Bangladesh and the Maldives have agreed to address and counter the threats posed by organized crimes, piracy, narcotics and human trafficking, through multilateral and regional fora, including Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), in the quest of attaining security, stability and peace in the Indian Ocean region.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih agreed on the importance of bilateral cooperation, regionally and internationally to tackle the rising menace of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization, according to a joint statement issued on Thursday.

Both leaders emphasized that regional organizations such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has an important role to play in promoting regional cooperation in many areas, particularly in combating the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Bangladesh side highlighted that the country has assumed the Chairmanship of IORA for the first time, since October 2021 and sought the support of the Maldives for working towards greater maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean Region.

President Solih congratulated Bangladesh and assured it of Maldives’ cooperation in this regard.

Solih thanked Sheikh Hasina for the generous gift of military vehicles, acknowledging the goodwill and friendship extended to the Maldives by the government of Bangladesh.

President Solih reaffirmed Maldives’ support to Bangladesh on the issue of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.

The president added that the Maldives continues to condemn in the strongest terms, the atrocities committed against the Rohingya Muslim community in Myanmar and remain in solidarity with the Rohingya people.

Solih further commended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the government of Bangladesh for graciously hosting the displaced Rohingya community, offering them protection and shelter, and her efforts to facilitate their peaceful and dignified repatriation to their home country.

President Solih and Prime Minister Hasina reiterated their commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in all fora.

They also agreed to extend all possible support to the candidacies floated by either country in various international organizations including the United Nations. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to promote human rights.

At the invitation of President Solih, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is now on a state visit to the Maldives from December 22-23, says the joint statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sheikh Hasina is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and senior officials of the government of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was accorded a ceremonial welcome in Malé.

Both the leaders agreed that connectivity in all its forms is crucial to promote tourism and trade; and also stressed the early launching of the direct shipping link.

They welcomed the launch of flights between Dhaka and Malé by US Bangla Airlines, noting this will boost people to people contact and trade opportunities between the two countries.

Appreciating the enormous contribution made by the Bangladeshi expatriates to the socio-economic development of Maldives, President Solih stressed that a large number of Bangladeshi workers still remain undocumented and vulnerable to exploitation.

Both leaders noted the importance of regularization and recognized the urgency of the early conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on “Cooperation in Matters Relating to Migrant Workers” and instructed their respective authorities to institute the modalities to expedite addressing this issue.

President Solih thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the assurance of reinstating an on-arrival visa for Maldivian travellers to Bangladesh.

He also requested her to facilitate long-term student visas for Maldivian students for the complete duration of their studies.

President Solih and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina highlighted the importance of multilateralism and underscored their commitment to work together at the United Nations and other multilateral fora on issues of global concern.