"Modi's presence is a matter of pride, we don't care about extremists" : Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said that the government is not concerned about the protests of religious extremists and leftist organisations on the occasion of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving in the country.

The minister made this comment in a press conference on the latest signed joint agreements between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy.

The government has signed six MoUs, with Sri Lanka.

These are – MoU on cooperation for strengthening youth development between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, MoU between Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) and MoU between Directorate of Technical Education of Bangladesh and Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC) of Sri Lanka on Exchange of Documentation on Vocational Qualifications. 

Besides, MoU on Cooperation for Training of Bangladesh Nurses and Health Care Workers in Sri Lanka, MoU on cooperation between Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies and Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies, and MoU on Cultural Programmes between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for years 2021-2025 were also signed.

The government is initiating a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) as an interim system until the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) establishes between the two nations. 

Apart from these, MoU on Cultural exchange Programme between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka for years 2021-2025 was signed by Cultural Affairs Secretary Badrul Arefin and Sri Lankan Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Sedara Senarath.

Furthermore, both countries have agreed to exchange knowledge and expertise on agriculture, pharmaceuticals, nursing and medical professionals, maritime security, disaster management and combating terrorism.

Sri Lanka has provided assurance to support Bangladesh in the multilateral forums including the upcoming UN Human Rights Council election. 

According to the minister, the country has also made commitments to support Bangladesh on the issue of Rohingya crisis.