Bangladesh, Belarus discuss ties

Dhaka: Bangladesh and Belarus have pledged to enhance cooperation in various fields. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held talks with her visiting Belarusian counterpart Mikhail Myasnikovich on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, Xinhua reported Tuesday.

After the talks, seven agreements and five memorandum of understandings (MoUs) were signed on cooperation in industry, agriculture, science and technology, education, etc. Both leaders noted that despite bilateral contacts over the past two decades, the potential of cooperation in a number of critical areas remains untapped. They expressed hope that wider collaboration could contribute to the strengthening of the bilateral relations, a joint statement issued after the talks said. This was the first official visit to Bangladesh by a Belarusian prime minister since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1991. Myasnikovich, who arrived here Sunday on the second leg of his three-nation tour, also met with President Zillur Rahman before leaving Dhaka Tuesday for India. IANS