The People’s Majlis has passed to extend an invitation to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina to address the parliament.

This was done during an extraordinary sitting of the parliament held on Sunday, where parliamentarians voted to extend an invitation for the Bangladeshi PM to address the parliament during her upcoming visit to the island nation upon the invitation of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The vote to invite PM Hasina to address the parliament was the only item on the agenda for the extraordinary sitting, in which members of the opposition coalition comprising of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC) did not take part. Members representing ruling coalition party Jumhooree Party (JP) were also not in attendance.

44 lawmakers unanimously voted to approve the invitation.

Speaking during the sitting, main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s PG Leader Ali Azim revealed that Bangladesh is an important development partner of the Maldives and that Bangladeshi workers play a pivotal role in the urban development of the island nation.

He went on to shed light on the extensive support and assistance the Bangladeshi government extended during the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, as well as the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Maldives National Party (MNP) President and MP for Thimarafushi constituency, Abdulla Riyaz revealed that the party’s foreign policy revolves around solidifying relations with Islamic nations and that a large community of Bangladeshi workers are residing in the Maldives.

Adding that Bangladesh mirrors the Maldivian government’s zero-tolerance to terrorism policy, the MP revealed that the Bangladeshi PM plays a significant role in environment protection efforts.

With this being said, MP Riyaz stated that if any country’s Prime Minister should be given the opportunity to address the Maldivian parliament, it should be Bangladesh.

Parliamentarians, eight Cabinet Ministers, 28 long-serving statesmen, Chief of Defense Force, Commissioner of Police, Chancellor of the Maldives National University (MNU), Vice Chancellor of MNU, and two students from each school in the Greater Malé Region totaling 153 persons will be invited to the session during which the Bangladeshi PM will address the parliament.

Former President and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Nasheed said that a colorful celebration will be held to mark the occasion.

Sheikh Hasina is to undertake a State Visit to the Maldives from December 22 – 23. This comes upon the invitation of President Solih during his State Visit to Bangladesh in March 2021.

The Bangladeshi PM’s State Visit will see officials talks held between both governments and the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoU).

Maldives and Bangladesh have been enjoying close cooperation in a number of sectors including fisheries, human resources and education.

The visit, and the high-level exchanges to follow are expected to boost the existing ties and further solidify the bilateral ties between both countries.

Diplomatic relations between Maldives and Bangladesh were established on 22 September 1978.