SANGSAD BHABAN : LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visits to Malaysia and China have opened a new horizon of bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and shared interests.

He made the remarks while moving a thanksgiving motion in the Jatiya Sangsad in recognition of the “remarkable success” of the prime minister’s official visits to Malaysia and China from June 21-26.

“The visits of Prime Minister and leader of the House Tarique Rahman, as the head of a democratic government formed through a long anti-fascist movement, have an immense significance for Bangladesh,” the minister said.

He added, “Through these visits, Bangladesh’s relations with Malaysia and China have become stronger, and a new horizon of bilateral cooperation has been opened based on mutual respect and mutual interests.”

Fakhrul said Bangladesh and China signed 17 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the visit. 

He added that fruitful high-level meetings between the two sides laid the foundation for positive progress in economic cooperation, investment, trade expansion and efforts to resolve the Rohingya crisis.

The minister also said the prime minister had set a positive example in the country’s political culture by ending the long-standing practice of colourful receptions before departing for and after returning from official foreign visits.

“Our leader has already established a strong position both nationally and internationally. The people of Bangladesh believe that he is working firmly for the welfare of the people and creating new precedents by abandoning old negative political practices,” he said.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman also took part in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion. 

Later, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, put the motion to a voice vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the House.