Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced efforts are being made to establish direct air and sea connectivity between the Maldives and Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital.
During a joint press conference at the President’s Office on Thursday, Prime Minister Hasina stated the establishment of direct travel connections between the two countries would boost the economy, adding that the tourism industry would benefit significantly from the establishment of direct air connectivity.
She also stated that, as part of the agreement to eliminate double taxation on income taxes and to prevent tax evasion and avoidance between the two countries, work is being done to establish a shipping route between the Maldives and Bangladesh.
Noting the start of flights to the Maldives by one of Bangladesh’s largest private airlines, US-Bangla, the Bangladeshi prime minister stated that this has enhanced relations between the two nations in the framework of civil aviation.
She also stated that Biman Bangladesh, Bangladesh’s flag airline, is in talks to start flights between Dhaka and the Maldives.
Prime Minister Hasina stated that she believes the establishment direct travel connections would strengthen people-to-people ties between the two countries and encourages further collaboration in the sector of tourism.
Furthermore, the prime minister noted that with the establishment of a shipping line between the Maldives and Bangladesh, the nation would be able to deliver quality commodities to the Maldives at a reasonable cost.
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrived in the Maldives on a six-day official visit on Wednesday. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel greeted her at Velana International Airport.
