Maldives and Bangladesh discovered new ways to increase the long history of cooperation, commerce, and friendship between the two countries, during the State Visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The Maldivian First Couple hosted a state banquet in honor of Sheikh Hasina, at Kurumba Maldives on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, the Maldivian president shed light on the extended history of cooperation, commerce and friendship enjoyed between Maldives and Bangladesh and highlighted the multiple high-level visits and engagements, with which the previous commitments between the two nations have been enhanced and new ways to increase cooperation have been unveiled.

Multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were exchanged between Maldives and Bangladesh during the Bangladeshi PM’s visit, including in the areas of finance, health as well as youth and sports cooperation.

President Solih added that the relationship between the two nations goes beyond interactions at the diplomatic level, stating that the people-to-people connection is one of the “strongest” in the region.

Touching down on his State Visit to Bangladesh in March 2021 to join the commemoration of the birth centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Maldivian president revealed that it was an honor to celebrate the life and legacy of a man whose very name means "Friend of Bengal."

President Solih applauded PM Hasina’s commitment to follow in her father’s footsteps and continuing his legacy.

Speaking at the banquet, PM Hasina revealed that both countries share religious and cultural values and empathy. She highlighted that both countries are on the same path to development and noted that an example may be set from the bilateral relations during the pandemic and grow further to enhance trade, investments, connectivity and people-to-people contact.

Stressing that the main focus should be the development of the people in the region, Sheikh Hasina stated that poverty is a shared enemy.

With this, she urged to work together to rise above poverty, with which she noted that Bangladesh's foreign policy is based on "friendship to all and malice to none”.

Vice President Faisal Naseem and his spouse, Speaker of Parliament and Former President Mohamed Nasheed, Chief Justice Ahmed Muhthasim Adnan, Cabinet Ministers and high-level delegates were in attendance at the banquet, which marked the conclusion of the official programme of the Prime Minister’s visit to the Maldives

PM Hasina arrived in the Maldives on Wednesday and was officially welcomed by President Solih on Thursday. She was accompanied by a delegation of senior government representatives.