Vice President Faisal Naseem on Thursday afternoon paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, H.E. Sheikh Hasina. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is currently on a state visit to the Maldives at the invitation of H.E. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
At the meeting held at Hotel Jen, the Vice President and the Prime Minister expressed confidence in strengthening the long-standing friendly relationship between the two countries and discussed ways to further the bonds. Recalling his recent visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh, in November, Vice President Faisal spoke about the administration’s recovery efforts from the Covid-19 pandemic and expressed his gratitude for the support and assistance extended by the government of Bangladesh to efforts at combatting the pandemic.
Briefing the Prime Minister on the efforts, the Vice President underscored the administration’s policy of ensuring vaccine equity, something the Prime Minister extended her appreciation for. The Prime Minister went on to offer her admiration and applauded the Maldives’ nationwide vaccination programme and overall efforts to combat Covid-19.
Further conversing with the Prime Minister, Vice President Faisal stressed the administration’s efforts in human resources development and capacity building, speaking about increasing cooperation in these fields, in addition to trade, commerce, and marine connectivity. Speaking about the regularisation programme targeting undocumented foreign workers, the Vice President assured that the administration is committed to respecting and upholding the rights of all.
In exploring further avenues for cooperation between the two countries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned assisting in the information technology sector and further advancing healthcare services across the Maldives. The Prime Minister discussed further with the Vice President ways to extend assistance by providing scholarship opportunities in a plethora of professions.
Concluding the meeting, the Vice President praised Bangladesh's socio-economic developmental progress over the years and expressed his confidence that the Prime Minister and her government would bring extensive development to her country. He also congratulated the Prime Minister on the centenary birth anniversary of Bangladesh’s founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which is being commemorated this year.
