As part of his official visit to Bangladesh, Vice President Faisal Naseem has engaged in fruitful discussions with Cabinet Members as well as the Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

On Tuesday, VP Naseem held meetings with Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Salman Rahman, the Minister of Expatriate's Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmad, the Minister of Youth and Sports Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel, and the Minister of Education Dr Dipu Moni.

During the meeting with Rahman, VP Naseem revealed that Maldives prioritizes the improvement of decentralized healthcare, and the consecutive need for further technical and vocational training and higher education opportunities to specialize in different areas of the healthcare system.

The pair also discussed opportunities to collaborate in the provision of pharmaceutical products to the Maldives as well as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In his meeting with Ahmad, VP Naseem highlighted that Maldives aims to regularize all expatriate workers in the island nation at the earliest, going on to stress that unregularized workers are more likely to be exploited. With this being said, he requested aid from the ministry in the regularization programme and engaged in further discussions regarding partnerships for technical training and skills development programmes as well as work exchange programmes to help employees build critical skills.

Discussions were also held on initiating discussions to exchange further agreements for bilateral sports development, athlete exchanges, special training camps for athletes and agreements to provide expert assistance in various areas of the sports sector, with Minister Russel. Further, discussions also revolved around reinvigorating cricket in Maldives, with which VP Naseem noted that the arrival of an all-star Bangladeshi cricket team to Maldives will draw attention of youth, towards the sport.

Speaking with Minister Moni, VP Naseem revealed that Maldives requires aid from the government of Bangladesh to enhance education opportunities to specialize in fields such as healthcare and engineering, and in building technical expertise for creating standard practices at educational regulatory bodies.

Further, discussions also revolved around scholarship opportunities for Maldivian students from Bangladeshi institutions.

The vice president also met with the Chairman of the South East Asian Foundation (SEACO) Salahuddin Kasem Khan, who provided the letter offering a scholarship opportunity for two underprivileged Maldivian students at Chittagong University.

He also held a meeting with Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Asia Pacific Dr Md. Sultan Mahmud, who offered a fully sponsored scholarship for one Maldivian student and a partial fee waiver for one more Maldivian student.

VP Naseem then met Managing Director of Kumudini Welfare Trust Rajiv Prasad Shaha who offered a Special Scholarship for five Maldivian students for Bachelors of Dentistry (BDS) and two Maldivian students for Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing.

VP Naseem accepted all three offers for the betterment of the Maldivian society.

Accompanied by a delegation of Cabinet Ministers and high-level officials from the government and the President’s Office, VP Naseem will return to the Maldives on Wednesday.