Kathmandu, November 14

Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Association has suggested strengthening other relations along with diplomatic ties with Bangladesh.

The association has expressed hope that there could be progress in the area of education, health, agriculture and trade of Nepal by consolidating diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. NBFA’s President Dindaya Rijal said, “Bangladesh wants to be close to Nepal and wants to first establish close relations with it. Nepal should also understand this spirit of Bangladesh.”

He stressed the need for opening the Fulbari transit road between Nepal, India and Bangladesh, which would facilitate Nepal’s access to sea. It takes around three-and-a-half hours on vehicle to reach Kakadvitta-Budhimari border with India from Bhadrapur. But, it takes only half an hour to reach Fulbari border with India from Bhadrapur.

Nepal could export fruits and goods like apple, orange, pear, peach, cardamom, broom grass, cinnamon, cement, sand and pebbles to meet increasing demand for these commodities in Bangladesh, he said. “Products of Bangladesh products like medicines and textiles are exported to almost all countries around the world. We, Nepalis, could learn skills from them to produce these goods,” he said. Rijal also demanded resumption of Dhaka-Kathmandu bus service, which came to a halt after operating just for one day.

Bangladeshi people love their culture and language and take interest in observing festivals and prefer using and wearing home-made products. Nepal could learn from the behaviour of Bangladeshi people, he said, adding  there had to be exchange of literature, arts and culture between the two countries. “Bangladeshi people enjoy observing mountains and hills of Nepal. They have great love for Nepal and are impressed by its natural beauty. They regard Nepal as haven. So, Nepal’s government should launch special programmes to attract Bangladeshi people to Nepal.”

Bangladesh’s President Mohammad Abdul Hamid is here on his four-day visit to Nepal at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Bidhya Devi Bhandari. He arrived in Nepal on November 12.

President Hamid visited and observed arts, culture and archaeological objects at Bhaktapur Durbar Square on November 12. Following his visits to Pokhara and Rupakot today he is scheduled to visit Chandragiri Hills in Kathmandu tomorrow.