PM Receives Invitation Of 18th SARRC Summit

On behalf of Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala, visiting Nepalese Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey extended the invitation to the Bangladesh premier when he paid a courtesy call on her at her official Ganobhaban residence here this evening.

After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury briefed reporters.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accepted the invitation to join the summit. This is the third time Nepal will host the SAARC Summit after 1997 and 2002.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh always places emphasis on the cooperation with the neighbouring countries as our problems are identical. "We could solve those problems if we could forge unity among us," she said.

The press secretary said the Bangladesh premier and the Nepalese FM discussed some other issues like physical and motor connectivity between Bangladesh and Nepal.

Sheikh Hasina said there must be an accord among the SAARC countries for balanced growth and development of the region.

She also underscored the need for signing of a tripartite deal involving Bangladesh, India and Nepal for physical connectivity with Kathmandu. "A discussion is underway to this end," she said.

The Prime Minister recalled her meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 69th UNGA in New York, and said she placed a proposal for inking a tripartite agreement for physical connectivity with Nepal.

Sheikh Hasina also put emphasis on joint efforts between Bangladesh and Nepal for promotion of tourism stretching from the Himalayas to Cox's Bazar.

The Nepalese foreign minister agreed with the Bangladesh Premier for sharing of resources of the region for balanced growth and development.

PM's Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Gowher Rizvi and Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar were present.

-Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)