leaders noted the need to expedite the implementation of the other instruments concluded during the visit of President Solih in March 2021. Solih and Hasina held official talks on Thursday and reviewed the entire range of bilateral engagements including exploring new avenues for further strengthening cooperation on trade, investment, connectivity, health, culture, agriculture, Information and Communication Technology, human resources development, consular and community welfare. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Read: Bangladesh-Maldives ties must grow further: Hasina During the visit, Vice President Faisal Naseem, Speaker of People’s Majlis, former President Mohamed Nasheed, Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel paid courtesy calls on Hasina. Solih recalled his successful state visit to Dhaka in March 2021, to participate in the epochal celebrations commemorating the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh and congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on these festive occasions. Solih and Hasina discussed the global Covid-19 pandemic and noted the devastating impacts it has had on the economies, livelihoods and wellbeing of the people in both the countries, as well as across the globe. Both leaders agreed on the importance of equitable access to vaccines to combat the pandemic.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a two-day official visit to the Maldives, the largest labour market for Bangladesh in South Asia, on December 22-23 to take the relations between the two countries to newer heights. The Prime Minister will fly to Male on a special flight on December 22 and be received at the airport by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel. On Thursday (Dec 23) morning, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will formally welcome the Prime Minister and then she will be given Guard of Honour. After receiving the guard of honour, the Prime Minister will proceed to the Presidential Palace. The President of the Maldives will hold a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister at the venue. After the meeting, the two countries are likely to sign four bilateral documents -- agreement on avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, MoU on cooperation in the area of youth and sports development, MoU on recruitment of qualified health professionals and MoU in the areas of healthcare and medical sciences between Bangladesh and Maldives (renewal). Read: Hasina for strengthening connectivity with Maldives At the request of the Maldivian Defence Ministry, 13 military vehicles, provided by the Bangladesh Army, will be handed over to the Maldivian Defence Ministry as a token of friendship. Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen briefed the media at Foreign Service Academy on the Prime Minister’s forthcoming visit to the Maldives. Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams and Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam were, among others, present.

President Abdul Hamid on Thursday stressed the need for establishing direct air and water connectivity between Maldives and Bangladesh to further enhance trade and investment ties between the two countries. 

President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a symbol of democracy and freedom, whose efforts were instrumental in securing an independent destiny for Bangladesh's people.

President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Wednesday visited the National Martyrs’ Memorial and Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhaka as part of his ongoing three-day state visit to Bangladesh. First Lady Fazna Ahmed accompanied him.

Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend celebrations of Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of independence and birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A medical team of Bangladesh Air Force reached the Maldives on Wednesday to support its government to contain the rapid spread of Covid-19 through the “Covid-19 Dhifaau” nationwide vaccination programme.

President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will visit Dhaka on the occasion of Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee of Independence and Mujib Borsho.

Bangladesh and the Maldives will hold bilateral talks on Tuesday to find ways to strengthen the relations between the two countries, giving a focus on trade and investment and the welfare of Bangladeshi workers in the Maldives.