Four important agreements were signed today between the Maldives and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, demonstrating a pivotal point of progress in the bilateral relationship between the two republics. The signing ceremony was held at the Office of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh this morning. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, presided over the signing ceremony.

The agreements signed today are:

1. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on the Establishment of the Maldives-Bangladesh Joint Commission on Comprehensive Cooperation.
The agreement was signed by the Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dr A.K. Abdul Momen. The MoU aims to create a joint commission to focus on substantive cooperation in a multitude of settings.

2. MoU between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on the Establishment of Bilateral Consultations.
The agreement was signed by the Maldivian Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed and Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen. The MoU seeks to strengthen the current bilateral relationship and pave the way for comprehensive and productive dialogue.

3. MoU between the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture of the Republic of Maldives and the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, on the Establishment of the field of Fisheries and Pelagic Fishing.
The MoU was signed by the Maldivian Minister of Economic Development, Uz Fayyaz Ismail, and Bangladeshi Minister of Fisheries and Livestock, S.M. Rezaul Karim. The MoU aims to improve the two countries’ relationship in fisheries and open up a channel for productive dialogue in this area.

4. MoU between the Government of the Republic of Maldives and the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on the Establishment of Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for 2022-2025.
The agreement was signed by Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid and Bangladeshi State Minister of Cultural Affairs K.M. Khalid.

Before the signing ceremony, President Solih and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office. Following the meeting, bilateral talks were also held between the two countries.