Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the Maldives must grow further to enhance trade, investment, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts.“Our bilateral relations must grow,” Hasina said while speaking at the State Banquet hosted by the President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in honour of her.She said Bangladesh and the Maldives share religious values, cultural affinity and stand on the same plane of developmental aspiration. “With these commonalities in place, we look forward to striding ahead together in the days to come,” she said adding, “We could set an example by our collaboration during the pandemic. As we believe in shared prosperity and socio-economic development, I feel happy to see thousands of Bangladeshis working together with their Maldivian brothers and sisters in the Maldives and contributing to both country’s economies.” Read: Be partners in Bangladesh’s development story, Hasina to Maldivian entrepreneurs Expressing her gratitude, she said Bangladesh had the honour to welcome the Maldivian President in March this year to celebrate the Birth Centenary of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh.“Your gracious presence at our celebrations added further glory. Excellency! Thank you for allowing us to share our pride and joy!” she said.The Prime Minister appreciated the commendable initiatives of the Maldivian President to radically reshape the economic landscape of the Maldives through the particular emphasis on inter-island connectivity, green tourism, climate-smart infrastructure, and transition to renewable energy.“I salute the people of Maldives for their determination in the face of acute climate adversity and for their resilience in keeping the tourism industry rolling, even amid shockwaves of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hasina said.On the other hand, she said, our endeavours are also focused on implementing the development discourse and transforming Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041. Read: Dhaka, Male seek cooperation in fisheries, agriculture“Our Government's Vision-2041 is an image of Bangladesh that meets the hopes and aspirations of the country's people for an economically, developed, and inclusive society envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib’s dream Golden Bangladesh.”She mentioned that the government is committed to implementing SDGs in the stipulated time frame.“We also have started implementing 'Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100.' With our all-out efforts, Bangladesh has already been branded as 'the Development Miracle' by the world,” Hasina added.

In continuing her mango diplomacy Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sent 500 kgs of "Harivanga" mangoes to Maldives’ president Ibrahim Mohammed Solih as a token of friendship.Rear Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hassan, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the Maldives handed over the mangoes to Aishath Shaan Shakir, Chief of Protocol of Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.Aishath received the mangoes on behalf of the president and expressed gratitude to Sheikh Hasina for the special gift. PM Hasina has earlier gifted Harivaga mangoes, a juicy and tasty variety grown mainly in the northern district of Rangpur, to the leaders of India, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Mangoes were sent also to chief ministers of West Bengal, Tripura and Assam.

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.

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.