Jumbangla Desk: Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus emphasized the need to increase trade and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Bhutan.

"We want to see our relationship strengthen," said the Chief Adviser when he paid a courtesy call on Bhutan's ambassador to Dhaka, Rinchen Kuencil, at the Rashtriya Guest House Yamuna today.

The meeting discussed ways to increase trade between the two friendly countries, special economic zone for Bhutan in Bangladesh, renewable energy, other areas of mutual interest and influence of Bengal on Buddhism in Nepal.

The Ambassador of Bhutan praised the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed between the two countries in 2020, saying that Bangladesh is the only country with which Bhutan has a trade surplus.

He called for more products to be included in PTA, citing huge scope for trade growth.

Appreciating the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of Bhutan's Special Economic Zone at Kurigram, the Ambassador said Bhutan has already formed a working group as per the MoU.

Ambassador Kuencil recalled how Bangladeshi Buddhist monks and scholars spread Buddhism in Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan.

Atish Dipankar, a 10th-century monk who revived Buddhism in Tibet, and his ancestor Shantrakshit, an 8th-century monk, talk about it. Both were born in modern day Munshiganj district of Bangladesh.

He said Banaratna, who was born in Bangladesh in the early 15th century, visited Bhutan and established a Buddha statue and a monastery there.

The ambassador also said that Banaratna is still respected by the people of his country.

SDG Affairs Senior Secretary and Chief Coordinator Lamiya Morshed and Foreign Ministry Director General Ishrat Jahan were present in the meeting.

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