Chittagong, Bangladesh: General M Abdul Mubeen the Army Chief of Bangladesh will visit to Burma on May 21 for one-week official visit and hold meetings with military high officials including Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Burma, an official source said.
President Zillur Rahman also said yesterday with emphasized to improve relations with Burma, building direct rail and road connectivity between the two countries to boost bilateral trade and commerce.
"It's essential to improve the relations with Myanmar," he said when Chief of Army Staff General M Abdul Mubeen called on him at Bangabhaban.
Referring to the recent visit of Burma's Air Chief to Bangladesh, President Zillur Rahman mentioned that rail and road connectivity is going to be established between two countries as soon as possible.
“The connection of road and rail will help expand bilateral trade and commerce between Bangladesh and Burma.”
The Bangladesh government is going to sign an Inland Water Transport Protocol (IWTP) agreement with Burma to increase connectivity aimed at boosting Dhaka-Rangoon trade, an official from the Ministry of Shipping said in Dhaka on May 10.
Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at the recently concluded 13th BIMST- EC (Bangladesh India Myanmar Sri Lanka Thailand Economic Cooperation) ministerial meeting has underlined the importance of direct road, waterways and railway links between the two neighbouring countries.
The bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Burma has been taking place under the General Trade Agreement and Border Trade Agreement, signed in 1973 and 1994 respectively. Dhaka exported goods and commodities worth US$ 9.17 million to Rangoon in 2008-09, while its import during the period was US $66.65 million, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data.
The Army Chief also apprised the President that Indian Army Chief will visit Bangladesh next June. He further informed that Bangladesh Army has been working to create awareness about natural calamities, especially about preparedness for pre- and post-earthquake situation in the country.
Gen Mubeen said the ongoing task of rebuilding and repairing the Aila-damaged roads and infrastructures in the country's southwestern coastal regions, launched by Bangladesh Army in cooperation with Bangladesh Water Development Board, would be completed by the end of the current month (May). Secretaries concerned to the President's office were present.
