Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Bangladesh government has signed a reciprocal agreement with Russia on visa-free visit for the nationals of the both countries holding diplomatic or official passports.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey V. Lavrov signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments at a meeting held on Thursday at the UN headquarters in New York.
"The agreement once implemented will ease and enhance the level of engagements between the peoples of the two friendly countries," a foreign ministry statement said in Dhaka on Friday.
During the meeting, the two foreign ministers also discussed issues of mutual interest, including the possibility of a visit by Russian Prime Minister Medvedev to Dhaka sometime early 2017, dates for which will be worked out through diplomatic channel.
Russian side showed interest in formalising a few agreements including the inter-governmental cooperation, maritime cooperation and send delegation to Dhaka to further the ongoing discussion.
Russia thanked Bangladesh for its constructive and balanced role at the UN on various issues of mutual concerns.
Foreign Minister Ali thanked the Russian government for its continued support to Bangladesh and especially referred to the implementation of the country's first nuclear power plant under Russian assistance. Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque was present during the meeting.
BBN/SSR/AD