KATHMANDU: Ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams has said that enhancement of mutual cooperation, along with regional cooperation and economic connectivity, are the needs of the hour.

Speaking at a seminar on 'Trade and Connectivity between Nepal and Bangladesh' organised jointly by the Nepal Council of World Affairs and the Embassy of Bangladesh here today, she said Bangladesh and Nepal should accord special importance to expansion of bilateral trade.

Stating that there were sufficient opportunities for the expansion of trade between the two countries, the Ambassador said, "Instead of importing goods from Argentina and Brazil, it is beneficial for Nepal to buy products made in Bangladesh.”

She also said that trade expansion would become a mere dream in absence of  connectivity between the two nations via land, sea, and air, for which there has been cooperation between the nations, both at government and public levels.

Presenting a paper on the theme of the seminar, Chair of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies Munshi Faiz Ahmad said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) member states should work together in the field of information and technology, energy and physical infrastructure development.

Presenting a working paper on 'Nepal-Bangladesh Trade Relations : Prospects and Challenges', Former Chairperson of National Planning Commission Dr Rabindra Shakya said Nepal should take special initiative to increase exports to Bangladesh, with special emphasis on export of pashmina, handicrafts, and agricultural products.

In the programme, conducted under the chairmanship of Council President Hemanta Kharel, Vice-President Umesh Bahadur Malla, General Secretary Ashim Thapa, Secretary Bhuwan Pathak discussed on various aspects of the Nepal-Bangladesh relationship.