Efforts underway to enhance ties with Bangladesh

KABUL and Bangladesh, Afghan Ambassador to the country Abdul Rahim Oraaz said on Wednesday.

Oraaz told Pajhwok Afghan News in an interview that the Afghan Embassy in Dhaka is working on draft agreements to be signed by the two countries. The agreements will cover economic, commercial, cultural, and political cooperation.

One agreement calls for an exchange of views between seniorforeign ministry officials of the two countries. The two sides will meet annually to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The ambassador also expressed hope that the proposed commercial agreements between the two countries would provide economic benefits to both.

He said currently Afghanistan exports dried fruits to Bangladesh, and that there is a vigorous market for Afghan carpets in the country as well.

He also recalled that the two countries had signed an agreement for direct flights between the countries in 1975, but it had not yet been implemented. He said efforts were being made to renew the agreement.

He said Bangladeshi laborers were interested in working in Afghanistan, but that Afghanistan also had a number of laborers in need of jobs.

Oraaz said Dhaka hosted an annual four-day international exhibition and that Afghanistan could also participate in it.

Currently, 20 Afghan girls are studying in Bangladeshi universities, with another 15 Afghans studying in the Islamic University of Technology. The Afghan embassy is trying to increase the number of Afghan students in Bangladeshi universities, the ambassador said.

oh/ma